F.O.L. On National Party's Policy

Chronicle (Levin), 10 November 1949, Page 9

F.O.L. On National Party's Policy

WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. Called to 'discuss the recent statements by Mr. S. G. Holland, Leader oi the National Party, on his indus£ri&i policy, the fuil National Council of the Nevv Zealand Federation of Labour met in Wellington today. TJie Councii isgued a statement eondemning Mr. Holland 's policy and calliiig: "An enlightened democraey" not to vote for the National Party at the General Election. The meeting also heaxd anJ address by the Minister of Finance^. (Mr. Nash) after which it pledged fuil support to the Labour Party. A proposal that the Federation should abstain from pledging itsolf. to any political party was supported by only' a small niinority. The official report of the meeting said the following resolution was ado^ted unanimously oh the recommendation of the national executive: —

{'That the Federation of Labour roafnrms its loyalty to the constitutional democratic form of government aeeeptod throughout our British Commonvvealth. Therefore, in linfe with this affinnation, the Federation of Labour must aeeept the deeision of the people of this country as expressed in the coiuing General Elections. "Hovvever. the Federation of Labour will retain its constitutional right to resist by all lawful means any proposals infringing on the inherent rights ot worlcers orgauised in trade unions as advocated by Mr. Holland and the National Party which is in direct conaict with established huinan rights as adopted in the eonvention on freedom of association by United Nations and the International Labour Otganisation in 1948. ....

"That the Federation of Labour urges an enlightened domocracy such as exists in New Zealand not to^ elcct .to power a party wliose declaxcd intontion is to plunge our workers and country baek hundreds of years by the blacalisting and oconomic outlawry of our workers in deliance of all humanitanau trends and in faee of all world opinion. . . . .i, ' ' That the Federation of Labour will also oppose by every lawful means available the Natioualist proposals ior the blacklisting of workers, the demal of the freo man's right to work and use by the state of starvation as a weapon against workers, their wives mut children.

"That the Federation of Labour wiU onlist the eooperation and support of trade nnionists in other countries, and particularly in tho British Isles, whose workers are the principal buyers of our butter, meat and cheese to provent any threatenod onslauglit of totalitariao i'orces in any i'orm. . "That the Federation of Labour calia upon everv worker in this eomitry and beyond for steadfastness in meeting this first assault of reactionary forces tainted with a Faseist policy to the epa that trade unionism may not step by step suffer withont a struggle the prugressive eclipse which overtook the trade union lnovoment by totalitanan forces." '