LIBERAL-LABOUR SPLIT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143764, 12 April 1912, Page 2

LIBERAL-LABOUR SPLIT.

THE BREACH UNHEALED. LABOUR HIVES OFF. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 1L Sir Joseph Ward and several members of the new Ministry attended a social given in honour of the Labour delegates here last night, and in view of the present position of politics the proceedings have a more than usually important aspect. The first point of interest to be noted is that Sir Joseph Ward, in connection with the toast of Parliament, look precedence of the members of the Cabinet present. Another point of interest was that while Sir Joseph Ward expressed the opinion that another election would not he necessary, the Hon. Roderick M'Kenzie (iate Minister for Works) expressed an exactly contrary opinion. Then, after the Ministerial speechifying had proceeded for some time, Mr. Hindmarsh, the Labour member for Wellington South, made a somewhat dramatic exit from the meeting. Just after Mr. Hanan’s speech he rose and said: “Mr. Chairman, I refused to attend a Liberal' caucus the other day, so I hope you will allow me to withdraw from' the meeting.” Mr. Hindmarsh then left. The Ministerial delegation held out the olive branch to Labour, but Professor Mills, the labour organiser from America, dashed their hopes to the ground by a repudiation of the Liberal-Labour Party. He said he wanted it distinctly understood that there was now no such party. He believed that the Liberal leaders had done the best they could, but the first task to be undertaken in New Zealand was a political reorganisation. The . Unity Conference was not an effort to unite the Labour Party with the Liberal Party. His remarks were received with loud applause. Labour, having slept over the matter, to-day .emphasised its repudiation of the Liberal Ministerialists in no uncertain terms.

At'the New Zealand Labour Party’s conference to-day some .very pointed references were made to last night’s social and the arrangements in connection therewith. Professor Mills moved: “That this conference sincerely regrets the occurrence of last night and the unfortunate position into which the delegates were unwillingly placed, and suggests a joint resolution of both bodies on the reassembling of the Unity Conference.” Mr. J. A. M’Cullough said it would be well for the Labour Party to deal with the question now in the way proposed. Professor Mills said the question of < the invitations to the “social” and the drawing up of the toast list would be sure to come up for discussion at the Unity Conference. The resolution he had moved simply affirmed the dissent of' the Labour Party in reference to the points he had indicated. The Chairman (Mr. W. H. Hampton) was in full accord with the terms of the motion, and he thought it would be wise if the conference adopted it. The attitude of the United Labour Party of New Zealand to other bodies should go forth in unmistakable terms, and their relationship to all other labour parties should be made clear. With reference to last night’s “social” he might say that he was not on the committee which organised the arrangement of the-programme of the “social.” He had always stood for an independent attitude on the part of labour, and he had sometimes got into hot water in consequence. He would never depart from the attitude he had always taken up. He had affirmed and would continue to affirm that the line of action of the party iu the political field must be absolutely free, independent, and untramelled by any obligation, whether verbal or written, with any of the political parties in the Dominion. Mr. D. M'Laren said that so far as that party was concerned, they were absolutely clear of sending out the invitations to the “ social.” Tljey had right through agreed that the New Zealand Labour Party should be absolutely and entirely apart from any other party. Professor Mills said the arrangements at 1 last night’s “social” had placed him iu a false position. The motion was agreed to.