WELLINGTON CENTRAL

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 306, 21 September 1943, Page 6

WELLINGTON CENTRAL

“Despite the smoke screen put up by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, when he attacked the Communist Party in liirliameut recently,” said -Mr. Mill Appleton (National), when speaking at IVebb ■Street Methodist Hall last evening, "there is a definite tie-up between the Labour and Communist parties and there always has been. Today Labour is dancing to the tune of the Communists for their support in this election, hence the Land ■Sales Act. the first step in nationalization.” Mr. Appleton quoted a statement. of the executive committee of the British Labour Party when. the. English Communists applied for affiliation recently. After declaring that the Communists had been guilty of “somersaulting of the most contemptible kind.” in respect to Great Britain's war effort, the executive stated: “At the most critical moment in British history, when this country was the only resisting .bastion of democracy, the Communist Party seized every oportunity of creating disaffection and defeatism. Every possible grievance was most dishonestly exploited not only in the workshops but even among the worried and anguished people who found refuge iu the shelters of underground Loudon. It is a fortunate cir- ■ ciiinstance for the future of mankind that (his dangerous activity was not more successful.” British Labour, said Mr. Appleton. had no inhibitions about Communism, and he ventured the opinion that thinking New Zealand unionists would follow the lead of their colleagues iu the Old Country, particularly in view of the Communist efforts to "white-ant’ rhe trade union movement in New Zealand. “We should not wait for an earthquake to take over the best holiday tourist houses to cater for cases of neurosis among returned soldiers—or even behind the front line in the factory,” said. Aircraftman C. G. Scrimgeour (Independent) at a women’s meeting yesterday. “At the last earthquake it was demonstrated that if Chateau Tongariro could immediately be made available for evacuated Porirua people, then for the care of war victims all such hostels could be made available. The wife as well as the man could be rested there a' the expense of Hu? country, for on the wife always rests much of her husband's burden. For these views I am called a "Visionary,” but these things are already done in other parts of the world. 'The question of cost will, of course, be raised —but we are spending £150,(100.(100 this year on the war. and there is no question' as to where the money comes from. For that sum (and it could be raised as easily after the war) you could buy up all our “Chateau Tougariros” and provide for the permanent keep of every person iu New Zealand for a year—not merely the war sick ones.

“It has been accepted internationally, and should be treated on that basis,” replied Mr. Sicrimgcour when a questioner invited his opiinon regarding the banning of the use of Esperanto as a corresponding medium between New Zealanders mid overseas friends. "Even the language of our enemies is permitted in correspondence, so I don’t sec why Esperantists should be singled out for censorshiji—particularly as Labour has been using for. 30 years ns a plank of ils election platform lhe promise that the universal language, Esperanto,, will be introduced to the schools.”