MINISTER TACKLED ABOUT COMMUNISM

Chronicle (Levin), 19 November 1947, Page 5

MINISTER TACKLED ABOUT COMMUNISM

Press Association)

(Per

GREYMOLTTII, Nov. 18. The jMinister of Health (AUkh Howard) in her address to about 70u dectors in the Opera House in Grey noutli last night, dealt at length with A*hat she termed the ' ' red herring" ot Ponimunism, but wlieu pressed by luestioners she declined to deuounce v'omniunism or to say that the Labour Party was lOO per eent. opposed to it. Her first questioner, Mr. J. P. Connors, said he would like the speaker to give an answer as to whether the Labour Lfarty was 100 per eent. opposed tq Communism. "I eannot give a straight-out answer to that," replied Miss Howard. • 'Every individual has to work it out 'or himself. After all, I ara a Hoeial ist, luit I am not a, Communist, and 1 believe that t-very member of the Government is just as good a Socialist is I am, ' ' The next questioner (Mr. I. Thompson ) asked whether Miss Howard would denounce Communism, Fascisro ind everv other '"i.sm", as Mr. .T. F. kockington, the National candidate. had done in his address. "I believe in Soeialism and that is

an ' ism ' ' replied Aliss Howard. "But will you denounce Communism?" the same questioner persisted. Miss Howard: I am a Socialist, and I believe in the Socialist philosophy. 1 am not here to denounce any other philosophy, except that of my opponents.