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LABOUR CONFERENCE OPPOSED
TO CHANGE IN POLICY
Although there was no official statement forthcoming
on the matter, there were strong indications last night that
the triennial Federal conference of the A.L.P. will not
water down its socialisation policy.
Yesterday a revisions commit-
tee was appointed to study all
amendments to the party's plat-
form and repot t back to confer-
ence to-day.
Delegates to the conference
last night made it clear that
there would be no vital change
in the party's socialisation plat-
form.
Dominating all other matters
on the agenda is a proposed con-
stitutional amendment which
will be considered first when the
conference gets under way to-
day.
This amendment aims at re-
vising the Constitution to permit
Governmental entry into indus-
try, production, distribution and
exchange, and the taking over of
private monopolies.
A delegate to the conference,
known to be expressing the
views of the majority, said last
night, "We are not going to be
led off the path by the Brian
Doyles."
He was alluding to a contro-
versial article written by Mr.
Brian Doyle who is associate
editor of the "Catholic Weekly."
In this article, Mr. Doyle
claimed that there was growing
dissatisfaction among Roman
Catholics with the Labour Party
and discussed the possibility of
the formation of an independent
political party.
He contended that Catholics
could not support the A.L.P.
socialisation objectives in their
present shape and suggested a
"watering down."
The debate on this matter to-
day is expected to be bitter and
provocative.
The N.S.W. delegates to the
conference were busy early yes-
terday morning lobbying support
against any alteration to the
socialisation pledge of the A.L.P.
Conference yesterday devoted
itself mostly to the formation of
committees, and machinery mat-
ters.
It agreed to a request by the
Victorian executive of the A.L.P.
that a deputation be heard from
the A.L.P. members of the Fed-
erated Clerks' Union, the A.R.U.
its sincerity because of the actual
events which have taken place.
and the Building Workers' Indus-
trial Union, concerning allega-
tions of victimisation of mem-
bers of those unions.
The deputation, which is ex-
pected to arrive to-day will, it
is believed, make out a case of
political victimisation against
non-Communist members of the
three unions concerned.
The conference which is be-
ing held at Hotel Canberra, was
presided over by the Federal
president (Mr. A. S. McAlpine)
The Canberra branch of the
A.L.P. last night carried a reso-
lution reaffirming its support of
the policy of socialisation of in-
dustry, production distribution
and exchange.
The adoption of this resolution
followed an address by the
president of the N.S.W. branch
(Mr. J. Ferguson).
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