TRADE UNIONISTS ON WORLD TOUR

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 150, 21 March 1939, Page 10

TRADE UNIONISTS ON WORLD TOUR

Workers’ Organization

FREE TRIPS ARRANGED FOR CONVALESCENTS Eighteen English trade unionists, on a world tour organized by the 'Workers’ Travel Association, London, arrived at Wellington yesterday by the Awatea from Sydney. They were welcomed at the wharf by New Zealand Labour representatives, aud were later entertained by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. . . The Workers’ Travel Association existed for the provision of cheap travel facilities for working people, explained the leader of the party, Mr. T. Groom, in an interview. It was non-party, non-sectarian, and non-profit-making. In 1921 trade unionists from various countries assembled in Geneva for an International Labour Office conference. A group of nationals who for 4-J years had been trying to blow one another’s heads off were discussing labour conditions amicably round a table, when a German suggested it was a pity they could not meet more often under similar conditions.

Au English delegate, the late Cecil Rogerson, took up the idea, raised some money from the Trades Union Congress, and organized a visit to Germany by a trade union party. From that first visit originated the association, comprising trade unionists, workers’ educational associations, women’s guilds, and other labour organizations. In the first year the association sent abroad 700 people. Last year it sent 65,000. Today anybody could book a tour through the association; on doing so he automatically became a member for two years. One could make an eightday trip to Belgium, with sight-seeing bus tours, for as little as £4/10/-. From every booking a shilling was deducted for the provision of tours for couvalescents in need of a trip but unable to afford it. Anybody could be nominated, and the ease would be investigated. The identity of people helped in this way was not divulged. Mr. Groom said that he had long been associated with the English Labour movement. He was formerly attached to Sir Robert Blatcbford’s paper “The Clarion,” but had now retired.

The party intended spending a mouth in New Zealand, approximately a fortnight in each island. They had come via Suez, India, Ceylon, and Australia, and would return to England by Honolulu, and Canada.

The party comprised folk drawn from many walks of life, including a Cockney who had spent 40 years of his life in London as a postman.

BENEFITS OF TRAVEL

Party Entertained By Mr. Savage Members of the British Workers’ Travel Association who arrived at Wellington yesterday by the Awatea and a number of other guests were entertained at morning tea yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. In welcoming the visitors, the Prime Minister said that the Government thought it was a good thing that everybody should see New Zealand. This did not apply alone to visitors from overseas, but also to New Zealanders, specially the young people. “It is a great advantage,” said Mr. Savage, “to be able to compare the conditions of one country with those in other countries. Such comparisons encourage progress. The British Workers’ Travel Association is also to be congratulated on its efforts to enable British people to see the countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations. It is probable that you will hear something about liabilities in New Zealand, but you will find that there are assets, too. Had you come here in 1935 and compared conditions then with the conditions prevailing today you would see a remarkable transformation.

“We have got a lot of things to do,” said the Prime Minister, “but in the doing of them we want the British people to believe that we are with them body and soul. We have every reason to be proud of our British ancestry, and it is our duty to live up to its high traditions.” Mr. T. Groom said on behalf of the association that they were delighted with the friendly and hospitable reception given to its members on tour. “This is the first time the head of a Government has given us a welcome,” he added. “We are grateful for the demonstration- of friendship.” There never was a time when there was greater need of a closer alliance between the people of the Old Country and those in the Dominions for the purpose of safeguarding democracy against the totalitarian States.