SOCIALISATION PLAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21772, 11 October 1932, Page 10

SOCIALISATION PLAN

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA MR LANG’S FUTURE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 29. The adoption by the All-Australia Trade Union Congress of the socialisa tion policy advocated by the Lang group in New South Wales is regarded as heralding the early entry of Mr J. T. Lang into Federal politics—a move that has been discussed for some months now It is unfortunate for the Sydney. Trades Hall representatives that the congress should have endorsed Mr Scullin as the leader of the Labour Party in Australia, for this means that much propaganda works remains to be done. There has been intensive campaigning in the southern States by delegates from Sydney, but they have not had matters all the ; r own way. Victorian Labour is still bitterly opposed to Langism, and well it might be, for Langism has wrecked at least three of the Labour Governments in New South Wales in less than VI months, ,

There is nothing very new in the socialisation policy that was endorsed by the congress. “ The socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange” is an old friend, and at election time is usually “ forgotten ” or denied. The-congress had appointed a special subcommittee to co-ordinate suggestions for resisting wage reductions, combatting un employment, and for securing a working week of 30 hours. The report recommended that the congress should “call upon the trade union movement to unite on the basis of replacement of capitalism by the social ownership of the means of life and the abolition of the wage system, and instruct all branches of the Australian Council of Trade Unions t> work for unity on that basis alone.” To combat unemployment it asked the congress to demand a restoration of all wage reductions, a 30-hour week, to be worked on five days each of six hours, and a 25 per cent, increase in wages; to call upon unions to , refrain from approaching the Federal Arbitration Court or any State tribunal as individual units on the question of standard ' hours or the fixing of a basic wage, without the consent of the A.C.T.U. in Federal jurisdiction, or the authorised branch of the A.C.T.U. in State jurisdiction. It was urged by those responsible for the report that the congress should attempt to mobilise the workers for “ fight and struggle.” Organisation work was necessary and the rank and file had shown that it was not prepared for a general strike.

One of the most interesting features of the congress was the candid manner in which some of the delegates discussed Mr Lang. The representatives of the waterside workers in New South . Wales, for instance, declared that the workers had forgotten Mr Scullin and all he had done for them. In New South Wales they were now paying the price of Lang rule. The workers were slowly “ waking up ” to Langism. The delegate from the, Seamen’s Union in Victoria said that if they took away Messrs Garden and Sleeman all that remained of Mr Lang was an idol of clay. Those two men had made Mr Lang, but the people of Now South Wales were alive to the “Lang joke.” Then, again, here is another verdict from the delegate who represented the printing trades of New South Wales: “Lang has betrayed the working class and was aided and abetted by Garden.” Powerful influences are now .at work on the Labour members of. the Federal House in the hope that some of them will desert Mr Scullin and swing in behind the Beasley Party, and so recogpiso Mr Lang as the true leader ;>f Labour iu Australia. The New South Wales militants are leaving no stone unturned in their endeavours to secure control of the Federal machine, now in the hands of the Scullin Party. Representatives of the Lang group will be sent .all over Australia iu the hope of converting the Labour Leagues everywhere, but it is evident already that they have an uphill fight before them. Mr Lang is not appreciated in other States as ho is in New South Wales. Mr Lang may find that it will bo necessary for him to enter the Federal House if he is to achieve any measure of success. He will not hesitate to do so as soon as he deems the time is ripe. Mr Gander, who represents Reid (a Sydney electorate) is generally regarded as Mr Lang’s “ scatwarmer,” and he has often expressed a willingness to retire as soon as Mr Lang is prepared to face the electors. If Mr Lang should so decide, he can rest assured that he will have to face the political fight of his life.