ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 111, 4 February 1935, Page 10

ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

All-New Zealand Congress “A HARD JOB BEFORE US” “This meeting is a prelude to a great number of such gatherings and the building in New Zealand of the largest organisation of its kind,” said Mr. W. H. Nugent, organiser of the Australian Anti-War and Fascism movement, in opening the first all-New Zealand Congress against war and Fascism at the Trades Hall, Wellington, on Saturday. “The movement is achieving world-wide importance, although it is functioning against a large number of difficulties. There is a hard job before us. Our movement is against war and fascism, undoubtedly the focal points of struggles through the whole of the human race to-day."

Over 50 delegates, representing trade unions, anti-war movements, women’s welfare organisations- and branches of the Communist and Labour Parties throughout New Zealand, attended the gathering, in addition to Senator A Rae, a Labour member of the Australian Federal Parliament.

The following delegates were elected to the presidium to control the congress: Mr. C; H. Cole, Mrs. M. J. Ritchie, Mr. K. Baxter, Major W N. Pharazyn. Mr. W. H. Nugent. Senator A. Rae. Mrs ; C. A Rawcliffe, and Messrs. F. C. Ailerby, A. P. Postlewnite and A. Galbraith.,

The problem pt unifying the various peace organisations in New Zealand was referred to by- Mr. C. 11. Cole, Christchurch, who took the chair. The present congress, he said, had been made possible by the energetic work of Mr. Nugent and Senator Rae throughout New Zealand. Resolution Against War. The following resolutions were then passed unanimously “We workers by hand ami brain gathered together at the first all-New Zealand Congress against war ami Fascism, semi greetings of solidarity with all sections of the great international movement against war ami Fascism. We pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to organise the great masses of the people of New Zealand into one great united organisation in opposition to war and Fascism so that we will be able to act, if called upon to do so, along with other sections of the world movement, in the'best interests of all mankind in whatever will be considered the most effective way of preventing war and the spread of Fascism.” “Recent developments in Spain have aroused the whole world to indignation. . . . We emphatically protest and demand of the Spanish Government that an immediate halt be called, and all political prisoners be iinniedia.tely and unconditionally released.” , A condemnation or the New Zealand Government was received in a remit moved by the Auckland Boilermakers’ Union. Members of this union, including severnl who had seen war service, objected to being considered, “cannon fodder,” and raised a protest against the Government's act of prolonging Hs term of office. The motion was carried with one dissentient. Thirteen returned soldiers were among the delegates. Programme of Movement. A statement of the world situation and a summary of the programme for the New Zealand movement against war and Fascism was made by Mr. W. 11. Nugent. “We are living a period of fierce preparation for war,” he said. Such matters as the partition of China. Ihe oil fields in Persia -and the South American crisis were causing intense rivalry among the Imperial Powers, and might easily lend to a world war. Germany was struggling for markets,, and was permitted to rearm as an offset io French power in Europe. In the Far East Japan was playing all the tricks that would lend to an imperialist war and was stripping Great Britain of her markets there. There was limited time for the building of a movement against such a war.

Tin- speaker alleged that Fascism was developing in New Zealand. Such controlling bodies as milk boards and transport hoards placed the country in a position to mobilise its forces in the ease of |i sudden emergency and these indications were a mirror which reflected the rise of Fascism. No. organisations had greater obligations to prevent war than the trades’ unions. lie moved the adoption of the following points to make the programme of the movement:— 1. To work toward the stopping of the miinufncture and transport of inunitions arid all other material essential to the conduct of war. through mass organisations, demonstrations, picketing and. if necessary, strikes. 2. To expose everywhere the preparations for war, whatever form they may take, whether they be direct expenditure for arms, the militarisation of the unemployed by various measures, the strikebreaking powers of the Harbours Amendment Bill, or war propaganda in the Press, schools, nr other places. 3. To demand the transfer of all war funds to relief of unemployment, a higher standard of sustenance for all unemployed and employment on non-wnr work at trade union rates of wages; the restoration of wage cuts, and an increase in education expenditure as well as the total abolition of unemployed camps, whatever their form.

4. To oppose the policies ot New Zealand imperialism in the Far East and Samoa; to support the struggles of all colonial peoples against all imperialist policies of exploitation and armed suppression. and to demand self-determina-tion for the Maoris end the Samoans

5. To support the peace policy of the Soviet Union for total and universal disarmament, which with the support of the masses in all countries, constitutes the clearest and most effective opposition to war throughout the world ; to oppose all attempts to weaken the Soviet Union whether these take the form of misrepresentation and false propaganda, diplomatic manoeuvring, ot intervention by imperialist- Governments.

6. Tri oppose all developments leading to Fascism in New Zealand and abroad’ to expose and oppose tiie growing encroachments on the civil liberties of the masses, the growing acts of dictatorships and repression of our so-called democratic Governments; in narticular to light against the proposed re-enactment of the War Regulations Act

7. To win the ‘innert forces to the snnport of this programme.

8. To give effective support to all antiwar and anii-Fnscist fighters against their own imperialistic Governments and to demand the release of all who are im prisoned in capitalist gaols and concen tration camps as a result of their activities in fighting against war and Fascism 9. To enlist for the progriimme women in industry, on the farms and in the homes, nnd to enlist the youth particularly I hose who because of the economic crisis have been deprived of (raining in the industries and art therefore mor* susceptible to Fascist nnd war nropn ganda.

10. To form councils against war aud Fascism in every city, suburb, town and country centre; in every industry, par tieularly in the basic war industries; t‘‘ secure "the support for this programme of all organisations seeking to prevent war. paying special attention to labour ex servicemen, unemployed, women's and farmers’ organisations and trade unions Mr. G. Watson. representing the Friends pt the Soviet Union, seconded this motion. When the conference was resumed in

the evening a motion of protest to the Hitler Government demanding the release of Ernst Thaelman. and all other anti-war and anti-fascist prisoners was carried.

The world statement and programme were'supported, by Mr. A. I’ostlewaite. of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, who said that he represented 3000 men who would definitely support it.

The New Zealand aerodrome scheme was criticised by Mr. C. 11. Cole, who moved a resolution against unemployed workers being used for construction 'work on this scheme and suggested that the conference, should persuade them not to do so. The resolution was lost. A remit that all candidates for Parliament be asked to state definitely their attitude to war was moved by Senator A. Rae, and left over for discussion. He stated that he thought that the movement was paying too little attention to members of Parliament, some of whom might he able to do effective work in preventing war. After several amendments bad been defeated, the tinal adoption of the programme was left until the next day of the conference. Kiseli and Griffen. The following motion was carried unanimously : “This congress enters the most emphatic protest against tbe unjust and vindictive persecution of Herr E. Kisch and Gerald Griffen, delegates to the recent Melbourne congress, by the Australian Commonwealth Gpvernmer.t. We further condemn the New Zealand Government for refusing to approach the Australian Government with a request for the unconditional release of Gerald Griffen We hold that such refusal definitely lines up the Dominion Government with that of Australia in their mutual support of the world war-mongering and fascist forces as expressed in their attacks upon freedom of speech and all other forms of civil nnd political liberty.” Both Mr. Kisch and Mr. Griffen were elected members of the honorary presidium ot the movement.

The congress continued its sittings yesterday, the chief business being the formation of a constitution. It was decided that the organisation should take the form of n national council comprising 3(1 members with headquarters at Wellington and elected by provincial and local councils. Provision was also, made for a national working bureau of six, resident in Wellington and elected from the national council, its duty being to carry on the day to day work. For the purposes of the movement New Zealand is divided up into five provinces.. I Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch and Dunedin are to be the headquarters of four, and the headquarters of the fifth . province, the West Coast of the South Island, is to be mutually chosen. Provincial councils and executives are io be set up. and local councils founded in suburban districts and country towns. Below these will be the “factory counI cils” to lie set up by provincial or local councils, but which will elect their own executive and committee to carry on work within their place of employment. A detailed system of weekly and monthly reports is laid down in the constitution, the ultimate reports being submitted to the national secretary, who must send monthly reports to the World Committee in Paris. “Membership is open to all who are sincerely opposed to war and fascism or to war'only irrespective of class, political affiliation nationality or religious belief. provided they support the aims, objects and policy of the movement.” A remit was carried calling upon the. executive of the Labour Party and all ?trade unions to affiliate themselves with I the movement.