N.Z. COMMUNIST PARTY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 6 November 1941, Page 6

N.Z. COMMUNIST PARTY

ATTITUDE TO WAR EFFORT REPLY TO LABOUR STATEMENT “It is to be regretted that the National executive of the Federation of Labour and the Labour Party have issued a statement which in reality amounts to a call for disunity of the workers when the greatest unity is needed,” says a statement for the Communist Party (Canterbury-West-land Provincial Committee), in reply to the refusal of the Labour Party and the Federation of Labour to collaborate in any way or associate with the Communist Party. The statement is signed by the secretary of the provincial committee (Mr Travers Christie). “If the national executives are really sincere in their desire to intensify the war effort, and to render the maximum assistance to the Soviet Union, then they should have no hesitation in declaring their readiness to cooperate with all organisations and individuals who are desirous of working towards these ends.” Throughout the world Communists were making great contributions to the struggle for the defeat of Nazi Germany and its Fascist allies. Russia and China were living testimonies of the fruits of national unity and the contributions which the Communist Party could make in the fight against Nazism and aggression. “The Communist Party is seeking co-operation with the Labour Party, not on the basis of the past policies or the constitutions of either party, but on the vital necessity for the maximum unity to intensify the war effort and to secure the defeat of Nazi Germany as speedily as possible. We simply say: ‘Let all who are working for the defeat of Hitler get together now.’ The Communist Party is striving for unity, not as some abstract principle, but as a matter of achieving united action by all sections of the people for the intensification of the war effort and for the maximum possible assistance to the Soviet Union. Objectives Stated “Elimination of waste, inefficiency, and profiteering, the desire to see a better-equipped and more efficientlytrained army in New Zealand, and immediate practical assistance to the Soviet Union, are all activities that provide the basis for common united action among all sections of the people. The Communist Party will strive for the fulfilment of the above objects, and will continue to strive for the maximum unity of the people to achieve them. , , “It is to be regretted that the national executives of the Federation of Labour and the Labour Party have not viewed the question in this light, ancl it is to be hoped that the clarification of the position and policy of the Communist Party will serve to close a breach which need never have been opened between the two organisations in the light of the commonness of pur • pose which motivates members of the Labour Party and the Communist Party alike. We pledge ourselves to redouble our efforts to close Inis breach as soon as possible.’