LABOUR PARTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22824, 7 March 1936, Page 7

LABOUR PARTY

THE EASTER CONFERENCE POWERS OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE A significant feature of the 104 remits for consideration at the twentieth annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, which will be opened in Wellington on Easter Monday, April 13, is that only four deal with the platform of the party. Having granted its first objective—the power to govern New Zealand —the party, through its branches and affiliated unions, now appears to be more concerned with its constitution and with problems that are not covered by the platform. Some of the branches seem to be apprehensive that with the changed fortunes of the party there may be a tendency for persons who have not borne the burden of the struggles in the past to gain certain privileges. Several remits propose a curtailment rather than an extension of the power of the National Executive, and the delegation of more authority to Labour Representation Committees.

The desire to safeguard the rights of the older members of the party is shown in a remit from the Levin branch jsvhich proposes that only members of four years' standing shall be eligible to be appointed as delegates to the annual conference. At present any financial member of the party is eligible. SELECTION OF CANDIDATES.

Anxiety concerning the selection of parliamentary candidates is indicated in several remits, and the Whakatane branch proposes that a remit - adopted last year investing in the National Executive full power to deal with and settle all matters in connection with the selection of parliamentary candidates, and with all other questions affecting the party, be rescinded. The remits dealing with the platform of the party cover only the objective and the section relating to electoral and constitutional matters.

The Auckland Carpenters and Joiners' Union will move that conference reaffirm the party's objective: " Tho socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange," and the desirability of taking at the earliest possible moment such steps as are necessary for it* achievement. The Miramar branch urges that a committee of ten members be appointed to consider and report upon the best means of educating the public regarding the party's objective. The Timaru branch and the Otaki L.R.C. will move that the party reaffirm the desirability of abolishing the Legislative Council.

A proposal that after the first year of office parliamentary members of the party shall allocate from their honoraria the sum of £1 a week to the election campaign fund in their own electorates, is being submitted by the Takapuna Central branch. The Auckland Women's branch has forwarded a remit, which, if adopted, will make it mandatory for the National Executive to select a woman candidate for the first by-election that occurs. LABOUR DAY. A remit that the conference recommend to the Government that Labour Day be observed throughout the Dominion on the Monday nearest to November 27, has been submitted by the Auckland L.R.C, tlie proposed change from the last Monday in October being no doubt actuated by a desire to commemorate the victory of the Labour Party at the general election on November 27, last year. Another remit relating to Labour Day proposes that no permits should be granted to racing clubs in the main centres on that day. The establishment of a Labour college for training members in economics and Bocial science, and as organisers, is urged by the Thames L.it.C, and the Otako L.R.C. desires that the conference recommend to the Government that "B" class radio station licences be granted to the Trades Hall trustees at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and 'Dunedin. LABOUR NEWSPAPER. "That the Labour Party give no financial, political or public support to any newspaper other than The Standard, the only newspaper officially endorsed by the conference," is a remit which will bo moved by the Otaki L.R.C. Control over political appointments by branches of the party is desired by the Fairlie branch and the Otago L.R.C. The Otngo L.R.C. will move that before political appointments are made, nominations should be asked for from Labour Representation Committees. The Inglewood branch has submitted a remit proposing that tho Government be asked to appoint to the Legislative Council a member of the party to represent each of those electorates not represented by a Labour member in the House of Representatives. , HONOURS LIST. Opposition to the granting of titles is expressed in the following remit submitted by the Auckland L.R.C, Dunedin South branch, Otago L.R.C, and the Miramar branch:—" That this conference, being of the opinion that the conferring of titles savours of class distinction, recommends that the practice should be discontinued by the Labour Government." The Auckland Tramwaymen's Union proposes that any member of the party accepting a title from any Government bo expelled from the party. The principle of one man one job is affirmed in n remit submitted by three branches, and the Richmond branch proposes that with a view to reducing unemployment, all superannuated public servants in receipt of over £3OO yearly be debarred from accepting remunerative employment. Tho remaining remits cover an exceptionally wide range, including such subjects as birth control, an embargo on the importation of luxuries, n proposal that all political parties should be compelled to publish the source of their incomes, payment of jurors, and numerous recommendations to the Government for new forms of legislation.