As we anticipated, the Labour Party at a Conference on
Thursday week decided to resume its independence and to withdraw its members from. the Coalition Ministry. A xesolution to this effect was carried by 2,117,000 votes to: 810,000. The figures are . of course illusory, as the delegates controlling the block votes of their Unions or Societies seldom represent in any true sense the members of those Unions. But the vote shows that the Labour Party wixepullers have broken with the genuine Trade Union leaders like Mr. Barnes and Mr. Clyrtes, who have done splendid service to their country as Ministers during the last two critical years of the -war. Mr. Clynea himself urged the Party to- support the Coalition until peate was signed, and told the Conference in plain terms that the-Labom-Partywould commit political suicide if it fought the Government at this time. But the LL.P. men, who control the Executive, and most of 'whom- have won =en- viable notoriety by their opposition -to the war and their dealings with the enemy's -Socialist agents, refused to-hear of compromise. The Labour Party is thus split. At least two of the Labour Ministers will prolably remain in the Government, and the electors, we are sure, will endorse their decision.
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