Communists Say They Help In Aid To Britain

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1948, Page 7

Communists Say They Help In Aid To Britain

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jtme 11. The allegaticm made by Mr. F. F. Walsh in a eircuiar to the Seamen's Uruon that the Communists sabotaged New Zealand's Aid to Britain Oampaigiy was deacribed by Mr. A. ■ B. Skilton, secretary of the Wellington Distriet Committee of the Commun ist Party, as "absolutely false" in a st'atement issued todayl " "During the war years the New Zeafr.id . . Communist Party received great.praise from war- loan offieials for its wOrk on the War Loans Committees, but it was not invited to be represented on the nationai and local Aid to Britain Committees," Mr. Skilton eontinued. ' ' This was no doubt due to the politieal bias of its convehers." The poliey of the New Zealand Communist Party had been made clear in the offieial publication issued last year when it had been stated .tliat the' Party supported the movement for sending incweased food supplies to Britain and would support all eoncrete and reasonable proposals whi'eh would aid Britain. The Party declared als( that "New Zealand' must do everything . possible to a^id the British people." It also wished to see primary and secondarv production increased so that New Zealand would be less dependent on imported goods. "We do not beiieve, however, thal •it is p'racticable or desirable to achieve these . ends at the expense of trade union eonditions and liberties. Living standa'rds have alfeady depreciated since. pre-war davs, and if production was properly organised this depreciat'ion can be arreSted and production itself increased." ..The Partv belxeved that the New Zealand movement to aid Britain and the struggle of the British people for economic indejiendcnce were bound ' up With the struggle for higher living standai'd's both in ISow Zealand and Britain, wilh the niovement for the extension of democraey in industrv and with the proniotion- of democratic policies abroad.