ONE AIM IN VIEW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 8

ONE AIM IN VIEW

THE LABOUR CONFERENCE NOTHING IN NATURE OF SPLIT 1 Per Press Association ] WELLINGTON, April 20. Several features of the Government policy that figured prominently in recent references to tne reported split in the ranks of the Labour Barty were discussed frankly by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview. In giving a general review of the conference, Mr. Savage outlined ths policy behind the Government’s decision to control exchange and made reference to the differences that exist over the Government’s monetary policy. Of particular interest was reference to his own position in the party and his firm declaration that he was armed with greater authority than ever before as a result of certain conference resolutions. Referring to the conference generally, Mr. Savage pointed out that there were 600 delegates with the same ideal, but with a thousand and one different ideas of how they were going to give effect to what they had in view. Critics were in lhe habit of coining phrases. They said one section of the conference was orthodox, the other section Left Wing or unorthodox. He did not know if that was fair to the conference because very often there were heated discussions about comparatively small things without any division at all about the objective. There were certain things they all wanted. Not a man or woman who attended would say that the distribution of wealth in New Zealand was equitable. There were people who thought the short cut to the millennium wah by the manipulation of the currency. Others did not think that way, while they freely admitted there was a vast change long overdue in the administration and general control of m'/ney matters. Many Things Involved. “You might find a handful of people who did not worry about anything except the money system, but there arc a thousand and one things invclvcd in the distribution of wealth,” said Mr. Savage. “It is not such a small matter as it might appear to some who really thought the whole thing was brought about by private ownership and misuse of money.” Mr. Savage said it was easy to see there was nothing in the nature of a split so freely talked abouif. There was no great difference of opinion about fundamentals, but there were differences about details. “I know our opponents will always be glad to look for some reason for saying there is a split and perhaps they are disappointed when they cannot find a great deal of evidence of it.” Acording to one section of the Press the possibility of banking legislation was going to accelerate another division in the ranks. He would say to the newspapers responsible for these reports: “Please do not worry.” He did not know how they found out a Minister was going to introduce any banking legislation but the Minister knew the party’s policy just as well as the newspaper people. There would be no division in the Parliamentary Labour Party.