The Press Friday, February 1, 1924. Labour in Office.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17986, 1 February 1924, Page 8

The Press Friday, February 1, 1924. Labour in Office.

One of the cable messages sent, from London when the new Parliament was opened by his Majesty the King described tho Prince of Wales as sitting in his carriage, with his head buried in his chest, oblivious to tho cheers of the crowd. Largo numbers of the spectators, it was added, remained covered while the King passed. At the civic reception accorded to him in Wellington, Mr Massey referred to this cable message with somo indignation. He declared that it must have been "inspired," and that he simply did not believe it, knowing from his own observation how loyal are the people of London. Most people must have fonnd it difficult to believe that the report from which the cable agent compiled his message was not a result of faulty observation, because it was, at the very least, most nnlilcely that the Prince could behave in such a strange way. There are bitter fanatics everywhere, of course, who hate the Monarchy, but these are a very small minority, for the Monarchy is popular and respected even amongst aggressive Socialists. But there are many who would resent any disrespect to his Majesty but who are not at all friendly to the spirit of Empire and actively hostile to the foundations of society, and the security of our King in the

affection of his subjects must not cause us to overlook the fact. Since it took office the new Government has been at paina to combat the idea that there is any revolutionary feeling in the Labour Party, and we have no doubt that the striking speeches of Mr J. H. Thomas have reassured many people who saw the snccesa of Mr Mac Donald with feelings of dismay. It is not to be doubted that men like Thomas, Clyncs, Mac Donald, and Henderson are not firebrands and revolutionaries, and that they , value most of the national and Imperial institutions which are very important to thoso who do not at all agree with Labour policy. If these men were perfectly representative of British Labour, we could accept their control of the nation's affairs without any misgiving. But organised Labour is what it was before its leaders were faced with the responsibility of addressing the nation as its governors. There is much that was worth saying on this point in the speech by the president of the Farmers' Union, Mr W. J. Poison, which was reported yesterday. Ho said that the Labour Party, in Britain as 2a New Zealand, was seeking to lull the people into a sense of security. "But you have got to realise," he added, "that Socialism and nothing "but Socialism is the bedrock objective of the Labour Party, as dis- " closed not only by their platform at "Homo, but also in New Zealand." It is possible that in Britain the Government may take a line so moderate that when another election is held the Labour Party will be able to secuTe the votes of many who will have been persuaded that there is nothing very alarming about Labour after all. This will be possible if the aggressive Labour organisations outside Parliament can curb their tongues and restrain their impatience. It is a real danger. If they could, Mr Mac Donald and his colleagues would make the mass of organised Labour moderate and constitutional, but it is to be doubted whether a militant Socialist party, largely tainted with Communist doctrines, will agree that- the time to be moderate is the time when the victory for which they fought appears to be within their grasp. A Labour leader may spend his life stirring np the masses, and stimulating them with the fiery waters of Socialism and Communist doctrine, with no more terrible object than the creation of a majority which will give effect to his own comparatively mild ideas. But the m'ean3 he has used make impossible his end; he finds that the masses he has organised will not be content with anything less than a revolutionary policy. Responsibility may have a very sobering effect upon Labour Ministers, but it would bo a great mistake to suppose that organised Labour changes its heart all of a sudden.