LACK OF CO-OPERATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1938, Page 8

LACK OF CO-OPERATION

THE LABOUR PARTY

"TWICE IT HAS REFUSED"

(Special to the "Evening Post.") CHRISTCHURCH, This' Day. Under the heading "When Labour Failed," the "Star-Sun" today state's editorially:—'

"In this election Labour falls back inevitably on one argument, and one argument only. Its subject is 'What happened during the depression?' In the depression thousands of people suffered hardships, thousands of men were on relief, and thousands of women and children depended on charity for food and clothing. These troubles are laid at the door of the Forbes Government, but what is the truth? What did the Labour Party do to relieve the situation? Mr. Forbes, then Prime Minister, Called a conference* of the parties, and United, Reform, and Labour were all represented in the Prime Minister's room in Parliament House. Mr. Forbes proposed that, in view of the unprecedented troubles that afflicted the Dominion, the three parties should combine to form a National Government, so that all parties might unite to devise a means of assisting those in distress. The Reform Party agreed, but the Labour Party refused because it saw a chance of making political capital out of the distress in the Dominion, and for no other reason. The Labour Party turned down an opportunity of helping those in trouble owing to the slump, and now it has the affrontery to blame the effects of the slump on two political groups that had the patriotism and courage to face their troubles.

"Once before in a great crisis the Labour Party had an opportunity and an invitation*; to assist in the government of the country. That was during the Great War, when Mr. Massey, the then Prime Minister, invited the Liberal Party and the Labour Party;to unite in forming a Government.' The Liberal Party, under Sir Joseph Ward, at once agreed; the Labour Party refused. Twice»in twenjty-five years the Labour Party in Parliament has had an invitation to come to the jaid of the Empire and of the Dominion. Twice it has refused. What right, then, has Laboui-, or any Labour supporter, to make politjcalvcapital: now.'.-,<^t-.'- of either the Great War or & slifmp?"