LABOR IN POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1925, Page 1

LABOR IN POLITICS

GOAI.M EXISTS’ BROBLEAIS. AN OFFICIAL STATEAI ENT. WELLINGTON, Jan. 8. The action of the Christchurch Printing Trades Employees’ Union in deciding to submit the names of two members of the Compiunist Party, and another man with Communist leanings to. the National Executive of the Labour Party for approval as parliamentary and local body candidates i.s likely to raise definitely in the ranks of the New Zealand Labour Party, its attitude towards Communists’ methods of producing the hoped-for social revolution.

The national secretary of the Labour I’art.v. AD W. Nash, to whom the question ol the Christchurch nominations was referred, made a .statement which suggests that the Communists must either adapt themselves to the Labour Party’s policy or stay outside. He said that persons desiring to become members of the Labour l’art.v were required to agree to support the objective, platform and principles of the party. 'I lie principles upon which the party worked were those of education and umlm .standing. The methods adopted were propaganda, in all directions, with a view to placing the platform before the electors, so as to induce them to vote

for tin’ party's candidates at parliamentary and local duel ions. The party recognised that tlie social problems of New Zealand will only lie solved by the co-operation of all the people. Candidates at parliamentary elections were pledged to the platform as submitted at tlie election, and members elected will endeavour by the usual parliamentary procedure to so amend or mid to the laws of flic necessity for change, rather than the imposition of new 'nws and new methods without consent. Alter describing the method of .selecting official candidates. All' Nash

added: “The prime essential of progress is tile open mind, and the Labour Baity offers every facility for expression of opinion. At its meetings and at. its conferences it. welcomes new ideas, hut when ilic party's representatives have determined by a majority that certain methods arc best for the attaining of social justice, it requires loyalty to those methods until they are altered b.v the usual constitutional .

method. Tlie party desires the cooperation of all people to attain this end in what it considers tlm nest means, the way of education. There may be other sincere ineinliers of society who desire the same end. hut who suggest different means of attaining it. If so, the La hour Early, as at: present constituted, cannot work with t lieui, and if their methods tend to handicap the work ol the party, the most, sensible thing to do is to ask them to leave it."