LABOUR AND THE EMPIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 642, 19 April 1929, Page 9

LABOUR AND THE EMPIRE

UNION TACK NOT PARTY PROPERTY MR. THOMAS SPEAKS OUT (Australian ancl N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 1.5 p.m. LONDON, Thursday. In the House of Commons, speaking on the Dominions Office vote, Mr. J. H. Thomas (Labour) said it had been declared that if Labour were returned, disintegration of the Empire was inevitable. A Conservative Member What about last night? Mr. Thomas said there would be no running away from that. The time was long past when the Union Jack could be considered the prerogative of any particular party. The suggestion of disintegration could best be answered by the record of Labour, while in office, also what its intentions were when it was returned to power in June. He quoted the settlement of the Irish Free State difficulty, how Imperial unity had been dealt with, also the Indian problem in South Africa. Labour had been misrepresented on migration. He did not suggest migration as a solution of unemployment, but it was undeniable that it could be made an effective contribution to this. We must face the real difficulties of the position, and Australia and New Zealand must be asked to apply themselves to the problem as it affected them. Labour’s main object, if returned, would not be the disintegration of the Empire, but the consolidation and progress of the heritage of which we are all proud. He moved that the original vote be reduced by £IOO.