LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17223, 5 October 1927, Page 8

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

SOCIALISM IN OUR TIME. . PREPARATION OF A PROGRAffSKH. AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received October 5, 11.30 am.) LONDON, October 4. How far the slogan " Socialism in our time " may be adopted with safety exercised the Blackpool Conference on Mr Ramsay MacDonald's motion that the executive prepare a broad outline of its election programme. Mr MacDonald described the Baldwin Cabinet as limpets who were determined in the interests of their own supporters to drain the cup of authority to the dregs. Labour's programme must not be flashy and superficial. The party too long had suffered through unauthorised programmes. It must educate the electorate to face the great fundamentals. A remark of a Communist sympathiser, Mr Pollitt, " Here's a string of resolutions not mentioning socialism," caused Mr A. Henderson, M.P. (Burnley), to complain that there was suspicion in Mr Pollitl's every word, whereupon Mr F. Maxton, M.P. (Bridgeton) demanded that the programme should " not be diluted to meet timid people here, prejudiced ones there, and interested folk elsewhere, but that it be something sure to command a majority." Mr Ernest Bevin asked: "Why talk as if the working class arc entirely class conscious Socialists, when actually there are thousands of working Tories." He added: " I have been in a few strikes, and it has not always been the Tories who were the blacklegs." Mr A. J. Cook appealed for a united front, but no sacrifice of principles. Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P. (Derby), said: "Getting down to brass tacks, the only test is—can you deliver the goods? It is deceit to talk of accomplishing a programme in one Parliament. The executive must be trusted to prepare a programme of which we could say we will see it through." Mr MacDonald, in summing up, de- [ clined to jerry build. " In the background of all our programmes," he said, "is Socialism, not as a nice democratic scheme, but as a completion of what is being worked out on Parliament's greatest stage." The motion was carried, the chairman ruling out an amendment.