RAISES BIG LAUGH

Chronicle (Levin), 12 March 1949, Page 5

RAISES BIG LAUGH

Press Association)

N;Z. Reaction To Russia's Reply On Slare Camps

(Per

WELLINGTON, March 13. ' ' The arrant. noiisense published- bj the Russian newspaper Trud in Moscov respecting the trades union movemem and eonditions of workers in New Zea land, haa not only caused hilarity in New Zealand but also emphasised thc misleading propaganda which Moseow issues for eonsumption in Russia and its satellite eountries where the people have little or no opportunity of cheek ing the facts," said the seeretary or the New Zealand Federation of Labour, Mr. E. Baxter. "Delegates from tht New Zealand trades union movemeni who visited overseas eountries, ineluding Russia, unanimously recorded the faet that the working eonditions and standard of living of the'people of New Zealand eompares more than favourably with the standard of Iivirig of people in other eountries. Ofiicial statistics, in cluding those issued by- the U.S.S.R., endorse the views and statement of our delegates. We are proud to call our Maori friends fellow unionists. The> have full equality with all sections m every phase of social and eeonomic lif and aetively participate in the -gofern ment and adpiinistration of the country, some having occupied the highest posi tions. Contrary to being "exter minated," our native population, ha^ actually increased in greater proportion to the white population. "So far as class, raee or creed dis tinctions are eoncerned, New Zealand enjoys greater equality than most othe. eountries. Indeed, the peoples of otlici races (ineluding African, Indian, Rus sian and Chinese) have full equalit) with our own people in every 'respeet. No other country has greater equality and it is beeause of this knowledge 1 that the ridieulous nonsense published ■ by Trud has astonnded our people. 1 "If Russian workers were fullv aware of the eonditions existing in New Zealand. it is possible they would

be agreeably surprised. We believe that one of the functions of the iron curtain is to prevent Russian and otliei workers obtaining this comparative in formation. "It will be noted that extensive abuse directed at the leaders and members of the New Zealand trade union movement, arose beeause we, in accord ance with prineiples aetuatlng our free trade unions, requested a free and in> partial investigation into serious alle Mtinris that millions of human beings

were being held in-slave camps of a worse nature and under.worse eonditions that the Germans inflieted on tluinmates of Dachau. We do not assert or deny the truth'-of the asser'tionsi We merely asked for a free investigation into the allegations and an examination of sueh camps. Our country and our eonditions are open for inspection by any person of any country. \Ne do not resent but would welcome any in vestigation from any source. All we expected from our Russian eomradewas for them to extend to us similar opportunities. We have dispatclnm the following cable to the trade union movement of U.S.S.R: 'Regre't you have misconstrued our cable aslcing for full and free inves tigations of allegations into the ehargo made of slave labour eonditions in the U.S.S.R. We offer you every opportunity to investigate eonditions here and would welcome an investigation by Uno in all eountries. We ask you to use what influence you may have to have the same opportunities extended t.n ua.' "