MUST DO MORE FOR BRITAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1947, Page 2

MUST DO MORE FOR BRITAIN

-Press Assoetatio'u

MR. T. HILL'S IDEA OF HOW IT CAN BE DONE

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WELLINGTON", August 12. "We've got to do something more for Britain, ' ' writes the natioual secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. .T. Hill, of Wellington) in the current issue of the watersiders' otlicial joumal. The simple fact, states Mr. Hill, is that the British need food, and he adds: • • Whatever we can do to get it to them must be done." Refuting eharges that the watersiders have been responsible for delays in sending food from New Zeaiand to the British people, Mr. Hill deelares: "Some political opponents, even some people we thought were our friends, now perennially cry: 'Slow turmround of ships; the whariies are to blame. ' "We know our record in this direction is good. We know that we have done as well as anybody else in this country. "But a quicker turn-round can be achieved. It can be achieved only if those who do the work know that the food will- actually reach the stomachs of the hungry British. It can be achieved if the workers know that it is not simply sweiling the pockets of the shipowners. New System Desired. "We will be able to do a more effective job than ever when we are given some say in the running of the 'industry. We know that a quicker turn-round is impossible under the present system, but that there is a way if the workers are oiily given the opportunity to prove it. " Mr. Hill states that victory in war has not brought much to the sorelypressed, suffering British, who have emerged hungry, ill-clad, with only pat't of their world intact, and witli wearied • minds groping for the answers to cconomic problems oiTcring onlv austerity, and more austerity. It has, he adds, become diflicult to know Britain 's real friends and her real foes. "Britons took the blitzing from the start to the linish, " JMr. Hill continues. "Tliey gave all they had." Regarding the Americans, Mr. Hill inakes the accusation: "Those saine ullies would place Britain and all Europe in bondage to the doiiar. Those same people who have sought in flerce anti-labour legislation to enslave-labour - in their own country, are now seeking. to enslave labour and the whole of tne world 's peoples. ' ' We know "wliat happened to a certaiu Merchant of Veuice. Maybe the same tliing will happen to the Mercliants of Washington. . . . Certain well-fed people have learned how profitaliie is the iuterest they can draw ou1 of an investmeut iu liuman sufTering. They have tasted tlie power of the usurer. It has whetted their appetites for more." Luxury — and Poverty. Mr. Hill savs food is available for Britain, but canuot be obtained because of difficulties over the price. He adds: "Pious sentiments have been aired about 'food for Britain' and the 'dear old Mother Country,' but we know seutiment does not feed hungry stoiuaclis. The depression taught us that. It nauseates oue at the same time to read of tlie luxury in which some people in Britain are still able to live while others go hungry. We know that the real people of Britain have liever had an abundauee of anything execpt poverty, but there is no real need that this sliould be so." Asserting that the British sliould be enjoying the t'ruits of a dearly-won victory and that a free and indcpeudent British Commonwealth is necessary to ensure peace and plenty for all, Mr. Hill states: "Every Xcw Zealand worker must realise that it will be a terri/ic blow to tlie indcpendeiice of tlie British people if they are forced to come furtlier under the domination of

9 the dollar imperialists because of the Jack of the necessities of life. " It is our duty, and in our iuterest as trade unionists, that we sliould assist" the British trade unionists from the clutches of Wai! Street. "Assistance for British workers must be viewed by us as fan injury to oue is an injury to all'. "