May Day Speech By Mr. Barnes

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1948, Page 5

May Day Speech By Mr. Barnes

Pi'ess Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, April 14. Exceptional interest is Iteing taken in the arrangenwntg. >yhich are, bpjpg made by the Dunedin Alay Day Cclebration Cominittee for the observance of an occasion of importance to the Labour movement. Guest speakers representing the industrial and political La'bour moveinents are being invited to address a public meeting, which will follow the conference of the New Zealand Federation of Labour /and precede the aunual assembly of the New Zealand Labour Party. Air. H. Barnes, of Auckland, national president of tlie New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union, who is at present in Wellington, has "been invited to af) pear as the industrial speaker. and he has accepted. Air. Barnes stated yesterday afternoo^ that he would be attending the Federation of Laboui' conference, and that he had replied to the Dunedin Alay Day Oelebration Committee that he would be verv pleased to address its meeting. He added that he had received no adviee abouit the identity of •the politie.ai .speakers. tf l -py-K-. Rdlitieal, Gboiqe,; ; ? Witliin"'' the ^" LabOUr . mo'V6ment in j .Wellington there is- . already considei'-i abl'e speculation about the choico of Ihe- political representative, and there are suggestions than an invitation will go to someone of Cabinet ranlc, and possibly someone at the liighest governmental level. The letter sfent to Air. Barnes by the Dunedin Alay Day Celebration Committee stated: "Fittingly to celebrate Alay Day, a sub-committee of the Otago Trades Council and the Otago Labour Representation Committee has been set ; up, and it has been decided to hold a meeting in the Town Ilall, Dunedin, on Bunday niglit, Alay 2, with speakers from the political and industrial seetions of the workers, to place before the audienee the significance of Alay Day and the need for solidarity of the working class movement." The convener of tlie committee added tliat Air. Barnes was invited to deliver an address, and to advise whether he would be available.