LABOUR UNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22101, 3 November 1933, Page 10

LABOUR UNITY

ANXIETY IN AUSTRALIA DELEGATION FOR NEW SOUTH j WALES. , (From Our Own Correspondent.) i SYDNEY, October 26, With its eye on the next Federal election campaign Labour in Australia ie displaying anxiety because the split in the party has so far defied all efforts to mend it. The differences in New South Wales between the Federal Labour Party and that section of the party led by Mr J. T. Lang, are greater than ever they were, and it ie realised that while such conditions exist victory in the Federal political sphere, or in any other sphere for that matter, would be impossible. It remains to be seen now how Mr Lang and his merry men will regard a move by Victoria to send a peace delegation to New South Wales. Judged by his attitude in the past it is safe to say that the delegation will be sent about its business. The Victorian Labor Party has chosen influential men for a very difficult task, and already unofficial discussions have taken place. It has been suggested over and over again that Mr Lang will not consider any peace overtures unless he has an assurance that he will become the leader of the Federal Party. It was the Federal Government that defeated him when he was playing havoc with New South Wales, and with Australia, while he was Premier of the State. He is not likely to forget that. His ambition is to' become Prime Minister—supreme in authority. It will be a great day for him when he achieves his ambition: a sorry day for Australia. The Victorian delegation has made it clear that it will not move to displace Mr Scullin from thc leadership of the movement.

All that Victoria seeks is a uniform Labour policy so that the party can face the electors with some hope of success. At recent elections Labour men have advocated different policies, dependent on their allegiance to either the State or Federal Party. It is not thought, in Victoria, at least, that peace is impossible in New South Wales, but that only goes to show that the Victorians are a little ignorant of the actual conditions. There are men in the Federal Party with whom Mr Lang will never mix unless they change their ways to his ways. There are men in the Federal Party who will never follow Mr Lang no matter what line he may take. A few retirements on both sides may be the only way out. Was there ever a Labour politician who wanted to retire?