DECISION REVOKED

Southland Times, Issue 21362, 7 April 1931, Page 7

DECISION REVOKED

LABOUR CONFERENCE PLAN OF SOCIALIZATION REVISED NEW SOUTH WALES PARTY (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, April 6. The Easter Labour Conference of State delegates to-day by 65 votes to 35 revoked its decision of last/ night adopting a threeyear plan for the sociali.ation of industry. The conference watered down the plan of socialization to provide merely for the propagation of the aims and ideals expressed yesterday. Labour members of Parliament will be invited “to exert their energies towards the accomplishment of socialization.”

One delegate declared that the plan adopted yesterday was impracticable and would plunge the country into civil war. Another delegate in a fiery speech said he was prepared to give his blood for the cause. Their slogan should be “Sinn Fein.” Still another claimed that the socialization committee had neither the brains, understanding nor inclination to plan a practicable scheme of social revolution.

Mr Lang's declaration in favour of the socialization of industry was quickly followed up on Saturday at the Labour Conference by a series of startling proposals, the most important of which was a “threeyear plan of social transition.” The plan aimed at vesting in a people’s Government the ownership and control of all property and the administration of all industries, including banking, by national and industrial commissions and sub-commissions with the worker and producer directly represented thereon. The scheme was sponsored by Mr W. McNamara, a brother-in-law of the Premier, and Mr J. N. Garden. WARNING TO PUBLIC SYDNEY PRESS COMMENT. SOCIALIZATION PLAN CRITICIZED. Sydney, April 6. The newspapers warn the public what they may expect from the Labour Conference’s socialization plan, which was adopted after a full debate yesterday by 57 votes to 44. The Sydney Morning Herald says: “The gauntlet has now been thrown down. Communism, naked and unashamed, has flung its defiance in the face of the State and Empire, and neither Parliament nor the public shall count. The call then is for co-operation to combat this urgent evil. Australians must declare emphatically that they will not have it.”

The Telegraph, in an editorial, expresses the opinion that some people will be alarmed at the socialization plan—others will merely be amused. “But there is a section,” adds the Telegraph, “which will be gratified. This section, which has nothing to lose, is the stuff of which revolutions are made. Their plan aims at doing things the Moscow way. It has the Premier as its spokesman, and he thus declared himself definitely on the side of the Reds.”

The committee of the Australian Labour Army submitted to the State Labour Conference a scheme for battalions, divisions and brigades of the Labour Army, and suggested that all members of the working class be eligible for membership upon the payment of a fee. A delegate interjected: “How many Lewis guns will that fee buy?” The scheme was adopted. It was decided to boycott all employers who support the All For Australia League. The Federal Treasurer, Mr E. G. Theodore, summarizes the effects of Mr Lang’s policy as follows:— (1) The destruction of confidence in Government contracts.

(2) The encouragement of breaches of contract by private individuals. (3) Refusal by the taxpayers to pay taxation, especially those affected by the interest reductions.

(4) A reduction of interest to Savings Bank depositors. (5) The transfer of money from New South Wales to other States.

(6) The curtailment of credit, adversely affecting all branches of business. (7) Inability to raise loans for public works. (8) Possibilities of internal strife. FOOD RELIEF GRANTS BEING INCREASED. Sydney, April 6. The Premier, Mr Lang, announces that the Government of New South Wales is increasing the food relief grants by 25 per cent. He declares that this State is stronger financially than at any time during the past two years, and that this State is miles ahead of any other.