INDUSTRIAL SPLIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27386, 11 May 1950, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL SPLIT

Conference Discussion PEACE ESSENTIAL PA AUCKLAND, May 10. The Labour Party Conference today was given its first opportunity to discuss the rift in the industrial movement when a hint was given by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Fraser, in presenting the parliamentary report on Wednesday night, that the National executive should consider the credentials ,of critics within the party. The discussion revealed that none of the representatives of dissident unions intended to have a “ walk-out.” Speaking to the watersiders, Mr Fraser said the Labour Party could not have an organisation affiliated to the “ Communist international ” in its Mr C. R. Parker, of New Plymouth, said the conference was not the place for airing the grievances of the industrial movement. Mr T. Hill had said there was no one in New Zealand big. enough to be a dictator. “ I agree, and that applies even to secretaries and presidents of industrial unions.’ he said. When they boasted of holdups, the watersiders’ leaders forgot that those who suffered were the rqst of the workers for, the tremendous demands of the so-called militants had to be met out of the pockets of the people. ~, „ „ “Are we to be, led by a rabble? Mr Parker asked amid loud applause. Mr E. A. Napier, secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, said that to return a Labour Government it was necessary to secure peace in the industrial movement and it was the duty of the parliamentary party to say and to show that the party’s real objective was Socialism. Mr T. E. Skinner, former M.P. for Tamaki, said industrial difficulties should be ironed out inside each organisation.