The New Zealand Labour Party in office, 1957-60

Abstract

Elected to office for the first time in 1935, Labour started out with the aim of introducing major changes into the fabric of New Zealand life. They were in many ways obviously successful in introducing major social legislation but the election success also had the effect of bringing about changes within the Labour Party. The 1935 platform could already be described as being "a programme of reform with in capitalism designed to widen the base of Labour Party support while paying lip service to socialism to placate the urban worker". P. Caughley – Ideological Change in the New Zealand Labour Party. Unpublished. V.U.W. Political Science Hons. Research Paper, November 1966. At the first conference of the Labour Party following this election the stated object of the party – the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange - was changed; with the new objective being the far vaguer 'to secure by constitutional means the adoption of the party's platform and objective'. Without going into detail, it is generally accepted that the years between election in 1935 and the outbreak of war in 1939 were the most fruitful for Labour. Growing in popularity Labour again won a resounding victory in 1938 and went into the war period as a well established government. By this time there had already been a considerable expansion of public works, guaranteed prices for dairy products were in force, compulsory trade union membership had been enacted, and the Social Security Act of 1938 had established the base of the Welfare State. One action during the war years; which had its roots stretching back to earlier days of government; stirred up much strife in the party and also weakened it. This was the 'Lee Affair' which culminated on the expulsion of John A. Lee from the party at the 1940 Annual Conference. The result was not only that Lee left but that many members left with him and whole branches collapsed. The result was seen by some as an attempt to make a 'fetish of unity' where 'little room was left for genuine differences of opinion or healthy controversy'. Bruce Brown – P.800, An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, Vol. 2, R.E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington, 1966.