THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 34

THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

CONFERENCE*’ AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 14. The first annual conference of the Social Democratic party opened to-day. Delegates representing 75 affiliated organisations were in attendance. Mr H. Hunter (Christchurch East) occupied the chair, It was unanimously resolved to invite the Social Democratic party members of Parliament to attend the conference. The annual report was submitted and unanimously adopted. The report stated that contributions had been received from a membership of 7000, and this had increased since the report had been drafted. The balance sheet, which disclosed a satisfactory financial condition, w ? as adopted mianimously. The conference decided to present to Parliament a petition already signed and elicit the co-operation of the Social Democratic members in getting a division in the House on the question of the release of the strike prisoners. The returning officer supervising the ballot on the election of' the party’s officers reported the results as follow: —President, Mr H. Hunter (Christchurch East); vice-presi-dent, Mr E. Cooke (Christchurch Tailoring Trade Union); national ’organiser, Mr H. Scott Bennett (Auckland branch). Mr \V. Fraser was elected unopposed to the national secretary-treasureship. During the afternoon remits amending the constitution were discussed. No material alteration was agreed to. July 15. The Social Democratic Party’s conference was continued to-day; Mr H Hunter (Christchurch) presiding. The Finance Committee submitted a report on the rearrangement of the party’s financial relations, and it was resolved to reduce the capitation fee of affiliated unions to Is per annum ; also to make a special appeal for donations to the party’s organising funds.