OUTSIDE PARTY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 7

OUTSIDE PARTY.

Socialists and Friends of Soviet Union. ATTITUDE OF LABOUR. Two organisations in Christchurch which formerly enjoyed some measure of support from members of the Labour Party, are now officially frowned on by the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee and the New Zealand Labour Party—the Friends of the Soviet Union and the Socialist Party. The annual conference of the Labour Party, held in Christchurch at Easter, decided that no member of the Friends of the Soviet Union could retain membership of the party, and, following closely on this decision, it is understood that the local L.R.C. proposes not to accept an invitation from the Socialist Party to participate in the annua! May Day celebrations. The party’s attitude towards Socialists is due to the fact that they are regarded as a definite political group, prepared to present candidates in opposition to Labour Party nominees. In the early days, and up till quite recently, the Socialist and Labour Parties were closely allied, but then appeared a new element in the Socialist Party which chose new officials and altered the constitution. Instead of merely confining its activities to propaganda work, the party entered the political field, and presented several candidates at the last municipal elections. Several candidates contested seats on the Christchurch City Council, but one only was successful. As for the decision regarding the Soviet Union, the National Secretary of the Labour Party (Mr James Thorn) has written to the L.R.C. directing attention to the decision come to at the annual conference, and advising it to procure from any candidates a written statement to the effect that they are not members of the organisation. The decision, states Mr Thorn, also applies to delegates to the L.R.C. who are representing branches or unions. If any delegate is a member of the F.S.U. he should be given an opportunity of resigning, failing which the affiliated organisation must be asked to appoint another delegate in his place.