Communists Claim Party Thriving

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31032, 12 April 1966, Page 1

Communists Claim Party Thriving

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 11. “Anyone who thinks the Communist Party of New 7 Zealand is dead would do well to take a closer look,” said the national secretary, Mr V. G. Wilcox, commenting tonight upon the party’s annual conference which closed this week-end.

The success of the conference had demonstrated the strength of the party on a national basis, he said.

Representatives from the Communist parties of China. Belgium and Australia attended but no-one from Moscow was invited. The omission , had been deliberate, said Mr Wilcox. “We did not consider it was necessary to invited them because we have certain matters we have to discuss before we could consider they are in the

same class of Communists.” A resolution setting out the New Zealand party’s standpoint on international affairs at large had been adopted unanimously, he said. The tenor of this resolution, moved by Mr Wilcox himself, expressed strong opposition to New Zealand “toeing the American line."

There was a danger, said the resolution, that New Zealand would become a colony of the United States. The Communists stood for the national liberation of the New Zealand people.

Mr M. H. Williams was reelected national president and Mr Wilcox was re-elected national secretary.