CONFERENCE OPENED.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17222, 4 October 1927, Page 7

CONFERENCE OPENED.

TEACHERS’ DISAFFILIATION SEAMEN’S UNION DISCUSSED, SERIOUS STATE OF FINANCES. - (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) ! (Rec. October 4, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 23. The Labourites have assembled at Blackpool for their annual conference. The first business was raised by a question as to why the Teachers’ Labour League had been disaffiliated. Mr Ramsay MacDonald explained that the teachers are a body they were anxious to have within the party, hut individuals of the league were openly Communistic, and there was no option but to disaffiliate the league. The Conference then gave attention to Mr Havelock Wilson, as a result of the executive’s report expressing regret at the Seamen’s Union secession. Mr Crick asked why was the Union not disaffiliated? No man had, he said, done more to damage political Labour than Mr Havelock Wilson. Mr Herbert Smith moved to omit the word “ regret ” because he said the seamen were better out of than in the movement. It looked as if the executive had been attending a prayer meeting.

Mr Arthur Henderson said that in view of what had recently happened, f the executive, in deference to the Conference’s wishes, would withdraw the word “ regret ’’. The sfternoon was devoted to a secret discussion on the serious state of the finances notwithstanding that the affiliation fees had been doubled.

CHIEF BONE OF CONTENTION. SOCIALISM IN OUR TIME. MR MACDONALD URGES CAUTION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received October 4, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, October 3. The chief fight at the Labour Party Conference at Blackpool centres around the slogan “Socialism in our time.” Already Mr Ramsay MacDonald has bespoken caution, lest impetuosity defers Labour’s ultimate triumph. Nevertheless many leaders are chiding the executive for not having the framework of a policy ready. The executive will meet criticism by an amendment urging that social reorganisation should be the mam plank at the next election.