At Queen's Hall

Over 900 Laborites attended the annual conference of the British Labor Party, which was held for the first time in ten years at London, Queen's Hall.

Figures. The report of the Labor Party executive was presented. A decrease in membership of over 700,000 during 'the past year accounted for expenditure of $87,400 over receipts. The balance in the hands of the party is now placed at $18,400. The present membership is 3,310,000.

Lady Astor. A motion raising an objection to members of the Labor Party accepting Lady Astor's invitation to meet royalty at dinner received a rebuff. Even some of the ultra-Laborites protested against the attempt to restrict the private actions of the Party's members. But Mr. Medland, one of Lady Astor's opponents in the Plymouth constituency, said: "I want to ask the Parliamentary Labor Party to remember that in Lady Astor's constituency there are 10,000 labor men and women trying to kick her out, while some members of our own party are trying to establish her."

Prohibition. The commission appointed last year to inquire into the drink question made its report. The commission advised the Labor Party to nationalize manufacture, recognizing " that the enormous vested interests of the trade itself constitute a serious obstacle to every kind of reform." The Party was further warned against direct prohibition, which can be achieved only through local option.

Air Policy. George Lansbury, Labor Member for Poplar, proposed a resolution against building up the Air Force (see page 24) in competition against France. He branded the Government's policy as a preface to a new era of war. The resolution was passed unanimously.

Capital Levy. The major item on the agenda was a question of policy and this hinged on capital levy. The adopted resolution stated that the policy of Labor is to redeem a substantial portion of the British National Debt by a capital levy on a graduated scale, starting with fortunes of $23,000. A saving would thereby be effected in annual interest and payments to the debt sinking fund. It was further declared that the results of the levy would be to abolish food taxes, lighten the burden of income tax by raising the exemption limit, do away with corporation profits and entertainment taxes.

Royal Family. A motion which declares "that the Royal Family is no longe necessary as part of the British Constitution" was laughed out. George Lansbury gave vent to a few gratuitous remarks semi-defending King, Queen and Princes, and ending with the following significant peroration: " When you get the social revolution you may be quite sure that the question of Kings and Queens and Presidents will be settled."

Communism Repudiated. An application made by the Communist Party for affiliation with the Labor Party was defeated by 2,514,000 votes. This is the third time communism has been thrown down by the Labor Party. Mr. Frank Hodges, prominent Labor leader, said: " The Communists in Great Britain are, so to speak, the children of the Moscow party, whose thesis is that their members should get into their enemies' camp so that the orders of their party might be carried out. Russia has nothing to teach the political democracy of the western world. The British Labor party abhors dictatorship and, in my opinion, the British Labor movement is the best in the world-- so much so that the comrades in the other countries look upon it as the most disciplined, the nearest to power and the most capable of maintaining power when it acquires it."

Communist Spurned. Mr. J. W. T. Newbold, sole Communist M.P., was proposed as Parliamentary Whip for the Labor Party. The motion was defeated by 2,000,000 votes.* Ramsey MacDonald, leader of the Labor Party, opposing Newbold's nomination for the post, said that he did so in spite of the fact that the Communist had inaugurated a new Parliamentary custom of bowing to the Speaker.

The capital levy issue was first raised in the House of Commons last March by Philip Snowden, Labor M.P. and author. Before, but particularly since then, British politicians have come to recognize that a capital levy is becoming the predominating issue in contemporary British politics, possibly equal to the late Irish Home Rule question. For example, Premier Baldwin is not against such a levy as the Laborites suggest, although he doubtless does not consider the moment expedient for its inauguration. Nevertheless, during the War he caused his own fortune to be assessed and later gave one-quarter of it to the British Treasury, as he was unable to share in the sacrifices that youth was making for the Empire.

*The method of counting votes In the conference is by unions, each delegate representing the entire membership of his union.