LABOUR PARTY SOLUTION

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1931, Page 9

LABOUR PARTY SOLUTION

difficulties of dominion

SOCIALISED CREDIT RESOURCES.

THE PRESENT ORDER CONDEMNED

EFFORT TO WIDEN INFLUENCE

By; Telegraph.—- Press Association. u • Wellington, Last Night. A comprehensive survey of the economic position in New Zealand, was made by Mr. J". Thorn, president of the New_Zealand Labour Party, in his address to delegates attending the fifteenth annual conference of the P ar *y> which opened to-day in the Trades Hall. He said that with the increase in -.- the wealth of the country there should have been a commensurate improvement in the workers’ conditions. Il instead the workers suffered it was a ■ condemnation of the modern social or-

der. , Mr. Thorn referred to the displace- . • ment of men by machines and declared that the remedy was to reduce hours and -to .pay wages which would allow the workers to come effectively into the market. Mr. Thorn criticised the deflation policy of the banks, one of the results of which, he said, was to enrich . th® interest-receiving class and curtail the buying power of the masses. From the position of the Dominion he thought "the following deductions were, reasonable: — (1) That New Zealand’s interests are constantly in jeopardy while it almost entirely relies on the London market, where a disastrous fall in prices may by manipulators and speculators. (2) That the gradual development of New Zealand’s local market is desirable do lessen the need to sell in London, and as our production is increased it should be devoted to the liquidation of our indebtedness abroad. (3) That'to accomplish this develophi ent there should be socialisation of New Zealand’s credit resources and their devotion to the stimulation of the primary and secondary industries. “For myself," I never felt, that the problem presented by capitalist and financial industry for profit to be more intricate and its solution more difficult Allan it is to-day,” continued Mr. _ Thorn. ; “Two - things are certain—-one. is that 4 a remedy cannot be applied by magic; the other is that there is no solution whatever that will take the- workers interests and well-being into account unless the workers unite industrially and politically and are ready for the patient yet determined work involve! in ». reconstructive policy. ..... “The situation requires efforts m the i following ‘ directions: A trades union movement which can visualise itself in the role, of creator of a new society based on co-operation, and which fully apprecialtes the value of political ac- ' tion, because it is -now impossible to confine the definition -of industrial questions to negotiations that go on between workers and- employers; the fullest possible unity- between the trade unions and the Labour; Party, with frequent consultations; in ’ a. spirit of fulness and comradeship Cso that the most vital effect. can: be produced in every situation as it arises; and so that propaganda and parliamentary work might have the full benefit of combination and be encouraged and inspired; contacts to-be-established with the many organisations serving humanitarian purposes throughout the country- endeavours-Mo'/mect- farmers or--mnisations , fof - ’discussion bn common problems;" with - the object of gaining opinion for the Labour Party’s view that the ■ farmers are at least entitleci to the same economic security and advantages as the party is asking for wage workers, and so that the bond of common interest between the two bodies of workers might be strengthened. “.In these ways,” concluded Mr. Thorn, “the Labour Party can widen . its influence throughout the. community and strengthen every tendency towards social growth. It will act as democratic leaven and be an instrument for the rejuvenation of the country.”