Little New At Conference (Press, 11 May 1973)

The Labour Party’s annual conference concluded in Wellington on 10 May 1973, with many observers noting a lack of significant changes in policy and a retention of control by the established leadership, dubbed the "old guard." Despite a record number of delegates, enthusiasm dulled after the Prime Minister's opening speech. The second day of the conference was marked by expressions of nationalism and internal union tensions, while overall proceedings were described as slow. Important topics, particularly regarding energy resources and transport, remained unaddressed, with decisions relegated to the national executive and relevant caucus committees. The major proposed constitutional changes were initially defeated and subsequently forgotten. A card vote demonstrated some division among delegates, particularly between union representatives and branch delegates, though calls for unity were prevalent. The election of Mr C. M. Bennett as the first Māori president of a major New Zealand political party was notable, as was the large margin of his victory. Mr E. E. Isbey, the new vice-president, also advocated for enhanced collaboration with trade unions. A total of 453 delegates attended the conference, holding 858 votes, with a significant voting block from affiliated unions. Although many proposed remits were already part of party policy, some drew attention to Government actions instead. Debate was largely confined to a smaller group of regular speakers, though younger delegates were increasingly represented. Parliamentary influence was evident in the conference's decisions, affecting the language and substance of various remits. One contentious remit on environmental pollution was modified to recommend the strengthening of anti-pollution laws rather than the original call for uncompensated government appropriation of non-compliant companies. Additionally, hot-button issues, such as the recognition of the Provisional Revolutionary Government in South Vietnam and disbanding the New Zealand Security Service, were largely stifled by direct intervention from the Prime Minister and other ministers. However, some remits did pass unopposed, such as calls for nationalisation of breweries, with profits directed to local body finance. Delegates expressed a desire for the abolition of censorship for adults over 18, a ban on cigarette and alcohol advertising, a new national flag, and the elevation of "God Defend New Zealand" as the national anthem, alongside replacing the Royal Honours List with a New Zealand awards system. In summary, the conference proved to be subdued, reiterating the established popularity of Mr Bennett as party president and Mr Kirk as Parliamentary leader, while reflecting a cautious approach to policy evolution and governance within the party structure.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand