Labour Party Leader Calls For “Timely Self-Analysis”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29508, 9 May 1961, Page 16

Labour Party Leader Calls For “Timely Self-Analysis”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 8.

The great Labour movement, which had done so much to create opportunities for all, was either rent with discord or crippled by apathy, said Dr. A. M. Finlay, president of the New Zealand Labour Party, speaking on the world-wide scene at the opening of the party’s annual conference today.

The shadow of defeat was deepened by the fact that the Labour Party was in disfavour throughout the Western world, he said.

“Only in some of the recently-created Dominions are Governments in power which call themselves Labour or Social Democrats,” said Dr. Finlay. “This circumstance must give pause to us all, and promote some timely self-analysis.”

Within New Zealand, this thought of self-analysis was engaging members at all levels of the party, said Dr. Finlay. “I know it will be a matter of grave concern to this conference,” he said. “All definitions of socialism had the common aspect of emphasising the social factor, and the brotherhood of man,” said Dr. Finlay. "It is in this realm of social progress and responsibility that the challenge faces us today, the challenge we failed to take up. and have even at times deliberately avoided. This fact was witnessed by the Maori-All Black issue—which, to our shame, we approached on the grounds of pure electoral expediency,” Dr. Finlay said. He would urge the conference to consider a return to the spiritual values of socialism, the recognition of the brotherhood of man. and all that that implied in helping nearby under-developed nations, said Dr. Finlay. Peace must be fought for in the cold war, as President Kennedy recognised with his “peace corps” of volunteers for this work. Dr. Finlay said the present indefensible position of New Zealand could be strengthened by the use of defence funds to provide an international defence force under the control of the United Nations. New Zealand could thus set an example to the world.

Recalling Old Days It was often truly said that, as a party, the New Zealand Labour Party tended too much to recaU the days of the depression, said Dr. Finlay. This was a mistake, as the depression was merely an incident in what used to be a cyclical economy. “The comparison we make should not be with the depths of our economy, but with its heights,” he said. Throughout the 1920’5, the workingman’s place was a lowly one, which neither he nor his children, nor his children’s children, expected to escape from. He was content with a way of life substantially different from that of his employer. He was content with longer hours of work, fewer comforts, and greater fortitude in the face of adversity than other groups in the community. This was the society which had fired the Savages the Harry Hollands, the Frasers, and the Semples, and others, with the zeal for change. A succession of inspired measures had freed the working man. and assured his right to entry into a

world of plenty, said Dr. Finlay. Minimum wages, paid holidays, social security, compulsory workers’ compensation, overtime with adequate pay, better educational facilities and a score of other measures began to give the worker of the 1930’s a position that was envied by his counterpart elsewhere, he said. The Welfare State

"The result was, when we began the last term of Labour’s first Government in 1946, we did reasonably and proudly say we had banished poverty. We said our objective was the Welfare State.” Dr. Finlay said.

This had given rise to the expression, "I’m all right, Jack.” Some saw it as a society in which everyone could say, “Blow you, Jack, I’m all right.” However, in defeat, the Labour Party had seen the measure of its victory, said Dr. Finlay. “Because we had educated or persuaded the Tories to adopt the same goal of the Welfare State, no Government today, whatever might be the individual belief of its members, would dare to interfere substantially with the economic structure erected by Labour, and which the electorate has repeatedly and emphatically approved,” he said.