THE LABOUR PARTY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12848, 26 January 1912, Page 8

THE LABOUR PARTY.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF LOCAL BRANCH.

The half-yearly meeting of the Wan■eanui Labour Party was held in the -Druids' Hall last zoning, the attend, ance being «bout 20. Mr T. Lovegrovo presided. A number of new members were enrolled. - ■ 14. 1 Th<J election of officers resulted :— President, Mr W. A. Veiteh M.P.; vice-presidents (provisional), Messrs J. T-Muir and W. J. Jordan; secretary, Mr C Leigh; minute secretary, Mr M. Robins; trWsurer, Mr S. Kernohapj Executive Committee, Messrs G. McKav, G. Love, M. J. McLeod W. E. McCarthy, T. Lovegrove J- CotWl, W Grey, W. Lee Martin W. IVthurf auditors, Messrs G. G. Bullock a:l conStee was sot up to consider the revision of the rules -and the sub*T^iuti<m was i^ed tendering cofwiTOtulations to the successful Labour candidates in the Tecent election* —Messrs Veifcch, -Itobercson, Payne and w4usfeJaTd*o tto WmiinMonJ^our Jountf&"Snd .^Sfreokl^rfade^samst Mr Veitch sund other Labour members in 'regard to their political position. Mr G. G. Bullock moved, and. Mr H Robins seconded a absolution which drastically criticised jand protested :Against, the., articles which were i-ppearhK?' weekly in tho "official or">an "■ Nearly all the members spoko ■ Wrongly, against .tho. P .a^r.Tlireat3 were made to disown it as thft official oi-oaii, and oven to secede^from th« party. The Executive in Wellington also camo in for its share of criticism, for it was considered to have been respoiisible for the present policy, of the. paper. Ail had confidence in Mi Veitch, for they knew him to bo a-, man of Honour, .who wouild not break his platform pledges. , Mr Geo. McKay said he had called on tho editor and explained to him the dissatisfaction at the articles which existed among the workers of "Wangaaiui. and told the editor that there was great possibility of him losing his circulation in Wanganui. All the editor could say was that Mr Veitch had not signed the" pledge, and so was no use to the Labour Barfcy. From >the trend of tho discussion, Mr McKay said ho judged the Wellington people were feeling very sure over the election there. Mr J. T. s Muir considered a mountain was being made out of a mole hill. Who cared what the Wellington paper said f Very few saw it. It could say what it liked j and could not be stopped. It was wrong, aaid the less notice taken of it; tha better, and the sooner it would stop. Mr W. Lee Martin said the paper was'■designated the "Official Organ of the Labour Party," and as sn-oh must carry some wecght with other 'papers, and do harm.

The persistency with which the articles were published and the efficacy of constant dripping water in wearing away a stone were emphasised.

■Mr_G. Leigh and Mr W. J. Jordan, Ofne-tiniS .of WeliEngton, made apolo-, Ket-ic speeches 071 behalf of the journal. •Its present policy was considered to be ruled-.by a heax't sore over the result of the election. It was urged that the trouble should be glossed over and that there should be no raft in the partv\ Mr Muar,-pointed out that even the members,of • Pairltament did not agree. One was an Independent, ' one would •■support Ward-and .the other two would vote to .put Ward out. ~

Mr Lovegrove. said it seemed lo him ■that the.pawer was 'no.w being run by the Ward party."■".'" " After considerable further discussion >fche r>esalution flpras put and ■■.carried unanimously, ' and it was also decided, after mm-p^ discussion, that the motion should not h& " published," *but that it should be -sent onlyr to xthe offendijig /jouriial" emd the conference. / . , ~,,>

v 'dth©r matters wei-G'then- dealt with, mainly in connection with ~4h© 103411- - The; abolitdon o? the pledge is to be^obaisidored, and-tlie looal ijramoh 'also sugtrests; that overv branch,shoiild.;plaMlaind carry out "its own campaigns. Several ; resolutions were carried. ~..,.„ > :■■--.• .-.<-, -•>•? ;:

At tha h?xt nioirthlv mo'efcing, 3iomi■nations are to be considered, and a selectwn nwdecf a camlidate for-the VVojngamui Mayoralty. '. '■:■ -.'...