CALL TO WORKERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 7

CALL TO WORKERS

LABOUR PARTY SUPPORT OF MINISTRY PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM CHECK TO AGGRESSION BRITISH POLICY UPHELD (Ter Fross Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A call to all members of the Labour movement to whole-heartedly support the Government in every effort made to plan the Dominion’s economic and social life during the present unsettled period was made by the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party in a manifesto issued to-day. The statement reads: “The national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party, in this hour ol' crisis, extends to workers of all countries the hand of friendship. We do not believe any problem is solved by a war that will only leave in its train a heritage of suffering and sorrow. The Labour movement believes firmly in the maximum freedom for the common people of all countries to work out their own destiny.

"Any movement that is based on the negation of freedom can only be regarded as a menace to our aspirations and ideals. We consider that any assistance given to the aggressive Powers is tantamount to an act of treachery to the principles of democracy and socialism. We acknowledge the complete unity of all political parties in Britain during the present international crisis, and we realise the present foreign policy of the United Kingdom Government is in complete accord with that advocated by organised Labour. Further, we are of the opinion that the workers of the United Kingdom,, situated as they are geographically so near the theatre of activities, are in a position to examine very closely all implications of any international turn of events. Collective Seeurily

“The national executive, therefore, upholds the action of the New Zealand Government in standing wholeheartedly behind the Government of the United Kingdom and the British Labour movement in their commitments to prevent continued aggression against free peoples. This altitude is only the culmination of the policy of collective security agreed upon in conference after the conference of the New Zealand Labour Party. “The movement has always held that no nation can be a law unto itself and in collective security alone lies the way to permanent peace. Our Prime Minister, on behalf of the Labour movement and in accord with the desires of the people of New Zealand, •has consistently advocated a world economic conference for the purpose •cf peaceful adjustment of existing inequalities and geographical injustices. The turn of events has brought about a situation which has resulted in a resort to force. There is no alternative. therefore, but to stand firmly against those nations, however just their claims might otherwise be, who resort to force as a means of attaining their desires. Loyalty to our leaders and the movement will convince the world that democracy can act with the efficiency and speed necessary to overcome all obstacles.”