THE CASE FOR LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 12

THE CASE FOR LABOUR

MEASURES FOR DEFENCE OF DOMINION MR W. J. LYON DENIES CHARGES OF PACIFISM International organisation would not be needed to form New Zealand into a Socialist state, said Mr W. J. Lyon, Labour member of Parliament for Waitemata, In an address at St. Albans last evening. Mr R. M. Macfarlane, secretary of the Canterbury Labour Representation Committee, presided over an attendance of 150. Mr Lyon’s purpose was to present the Labour Party’s case, said Mr T. H. McCombs. M.P. Labour had only one newspaper, he said, and was thus unable to use that medium as much as other parties were abie to use it. • “Choice bits and anything that may be used to our detriment are picked out of our speeches,’ said Mr McCombs. “Mr Lyon has addressed several meetings in Canterbury. So far, apart from a few paragraphs, the Christchurch newspapers have not deigned to recognise his presence. The Labour Party had been criticised for being pacifist and unpatriotic, said Mr Lyoh. Actually it had done more for the defence of the Dominion in 18 months than other parties had in 13 years. Proof was furnished by the greater defences at Wigram and at other airports, which had been transformed in two years. . , “Some have told us the increased prosperity since we came into power is a result of the improvement in world trade,” said Mr Lyon. I agree that this was partly true. Unless the present Government was m power, however, the people would not h av ® confidence to spend as they are doing. Every voter should gain an understanding of all schools of thought before the next election. They should ep.in a knowledge of Labour’s accomplishments. The party’s policy was a complete change from those of previous reactionary governments. Mr J. Roberts (president of the Canterbury Labour Representation Committee) moved a vote of confidence, which was carried unanimously. Mr Lyon has been conducting a tour of North Canterbury during the last week. He has addressed meetings at Belfast, Cheviot, Hornby, Papanui, Southbtidge, and Lower Riccarton.