NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17942, 22 May 1920, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY

REMITS FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE. BOMB ORIGINAL PROPOSALS. Tho Agenda Paper containing tho remita to- be considered at tho annual conference of the Now Zealand Labour Party in Wellington in July is now being circulated among tho affiliated unions. Tfio questions set down for consideration aro varied, and range from a blessing far tho Soviets to tho fixing of wages of members of Parliament by too delegates present at 1.110 B.nrniAl conference of tho Labour Party. Tho most interesting proposals may bo summarised aa follows: — The Canterbury Labour Representation Committee proposes "that no members of Paiil«vment shall hold official positions on the National Executive" of tho party, while tho Wellington Social Democratic Parby propos* that "no member af tho Partialis nary Labour Party shall ally himsolf politically (for any purpose) with the members of any other parliamentary group, wil hout both tho full knowledge and consent of either tho parliamentary Labour cauous or tho National Executive of tho Labour Party." Tho Wellington Painters' Union proposes to dsbar the national (secretary of tho party from accepting nominatioa as a parliamentary candidate. Tho Palmo mt on North Social Democratio Party suggests that "tho National Excoutivo of tho Lubour Party shall act ae an advisory board to Labour M.P.'s.", Tho Labour Representation Committeo of Pi'Jmorston North insists that t-lio qualification.for a Labour candidate for Parliament shull he two years: 1 mombership of the party, and the Christohuroh Social Democratic Party proposes "that, seeing the objective of tho Labour Party is the socialisation ot the moans of distribution and exchange, that no nominee of tho party shall bo al-

lowed official support who does not sign a i danlaration of Socialism, suoh declaration to fca hold by the National Executive." In line with this proposal are those from tho Hawko's Bay L.R.C. andi tho Wellington Central branch: — That all selected Labour candidatea publish in tho local papers ot the electorate they are chosen Uj ■ coctest, the platform and objective of the , 2J«w Zealand Lahonr Party, pledging their adhergnb®' and loyalty to tho aims and objects pi , party, and until this is done they shall net ' 1 btt endorsed by the National Executive. Any 1 official Labour oandidato lor Parliament who -omita to give full and Iree expression to and ■ . cpspl&n&tion of the platform and objective of the party dnring tin electoral oontest shall be deemed unlit to proceed to a ©election ballot until five yean after sncli electoral oontest. A novel proposal comes from tho War pgajiui branch: —"That when tho Now Zealand Labour Party controls the rcina of Government, the wage for members of Par- ' liament to be fixed by the delegates at annual conference" , . Tho Canterbury L.R.C. and Wellington S.D.IV eend forward 'remits deaing with Russian affairs:— BeaLising that the can Be at Labour is oae and Lnfcf.riiAtioaal, and that the emancipation of the ' workers ot one ootintrv wesages the emancipation ol the workers of all countries, this body, repreMBtative of organised Labour in New Zealand, places on reoord its heartfelt satisfaction that the long-continued efto-to af world capitalism hare op till now oompletoly failed to re-impose the yoke of political and eoonomio slavery on their fellow-workers in Russia, and further trusts that complete success will finally orown tho oontinsed ' efforts of tho peoples Governments through the Soviet 9 to eliminate all exploitation of man by man in Enssia through the establishment of an : eoonomio democracy and a socialised oommnnity. f , the annnal conference of the Now Zen-' ' land Labour Party strongly condemns the aetkm of the Allied fkwernments in proseenting a vrar against the Ensrian Rervolution. In the attitude of munitions and men to aid the re- - ictionary forces of Rnssia to restore the old Caar- , Ist regime of autocratio government. Pirst KorcMoff, then Kolchok, then Deniken, then. Y'ndcnlteh, not to mentlou frequent flirtations with Mannerheim and iu3 German associates, ignoring altogether tlhe just claims of tho Russian working class- to govern themselves in their own way. Revelations made by impartial observers of the Russian situation prove how baseband wicked the Allies' policy has bcra. We oongratulate the Socialist Soviet Republic of Russia on its magnificent aftd snocessful effort to withstand the onslaught of the oombined foroes of Imperinlistio Capitalism and wish them every succoss in the . gret oaww of Socialism and progressive hunjarflty.' Tho questions of militarism and tho Peao? Treaty ore covered by several remits. : Tho Wellington S.D.P. proposes:— '■ That the pronouncement made by last oonferencc npon the terms of ptiaoe impofed on the Oentr.il Powers was, fully ' justified, in that it failed to adequately describe the oriiao civilisation oontdined, therein. Time hB6 revealed these terms to bo, a 'great international tragedy, because they doom the world to a further prolonged period of strife, and leave mankind without hope of eon.fldencc in the fntnre. This. conference records its appreciation of the splendid fight made by the Parliamentary Labour Party during the last session against New Zealand becoming a party to the crime, and calls •npon them to strive as strenuously for a revision of these impossible and brutal terms, whenever -opportunity presents itself. The Canterbury L.R.C. proposes that, the provision in tho present Labour platform for a citizen army be deleted, which would place, the party in opposition to any system af defence. Tho National Peace Council makes, tho following comprehensive proposals :—

General objective: Hie establishment of social relations an a basis of justice such that every individual member of the human race, irrespective of ookmr, creed, sex,- nationality, or culture, may have an equal opportunity to live the fullest life that la possible for each such member in human eeoiety. 1. The industrial and political unity of the workers of all countries in a world federation of peoplsa of the world, thus ending the expoitar Hon of private capitalism. 3. The right of all peoples to self-determination to be (applied in particular to Ireland, Egypt, India, and South Africa), for the purpose of ending the exploitations of Modern Imperialism. 3. Tho definite repudiation of militarism and all its instruments (conscription, voluntary armies, news oensorrMp, passports, etc.) with immediate disarmament. Beo3gnising that modern wars waged by the Capitalist Governments mean in essence, the massacre of the workers of one oountry hy tho workers of another country, for the financial profit of a few, tlw labour Party urg'?s the workers of belligerent oountries to reply to a doolaru.ti<m of war by a general strike. i. Complete control by eaah people of its relations with other' peoples; all arrangements to be published, and no arrangements unpublished to be valid.

6. The oomplets control of all foreign trade by the , people. i: Kcir Zealand, being a member of tho Leagno of Nations, shall control its own foreign policy, or, Jailing that, to oeoee to be a member of tho leagne. ■ • Complete revision of tho Treaty of Versailles, of 1919, in accordance with Truth and Jastice.

Tills oenforenoo reoords the undying opposition of Labour to Militarism. The world history of the past 10 years shows all civilised nations constantly increasing their defensive armaments, each Government repeating in the ear of its people the time-worn phrase—"lf yon wish for pencc, prepare for war." Preparations wore twide mere •by some peoples than by us, and those peoples now are worse off than we are. War was not prevented. Victory was even shown to be dependent not: on the armaments of one people, but on the chance alliance of • certain Governments, often purchaned at the cost ol prioeless liberties of .weaker''peoples which no victory can replace. •Peaoft depends not on military or naval develop-ment;-but on Socialist organisation in a fraternal federation of the world for mutual aid.

On the important question of housing the Wellington S.D.P. proposes:—

The present inadequate system of housing tho people' of New Zealand is in danger of bcooming still more deplorable owing to the inability cf the responsible authorities. Private monetary interests retard th.; duly possible solution ol the housing problem. In order to effectively deal with tho matter Hio Stato should eliminate, as far as passible, all elements of private profit by:— 1. Extending tho present national sawmilling industry. 2. National cement works and the. provision of other building materials. "3. Erection of houses to be tho business bT a special State department, with a Minister of Housing in diargo. , t 4.: The State to supply all neocssary materials ,for; tho buififang of modern cqnipped housc3. 5. The BnlTSing Trades Federation of Unions be aiked to do tho work under Government supervision, with an assured wee&ly wage. G. All such houses to bo leased by the occnpier from Ban Stato or municipality. Private house and land agencies absolutely prohibited. 7. Whenever a suitable site for houses may be required, no private landowner shall impede their erection.

A larg"S number of remits deal with constitutional amendments affecting the party. Othors outline proposed alterations to tho platform. In this camieotkra it is proposed that "in the event of State ownership being carried, there shall be no liability on the part of the State to purchase all or any of the assets of tho liquor trade." A new laud ■ policy is desired by the Palmerston North branch, and it is suggested that the f firm ere present (it the confexxmce frame it. Tho deletion of "tho right to work" and tho substitution of "tho right to live" is desired. Tho Kaipaaa branch proposes:—

1. That the birring been removed from tho export of hide?, the Government should be urged to remove the duty from tho import of boots and mote up the revenue by an equal tar on all lard rallies, with no exranpfcicn or fraduatk>n, as by this wo should not lose any revenue by the cnittng op ef large estates. 2. Tbe MWly aatioo«li»atjan of land values bv the dinct laintton of same.

8. Thj\f Parliament be urged to mate rating en the miimproved kind raise national immediately, and th« oaus of calling a poll be left to flioiso requiring rating on lh« oayital or rental value. Sereral amendments to the Labour laws aro proposed, and remits aiming at a continued propaganda in tho interests of tho party and the amalgamation of all trado union papers in one ' .itional paper aro also put forward. In all, the.ro aro over 100 ptopooalfl on the agenda paper, and it is noteworthy that these hare emanated from ;\ Tory email mrosbor of affiliated bodies. No affiliated bcujy oaath of Christchurch has £<jrw*rcied any aaaHtk