ANTI-WAR CONGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 21945, 4 February 1935, Page 1

ANTI-WAR CONGRESS

FIRST ALL N.Z. MEETING [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 3. Over fifty delegates, representing trade unions, anti-war movements, women’s welfare organisations, branches of the Communist and Labour Parties throughout New Zealand, were present, and the first All-New Zealand congress against war and Fascism, which was opened on Saturday. Senator A. Rae, a Labour member of tho Australian Federal Parliament, I was also present. Mr W. H. Nugent, organiser of the corresponding Australian movement, said that the meeting was a prelude to a great number of such gatherings and the building in New Zealand of the largest organisation of its ,kind. A resolution was passed pledging those present to organise the great masses of the people of New Zealand into one great united organisation in opposition to war and Fascism so that they would be able to act if called upon to do so with other sections of the world movement in preventing war and the spread of Fascism. With one dissentient voice a motion protesting at the Government’s action in prolonging its terra of office was passed. The programme for the movement was presented and held over until tomorrow for adoption. Strong disapproval of the imprisonment of Gerald Griffin and -Egon Kisch and of the attitude of the New Zealand Government in the matter was expressed by tho congress, which received messages from both.