SOCIALISTS IN CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3495, 10 April 1912, Page 7

SOCIALISTS IN CONFERENCE.

“HOSTILE TO MILITARISM.” [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . WELLINGTON, April 9At the New Zealand Socialists’ party’s Easter conference, the following motions were carried unanimously : “That this conference declares itself uncompromisingly hostile to all forms of militarism, recognising that whilst the present class state exists armed forces will be used to buttress up capitalists and t-o hold down the worker. The conference further recognises tlnat all the energies of the working class can be most profitably utilised in building up their industrial and political organisations, which shall finally render iwar impossible, _ and which organisations, by international affiliations and alliances between working classes of all nations, are at present the chief guarantee of the peace of the world.” “This conference proclaims its sincere sympathy with those youths and young men who, denying the rights of the State to force them into military service, have resisted the encroachment upon their liberties, and in consequence suffered fine or imprisonment. This conference also declares that the so-called New. Zealand Defence' Act is not truly in the interests of peace, but tends towards war, in that being desired with a view to the co-ordination of military forces of the Dominion .with those of the Mother Country in aggressive as well as offensive warfare, it will he considered by the people-as a threat and a menace to them, and may lead to reprisals; that the enormous costs that would be entailed by carrying out the present proposals is more than can be borne by this community, and mustplace extra burdens on the workers. This conference further declares that no such extraordinary measures as are embodied in the compulsory clauses are necessary in this dominion, and it calls for the immediate repeal of the Act.” A CONCLUSION REACHED. WELLINGTON, April 9. The Socialist Conference was concluded to-day. It was decided to appoint a paid National Organising Secretary for the Dominion, and to procure the services of prominent socialist leetureres to tour the country on propaganda work. Mr. E. G. Howard, of Christchurch, was elected president and the secretarial work was left in the hands of Mr. F. R. Cooke, also of Christchurch, till the appointment of the paid organising secretary is confirmed. The conference expressed its attitude towards Professor Mills’ unity scheme in the terms of the followingresolution: “That while earnestly and urgently desiring the unity of the workers of New Zealand, this Conference is of (.pinion that such unity can only bo effected if bused upon the revolutionary Marxian concentioiv of the class struggle with the Socialist objective clearly avowed and the name, procedure and principles of the Socialist movement adopted.”