A LESSON FOR LABOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1928, Page 4

A LESSON FOR LABOUR

(Auckland “Star.”)

Dr Leslie Haden Guest, who recently left the Labour Party in Great Britain, lias now written to Mr Baldwin announcing that he has joined the Conserv'iitive Party. In losing Dr Guest the Labour Party lost just the type of man that it most needs. It lost him owing to the narrow aiid uninformed attitude the party took in objecting to any British troops being sent to protect our nationals during the rioting in China when the Chinese authorities were quite unable to extend protsetiqn oven to their own countrymen. His attitude in supporting the sending of troops was abundantly justified by events. Since bis resignation Dr Guest lias made a toai of parts of the overseas Empire, and tills has convinced him that Britain s progress depends noon closer Empire co-operation. Mr Ramsay MacDonald has just emphasised the libed of Labour to have a positive policy of responsibility; and not a negative policy of selfishness, but tile influence of men of narrower mind in his party is still strong. Tt was partly with a view to combating this narrow outlook that Dr Guest founded the Labour Commonwealth Group, so as to propmte that closer Empire co-operatioit <n which he. believes the progress of Britain itself depends. Until Labour loses its narrow class outlook it ciiunot hope to atrrnet, still less to retain! many men of the calibre of Dr Guest. <