The Labor Pains series outlines the Early Conference and Executive Reports of the Labor Party in New South Wales, Australia from 1890s-1917.
This historic collection includes three volumes:
- Volume I - Early Conference and Executive Reports of the Labor Party in New South Wales
- Volume II - Early Conference and Executive Reports of the Labor Party in New South Wales - 1906-1911
- Volume III - Early Conference and Executive Reports of the Labor Party in New South Wales - 1912-1917
Troy Bramston, ALP History Committee Chair and editor of ‘The Wran Era’ writes:
The Labor Pains series is a treasure trove of Labor history.
Michael Hogan’s dedicated and diligent research has brought back to life the reports of the party’s early conferences, from 1892 to 1917. This period sees the party emerge from its foundation years to become a potent political force and win government in 1910, only to later split and see its promising figures banished from the party.
Imagine attending a conference over several days and nights? Witness the party’s early important figures debate, advocate and argue: Watson, Holman, Hughes and the many other hard-working men and women dedicated to the party’s cause. McGowen – NSW Labor’s first Premier – would tell the Conference in 1911 that it ‘was the hope of the civilised world’. Picture the big policy debates: industrial relations, trade, education, immigration, taxation, electoral reform, banking, war. Observe the party struggle to define its purpose, manage its relations with the Parliamentary Party and the trade unions, and dream of a bigger, brighter, better future for all.
Through Michael Hogan’s efforts, readers can now virtually join these true believers at early conferences and witness the emergence of a great political party in the making.
This is a wonderful collection of reportage that has been unearthed from the archives and deserves to be widely read; especially by Labor Party members.