THE AMERICAN FLEET

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 6 May 1926, Page 10

THE AMERICAN FLEET

ATTENDANCE AT OFFICIAL

WELCOME

j£R. HOLLAND'S ACTION CRITICISED.

When the American navy visited $ew Zealand in August last, the Leader of the Parliamentary. Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) attended the welcome which was extended to the visitors and delivered a speech. His iaction did not meet with the approval tot some members of the New Zealand Labour Party, and at the recent conference some criticism was levelled at the Labour leader. Mr. E. E. Canham (representing the jWateraiders' Federation) moved the following motion: — "That conference records its disapproval of any industrial or political fepresentative of the workers being associated with or present at any function in connection with militarism, jia-alism, or any other ceramony not in accordance with the objects of the New Zealand Labour Party or the New JZealand Alliance of Labour." According to the official report of the '•onference proceedings, Mr. Canham said he quite understood Labour members making commendatory references ■when prominent political leaders died, because they have been brought into daily contact with them, but there was no point of contact between the Labour movement and militarism and mavalism. They were anti-Labour definitely. Mr. Canham added that he realised the great services Mr. Holland tad rendered to the Labour movement, but no member of the party should be given the right to go to these functions si their representative without hindrance and criticism. After explaining the circumstances leading up to his decision to attend the •welcome, Mr. Holland said that ho had decided to deliver a speech tha'; would clearly the party's views on armaments and peace. He had done this, and he thought he could say that very seldom had such au utterance been made at a function of that character anywhere. He thought the resolution Was quite impossible, and, if carried, it ■would have the effect of disfranchising the party from holding high offices in the country. No Labour Mayor, for instance, could welcome representatives of other countries if they came as units in their armies and navies, if the motion were adopted. To refuse ; to give visitors a welcome because they represented militarist institutions would only have the opposit. .ffect from that sought by supporters of the motion, because it would arouse enmity and bitterness where understanding and good feelings were necessary. The motion was rejected on the Jroices.