THE SOCIALISTS AT HOME,

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12500, 29 March 1909, Page 4

THE SOCIALISTS AT HOME,

The London correspondent of the Melbourne "Argus " states: — Some strange things have happened at the Labour Party's Conference at. Portsmoth. The most striking personage at that gathering was Mr Geo. Bernard Shaw, who was present as a member of. the Fabian Society. He made a determined and sensible little speech, which was not, however, much cheered, demanding that the accounts of the party should be audited by a chartered accountant. He was foiled in an attempt to carry his proposals by resolution, because he "had not given notice thereof; but he appealed to those members who undertook the work of going through the. accounts to secure the help of a trusty outsider. Mr Sha/wJ-on a resolution- m favour of seaular education, made a warm speech in defence or religious education. He said that so long as there were children in schools they must have a reason for good conduct, It would have to be a raigious reason, or a purely meta-physical.-reaSion erf some kind. He regarded. purely secular education a,s impassible. H<j was Jieavrly b'iitvbted. The Socialist delegates put forward a resdlutiSfi debarring members, or party candidates, from appearing on the- "same platform as the capitalist political platforms." In other words from joining in the work of the Liberal Party. The discussion. led to an attack by Mr Ramsay Macdonald, Mr Shackleton, and Mr Henderson upon Mr Ben Tillett for his scathing pamphlet, "Is the Labour Party a Failure?" The conference got very excited during this' discussion. Fi s t s were shaken, { taunts were hurled across the room, and you may. judge the tone of phß discussion by Mr Henderson asking,. "ls -help given to the Labour party by the man who writes of Shackleton and myself as 'toadies,' ' sheer hypocrites,' ' liars at five and ten-guineas a -time,' 'cruel hoaxers,' softly feline to the purring of ministers,' ' the worst of ranters,' 'press flunkeys to Asquith ,' and such other language in this precious pamphlet?" Mr Ben Tillett and his co-socialists were- heavily beaten on a vote. Last . year, the conference refused a resolution altering the constitution of the party, in order to make it definitely socialistic. On the present occasion o similar resolution was moved otit I of order, but a. resolution was carried by.362,000 to 315,000 expressing the opinion hi- the conference, .without committing the party,- as "a pal-ty, .in favour of " the. socialisation" of tho irefins of production, distribution, and exchange, to Jbe controlled by a democratic state in the interest of the entire community, and the complete emancipation. of Jabour from the. rlornination of capitalism, and land-' ViTdism. with the. establi.shmebt of .social and economic equality between the sexes." -■•.'..