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Re men *f Jl*ri*vt, 2*l2/6S. 



History of the Month. 



us 



The N.S.W. 



Labour 



Conference's 



Platform. 



The annual Conference of the Poli- 

 tical Labour League of New South 

 Wales, which has just been con- 

 cluded, has adopted for its fighting 

 platform for this year — (1) Free Education, (2) 

 Land and Finance, (3) Civil Rights, (4) Australian 

 Act Amendment, (5) Economic .Government, (6) 

 Workmen's Compensation Act, (7) Closer Settle- 

 ment, (8) Progressive Land Tax. Number 5 in- 

 cludes the abolition of the Legislative Council, the 

 office of State Governor, and some other offices 

 which are considered unnecessary. It is noteworthy 

 that a resolution was passed expressing sympathy 

 with the reformers in Russia., who are striving to 

 destroy autocratic power, and to secure political and 

 economic justice. Here, as I have pointed out 

 before, among workers of other nations, may prove 

 the bond of union which will bring about the day of 

 universal peace and world-wide brotherhood. 



What is to be the dominant cry at 

 The Next the next elections ? Mr. Reid says 

 Battle Cry. that it is to be Socialism, or rather, 

 from his point of view, Anti-So- 

 cialism, although most people recognise that the cry 

 will be a futile one, because of its vagueness. The 

 Government states that it intends to inscribe upon 

 its flag in large characters — Protection for the Manu- 

 facturer, for the Worker, for the Consumer ; while 

 the Labour Party, which is divided upon the ques- 

 tion of Protection and Freetrade, will advocate 

 various social and economic reforms without ventur- 

 ing very far into either region of Protection or Free- 

 trade. What the outcome will be is difficult to fore- 

 see. Under our present system of voting it is pos- 

 sible, and probable, that no Party will secure a 

 majority. One very necessary reform is that of our 

 method of voting. The special article by Professor 

 Nanson in the January number of " The Review of 

 Reviews " makes evident the folly of our present 

 methods, and points out the way of electoral salva- 

 tion. It is curious to note that Mr. Reid fights so 

 shy of Free Trade, while his opponents with no 

 uncertain voice proclaim their intention to promul- 

 gate and uphold its opposite. 



General disappointment will prob- 



The N.Z. Labour ably be expressed at the decision of 



Parliament. employers of New Zealand not to 



meet the Labour Unions in the pro- 

 posed " Labour Parliament." Nothing could have 

 been lost by either Party meeting in conference, and 

 seeing that conferences are the order of the day, and 

 that they indicate such a huge stride in human pro- 

 gress, it is a pity that this decision has been ar- 

 rived at. However, it seems as though Mr. Seddon 

 does not give up all hope of bringing the Parties 

 together to discuss questions of common interest to 

 both, for in a speech he lately made he said that 

 although a great opportunity had been missed, he 

 hoped that another might offer, and that it would 

 be embraced. 



Frederick viii., the New King of Denmark. 

 (From a Picture kindly lent by the Danish Club.) 



7he Before very long the delegates from 



International New Zealand and Australia, in the 

 Postal persons of Sir Joseph Ward and 

 Conferenee. Mr> Chapman, the Federal Post- 

 master-General, will be on their way to attend the 

 Postal Congress at Rome. Sir Joseph Ward has 

 made an important statement to the effect that one 

 proposal he will make will be that the postage 

 on letters to all parts of the postal union shall be 

 one penny per \ oz., and that he intends also to 

 propose a reduction in the rates of postage of papers 

 to a ^d. for 4 ozs. This proposal is not at all pre- 

 mature. It is time that means of communication 

 by letter and newspaper between nations should be 

 made much cheaper. We are apt sometimes to for- 

 get that easy means of communication may be the 

 means of stimulating the spirit of brotherhood. The 

 more we know about one another, and the more we 

 miter into the lives and interests of other people., the 

 more likely are we to desire to live in perpetual har- 

 mony. Sir Joseph hopes to push forward his scheme 

 for granting the Commonwealth and New Zealand 

 separate votes. Certainly as far as importance and 

 geographical position are concerned, New Zealand 

 has the right to a separate vote. The only difficulty 

 that is likely to stand in the way is the fact that it 

 would very materially increase the voting of the 

 British Empire. It is exceedingly encouraging also 

 to know that Sir Joseph said that he hoped it would 

 be possible at the Conference for the union to pro- 

 hibit the transmission of gambling and lottery cir- 

 culars through its territory. 



