THE LABOUR PARTY'S POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 68, 20 March 1919, Page 7

THE LABOUR PARTY'S POLICY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In your issue of yesterday you published a telegram from Wellington indicating the progress of the Labour party. After reporting my view of that progress your correspondent says: — "The weakness of Mr. Paul's case for the Labour party is its lack of a constructive policy. At present he and his colleagues are appealing to the electors solely on the sins of omission and commission of the other parties." Now, sir, those statements are absolutely incorrect in substance and fact. The" Labour party must expect the opposition of the daily Press. It will not, however, tamely submit to a studied policy of misrepresentation by the daily Press. The Labour party has a constructive policy, as outlined in its platform. It is not living in the past—it must live in the present, and prepare for the future. Therefore, it must pursue a constructive policy. Now, I ask you, sir, to tell the people that Labour has a constructive policy. You may disagree with it, but you cannot fairly tell the people we have no 6uch policy. Again, you must not say—unless you desire to misrepresent the Labour party—that my colleagues and myself are appealing to the electors on the sins of omission and commission of the other parties. At all our meetings we place first importance on our constructive policy and proposals. The sins of the parties opposed to Labour are so many and varied that they very fully and effectively condemn those parties. Even you, sir] dare not tell the people that those parties and policies have been a success, and when you do prophecy a future for the Liberal party you insist that it must be a new and rejuvenated Liberal party. The fact is, tbe old gang is dead. The new dayis with us, and the new day brings the new need —a vigorous and virile Labour j party, with a policy to meet that need.: Public opinion will ultimately force you, to recognise the inherent advantages for! the people in the Labour party and its policy. lam enclosing the Labour j partyjs constitution and platform, and the publication of the platform will showi that your Wellington correspondent mis- j informed the people when he said we had no constructive policy. —I am, etc., ; J. T. PAUL, President N.Z. Labour Party. March 19, 1919, ~ .., ._„_^_t\t\