BRITISH LABOUR PARTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 235, 3 October 1929, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR PARTY

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENS WIDESPREAD INTEREST SHOWN [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Sept. 30. Widespread interest has been aroused regarding the annual meeting of the Labour Party, which opened this morning at Brighton, under the presidency of Mr Herbert Morrison, Minister of Transport. Seven hundred delegates attended. The present conference will, it is believed, mark an important change in the character of these annual gatherings. In the opinion of Mr Morrison as expressed in an interview, the conference will tend iicreasingly to be a deliberate body, devoting itself to the considered discussion of a few big and important issues. These debates will be initiated during the next few days by declarations of Ministers. Mr Morrison’s address opens a wide field for discussion to-day. To-morrow Mr J. H. Thomas will outline his employment policy. The Foreign Secretary (Mr Arthur Henderson) will review the whole international ield on Wednesday, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Philip Snowden) will state his financial policy on Thursday. Apart from these discussions, -he conference will be mainly occupied with the consideration of alterations to the constitution, the annual report and party finance. Changes in the constitution are put forward by the executive with a view to meeting the growth of the party, and they have been under discussion for several weeks by affiliated organisations. Some keen debates are likely to arise on certain of the proposals in regard to what is the most effective instrument for carrying on the work of the party in the country and in the House of Commons. President’s Address Mr Herbert Morrison, Minister of Transport, in his opening address at the Labour Party Conference at Brighton, said it was not without justification that the Labour Party was regarded as a miracle of politics. Its progress in the comparatively short period of 30 years was the outstanding romance of public affairs. “When we recall the attitude of the people to our principles in the early days of that great soul, Keir Hardie, we may well pause and marvel at the peaceful change that has come about. The trade unions have not only contributed substantially to the party finances; they have performed valuable political education among their millions of members. It is a source of strength and not of weakness that the Britifh Labour Party is so closely bound up with trade unionism.” Referring to the success of the Government and its foreign policy, Mr Morrison said Mr Snowden’s great success at The Hague had been acclaimed by the whole nation, and after 11 long years the troops of Britain. France, and Belgium were leaving the Rhine. One of the most intractable of all British problems of foreign policy—relations with Egypt—was on the way to a happy solution through Mr Henderson’s genius for doing the right thing with resourcefulness and courage.

In regard to Russia, the Government he hoped would be in a position when Parliament met, to announce the reestablishment of British relations with Russia. Home Affairs Regarding Home affairs, Air Morrison said: “In these affairs no less than in international affairs, the Labour Government has taken its first important step in putting into operation the policy to which it is pledged. It is busily engaged in translating into legislature and administrative detail more immediately many measures of industrial and social reorganisation necessary to raise the standard of the materia] and intellectual life of the community. Being handicapped by its minority position—the reality of which handicap must always be kept in mind —nothing can be done in which the opposition parties are not in a position to support.” With regard to the nation’s industrial equipment, Air Alorrison said that some of the most important industries had undoubtedly lagged seriously behind our foreign rivals. The present stage was necessarily one of inquiry. Authoritative committees had been appointed to investigate the iron and steel and cotton industries. while the form of inquiry into the fishing industry was under consideration. The Government’s plans on the coal industry as a whole were also in course- of preparation. Referring to the social record of the Government, Air Alorrison mentioned that some outstanding anomalies of the Widows’ Pensions Act would be dealt with in a Bill to be introduced early in November, and the whole pensions position would be overhauled. Plans to give effect to the Government’s general policy on housing, slum clearance, education and pensions would be presented during the coming months. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS SNOBBERY SUGGESTED [ Australian Press Assn. ] Received Oct. 2, 10 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 2. The Labour conference discussed the new draft for the constittuion of the Party. An acrimonious debate was aroused by the proposal for the executive to create a new class of associate members who would not be associated with the local Labour Party but w r ould pay a guinea subscription. This was denounced as “superior” person snobbery.” The clause was finally withdrawn.