THE SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 140, 20 July 1914, Page 10

THE SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS.

A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE. "It was a very .successful conference," said Mr Hiram Hunter to-day, referring to tlie recent Social-Democrat Party Conference in Wellington. "The feeling prevailing was the best I have experienced in any conference so far." There was a very keen debate in reference to a remit frqm the Liverpool State Mine branch, urging members to vote national prohibition, and that parliamentary candidates should be pledged eu to support the bare majority. 'Mr Hunter said that the debate was the lest the conference had ever had onthis question. It was decided to ameiid the remit, so as to secure that the candidates support the bare majority on ail (inestions submitted to the people, in accordance with the platform of the party. The feeling of the conference was that as the party covered people of every creed, also prohibitionists and "antis," it would be unwise for the party to take up the attitude suggested i.\ the remit.

v There were a few important amendments to the Social-Democrat platform. Plank 1, dealing with proportional representation, the initiative, referendum, and recall, was amended to provide that the referendum should not be applied on questions of religion and conscience. On clause 6 it was decided to strike out the words referring to the reduction in tliQ tariff on goods not produced in New-''Zealand. ►Such a, reduction hail previously been included in the platform, to correspond with increases in the taxation on unimproved values and the graduated income tax. Another keen debate took place on clause 12 of the platform, which urged the repeal of the present Defence Act, and the substitution of a citizen army on a volunteer basis,_ which shall not be used in time of industrial disputes. It was proposed by the passive-resisters to delete all the words after ''repeal of the Defence Act,'' but the clause was retained after a (lose division by two votes. An alliance with the Liberals, in view of the forthcoming election, was also discussed, and the conference decided that it would be unwise at this period to attempt to dictate to the workers throughout the country as to how they should vote. It was decided that in electorates which were not contested by the Party's candidates, the

members of the Party could use their - own discretion. There was no recommendation to appoint Liberals; in .preference to ' Reformers.lt also decided to • do away with. ' the requisition scheme. The conference. considered that a SoHal : Dembcrat ' i should not be run unless there was a l-godd fighting chance of success. ' With ' the object of discouraging" - tests and the splitting of the prtijjgres-. sive vote it was" decided that Tildes Couneilsc or districts wliere there fwere no councils should receive the sans|ion ' of the national t-.'-sting a 'seat/ -'t)nce is secured, the candidate may be selected by secret ballot. Steps wouldlbft takeii. at an early date to select' the Patty 's candidates. . The capitiation fees from unions to the national executive" were*'retlue6ft . from 4/- to 1/-. Pees from political tranches remain as at peir annum. U " V fe . ■?