AUSTRALIAN LABOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16781, 26 April 1926, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR

COALITION SPL.iT. BALLOT BOX TROUBLE. (From a Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 10Saturday's proceedings at ihe A.L.P. Conference proved beyond doubt that Mr E. C. Mag-rath, M.L.C., although defeated for the presidency of the Labour Party, is still the guiding brain. It wis Mr Magrath who was the prime mover in both important proceedings of the day—the expulsion of the five Ms.L.C. who failed to vote on the Abolition Bill, and the prevention of the re-admission of those who were expelled because of the ballot box scandals.

The ineffectual opposilion of Ihe A.W.U. to these two moves shows that it is very much in the minority on the new executive, despite its optimism that before long it would be in a position of control. As soon as conference opened Magrath, M.L.C., moved Ihe suspension of the standing orders so that a rumour that those expelled in consequence of-the ballot-box scandal were to be rc-admifted, would be set at rest. lie intended to move that it be an instruction to the executive that no person be re-admitted to membership without the permission of an annual conference. More Past Scandals. In moving his motion, Mr Magrath said that it had been rumoured that the c:<:cutive wouid give . favourable consideration to those persons expelled, because of the ballot-box scandal. He did not understand this was so, and be was tclalb opposed lo any such action.. Mr. Buckland's anxiety showed that they would take the opportunity, if allowed. The history of the matter was fully known, and had been thrashed out at a State and Federal Conference, and an independent tribunal. The decisions had been against the persons concerned. Voices: No. Mr Magrath said he believed that, the matter could be safely left in the hands of the executive. Mr Buckland, opposing- the motion. said that conference had entrusted the guidance of the movement to the new executive. A voice: Bailey had three trials. Mr. Buckland:'Yes, be bad three trials, and was found innocent. The men who were charged with complicity in the ballot-box and sliding panels were also charged with the Edcn-Monaro scandal. They were found guilty in connection with the first matter, but dotectives investigated the Eden-Monaro business, and totally exonerated them. Continuing, Mr Buckland said that the Labour movement stood for doing a fair thins, and the fair thing in this case was to leave the judges to say that if there were new facts brought lo light during the past "12 months, Ihe right thing should be done to those men. From an ethical and moral point of view the motion was wrong, because conference was tying the hands of the executive. He did not care whether they' got back or remained out of the movement. Afl he wanted w?.s justice done. Nobody, rending the evidence piece by piece could say that those men had been proved guilty. No "Gagging." Mr ■' G- Harrison (Parramatla), moved.the "gag," but his motion was ruled out of order. The chairman's ruling was again dissented from, but upheld on a vote. Mr A. Williams (Eastern Suburbs) said that lie wrote up the case for the Labour Daily, and was instructed beforehand to report it against Bailey. Bailey had not made an application, nor would he do so, fo re-admission to the party. "You who are doing the howling now," said Mr Williams, "were addressing conscription meetings when Jack Bailey was fighting conscriptionists." "But so far as the other people are concerned, the executive has decided not to oppose the re-admission of Bramston " On a division, the mothicn was carried by 153 votes to 71. Conference then went on to deal with the cases of the five M's.L.C.Conference carried a motion of sympathy to the relatives of the late Cr. A. Dobson.

After the tea adjournment Mr W. Gibb (Clothing Trades) obtained the suspension of standing orders to move: "That a committee or inquiry of six bo appointed lo inquire into the bona fides of the Women Workers' Union and its relation to (be policy of I lie A.L.P." The motion, after lengthy discussion, was carried with a few dissentients.

The following committee was appointed:—Messrs G. Buckland and Flanagan, Mcsdamcs Melville and Colbourne, and Misses Graham and Cunningham.

Labour Will Govern." Senator Gardiner, who is to retire from the Senate in June next, addressed conference. The light that the Labour Party bad put up, he said, had proved to him that the Labour Party would govern Australia within his life-time. Labour was beaten because of the overwhelming flood of cash at the disposal of lis enemies. If an election were held io-morrow and the workers were well organised, it would not be hard lo turn the scale. Senator Gardiner cautioned the parly against making allacks on the Governor "The action of the Nationalist Parly in trying to place the Governor as a member of that parly," ho said, "is causing a great deal of concern in the place where tiiey least expect it. Labour must not, be put into the fo.isc position of attacking an individual who cannot defend himself. Those people who are attacking us are willing to drag the very throne itself into.dust to serve l.'ic ends of the NationalistCapitalist Parly." A vote of appreciation of Senator Gardiner's services to the movement was carried. One delegate wliq, wanted to know something about Mr Tyrrell and the Melbourne Cup was answered by Senator Gardiner, amid vociferous cheers: "If the late executive is not 100 thin-skinned," he said, "I can answer that. If tiie executive had gone to the previous Melbourne Cup and had not come back we might have won the election." Mr P. C. Evans, late general 'Secretary of the A.L.P., who was expelled from the Labour movement, appealed against his expulsion. The appeal was refused. The Conference adjourned.