THE NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 122, 25 May 1932, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY.

As one who was closely associated with the 'fathers of the Labour movement in New Zealand, both in a secretarial capacity and otherwise, from the time of Messrs. J. Ballance, R. J. Seddon, J. Carroll, J. Ward and others, down to the present day, I make an earnest appeal to every time Labourite in New Zealand to keep his and her head in the present deplorable crisis, and to stand steadfast and true to their principles. Rioting, pillaging, strikes and even actual warfare will not get one anywhere, but only lead to further disaster. What profit has Australia and New Zealand derived from the last great war? Both countries are a thousand times worse off to-day than they were in 1914. It was the proud boast of the late Richard John Seddon on his first visit as Premier of New Zealand to London that he represented God's Own Country, and it lias been so designated ever since. I am astounded, amazed, disgusted and ashamed to read the daily happenings in New Zealand in the Australian Press. It is enough to make the founders "of the Labour movement in NewZealand turn in their graves. Of one thing I feel confident, and that is that it is not the native-born New Zealander who is responsible for the trouble. I put it down to a foreign element which knows not New Zealand. From what I see daily in Sydney, Melbourne, and elsewhere, it is my firm conviction that unless Australia takes a tumble to herself within five years the Commonwealth of Australia will be under a foreign flag. I appeal to the Labour party in New Zealand to take constitutional means to settle its troubles, and not to be, as it is at present, the laughing stock of- the world. W. J. P. GAUDIN.