THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS

Southland Times, Issue 17609, 25 March 1914, Page 6

THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS

ELECTION METHODS EXPLAINED. BY "PROFESSOR" MILES. (Special to the Times.) ! CHRISTCHURCH. March 21. { •Professor’ Mills, organiser of the j Social Democratic party, states that the telegram from Mr Hunter lias the cordial approval of his associates. There trill be some fifty electorates where the Social Democrats will have no candidates, and it had been expected that they would give their second choice votes to Liberal candidates in cases where official endorsement was not forthcoming. In any case that expectation was based upon a general understanding that a Liberal candidate was more likely to endorse a considerable portion of the Social Democratic platform than would Tie-form candidates. If the Liberal party chooses to follow a bogus Labour federation in politics the Social Democrats are pledged tinder their constitution to oppose all candidates of any such bogus body. and in. all electorates throughout the dominion wherever Democrats have five hundred clear members they will have a candidate of their own, as in Grey and Lyttelton. “When we have not st)o members,” says Mr Mills, “we will support the candidate able to give the largest support to outplatform. In no case will our party countenance or support a Labour candidate unless he is selected by 300 Social Democrats, as above.” AX AUCKLAND OPINION. i Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND. March - I. ’ Apparently the Christchurch j branch of the Social Democratic party takes itself very seriously." says the Auckland Star, a pronounced Liberal organ. in a leading axticle. “Not content with refusing to associate itself with the Liberals in the coming political campaign it assumes tin* right to dictate to the Liberals as to who should direct their policy and manage their own affairs. Sir Joseph Ward has jetst been officially informed by the president of the Christchurch Social Democratic Federation that the action taken by the Liberals in attempting to form a Liberal - Labour alliance is regarded by his party as “a hostile act," and he proceeds to intimate in the picturesque language that a certain class of political agitator affects largely nowadays that ‘organised labour’ will treat the new alliance as a ‘scab’ organisation. Apparently Mr Hunter believes tt|it he and his handful of irresponsible extremists stand for ‘organised labour’ throughout the dominion, and not only are they in a position to threaten and intimidate the Liberals, but they have the right to speak for the workers of New Zealand whenever they feel inclined. This -TsT certainly news to us. and though we do not suppose that any action the Social Democratic Federation may take will make any serious difference to the prospects of the Liberals, wc will be interested to know how fur the more responsible and influential labour organisations throughout the country are prepared to allow the rules and regulations i lor them to 0h0,'.-, in negotiating or as- j bociating with the Liberals. i . AN OPINION FROM DUNEDIN. A SHORT - LIVED PARTY. METHOD OF PROLONGING ITS LIFE. (Special to the Times). DUNEDIN. March ill. Speaking at the annual meeting of shareholders in the New Zealand Drug Go.. Mr Kempthorne referred at length to labour matters. He said that it would appear that the movement commenced in Dunedin last week by the Trades and Labour Council was not the only movement for the purpose of solidifying labour in New Zealand, and already steps ba«l been taken to introduce a similar organisation in Christchurch. Wellington ! and Auckland. It was claimed that none of the so-called Labour parties in exis- j voice were acceptable to the large body i of workers in the country, who are op- j posed to such unconstitutional methods of alleviating grievances as that adopted during recent labour troubles in Dunedin. The Social Democratic party, and the United Labour Party received little or no support from the unions in the city and suburbs, and while the members of j the Sotyal Democratic party were using every means in their power to save their party locally from destruction it seemed to be probable that In the near future it would cease to exist actively so far as the v'orkers were concerned. The old system of workers’ political committees, which, proved so successful in the past, had again fyeen adopted, and this move was applauded. it was stated by a large majority of the labour unions that no fewer than 5000 unionists were represented at thfc conference held last week, and there were others who, while not being affiliated with either of the

parlies mentioned nor the Trades and Labour Council, were prepared to support solidly the rejuvenated organisation. At the conference even men who had supported the Social Democratic party, unhesitatingly voiced the opinion that at the'present time there was no labour party in existence which represented the best interests of labour and in which the large majority of the workers had any confidence. The same speaker denounced the “Red Fed Association,” and everything connected with it. and said tliat if labour was to succeed they must have men respected by the great mass of the people, who could put some tangible policy before the people, and not countenance the advocacy of lawlessness and strikes. The result of this movement had been a bitter walling from the Social Democratic members, who were striving to preserve the slender thread of their party's life. MR HEN TEH'S TELEGRAM. JOSEPH WARD'S KEPHV. ’ (Per, United Press Association.) | WELLINGTON, March 21. Sir Joseph Ward has sent the following reply to Mr Hiram Hunter, president of the Social Democratic party, Christchurch. re the new Liberal - Labour Federation in that city; "in reply lo your telegram, conduct your business as you think best. I have no right, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the decisions of yourself or any other section of the community.—J. O. Ward.”