LABOUR IDEALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 87, 12 April 1940, Page 9

LABOUR IDEALS.

QUEENSLAND PREMIER

NAZI AGGRESSION CONDEMNED

ANTI-COMMUNISM PLEDGE

The Premier of Queensland, the Hon. W. Forgan Smith, who was in Auckland recently and sailed by the Matson liner Monterey for Honolulu, returned by the Mariposa from Pago Pago to-day. He said that had he gone on to Honolulu Jie would have had to wait too for a ship to bring him back, and as his time was limited he decided to return by the Mariposa. after spending one dav at Pago Pago. He will go on to Wellington by train to-night and expects to leave W elhngton by steamer for Sydney at the first opportunity.

Referring to the war position to-day, Mr. Forgan Smith said the invasion of Denmark and Norway by Germany was another example of the Nazi scheme of aggression for the purpose of gaining world power. "All members of British communities should realise that any extension of this influence strikes at the very root of our liberties which have grown during the years," he said. "Particularly does this apply to Labour. Labour ideals and principles challenge the Nazi doctrine at its basis. Labour principles and the Nazi doctrine cannot live in the world together. That is fundamental.

"Apart from Communists, the Labour movement in Queensland is completely united/' he said in reply to a questio'i. '•There has never been any serious diinculty in the State of any kind, but we have the same experience with Cor.imuiiists as other countries. They are the same the world over. The Australian Labour party is definitely opposed to Communism, and every member of the party has to sign an anti-Communism pledge. Whenever a Communist has run for a seat in Parliament he has lost his deposit."

Asked what would be the position if Queensland failed to supply its military quota for overseas under the voluntarysystem, Mr. Smith said he did not think that such a position would ariee. "If the people are made fully aware of the situation the necessary recruits under the present system will be forthcoming," he said. "Twice a referendum of the Australian people has decided against conscription, and when the last vote was taken during the Great War the soldiers serving overseas registered their votes. Two deliberate expressions on the subject by the people is something that must be respected by any Government in power. The people's decision can only he altered by the people themselves. Surely that is good constitutional law."