LABOUR CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18803, 5 March 1923, Page 5

LABOUR CONFERENCE

TO BE HELD AT EASTER. WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS. {Pie United Peeks Association.) WELLINGTON, March 8. Subjects corering a rery wide range art to bo dealt rrith at the annual conference \ of the Labour Party, to be held at Christchurch during Easter. The Wellington Central branch proposes that amendments or additions to the party’s platform should only bo made triennially, while the Wellington Painters and Decorators’ Society suggests that the constitution and platform bo amended only at the conference of the party held the year previous to tho general election. , Triennial conferences at Easter time are favoured by the Otago Labour Council. It is proposed by the Auckland Labour Representation Committee that the election of a chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party be for the life of a Parliament. At present the objective of the Labour Party reads:—“The socialisation of the means of .production, distribution, and exchange.” Several branches suggest amendments as appended Dunedin North branch ; “Tho socialisation of all those means of production, distribution, and exchange that are in the best interests of the masses of the people.” Hamilton Labour Representation Committee: “That the wording of the objective be amended for the purpose of making its purpose clearer.” Dunedin Operative Bootmakers’ Union: “That the present objective be resubmitted to the conference for consideration with a view to its being amended or abolished.” In a covering letter the union states that the object of the remit is to get the objective reconsidered and in the event of its retention or amendment the union favours a declaration giving tho exact meaning of the words. The Wellington Painters and Decorators’ Union considers that where applicable tho parliamentary electoral roll shall be the roll for local body elections. ; Free meals for all children attending State pchools is advocated bv the Wellington j>orth branch, and tho Wellington Central branch desires that all pupils in Standards y and VI shall receive compulsory instruction m ** The^Napier branch urges that standardised books he used in all State schools and the National Peace Council proposes that half tho members of the Boards of Education and of tho controlling boards of schools shall he representatives of those engaged in the work of education. This is to bring, the education policy into line with State ownership plank of the party s platfprm, which reads; “The extension of pUbhn ownership of national utilities, and the speedy national control of the food supplies of the people. Where the national ownership of an industry is affected all labour for such industry and at least half the board of control in each case shall be appointed bv the union or unions affected. The Timaru branch will move— That all income tax returns shall be open for pubho ■ inspection. That tho payment of taxation by co-operative companies shall be limited to 2s 6d in the £.” . .. ~ With reference to the Arbitration voinr the Timaru branch will move—“ That tho constitution of the Arbitration Lourt be amended to provide that two president or the oonmt shall be elected by a plebiscite of parliamentary electors.” ■Hie Napier branch proposes that the conference consider the advisability or appointing a woman organiser for tb© purpeso of organising tho women of the dominion. _ , _ ... The Poverty Bay Labour Representation Committee wants May 1 proclaimed and generally observed as Labour Day.