RUSSIAN ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN N.Z.

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1948, Page 3

RUSSIAN ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN N.Z.

WELLINGTON, August J 6.

“By adopting resolutions at its conr Terence directed towards increasing co-operation with entrepreneurs and towards infringement of the rights of the workers, the New Zealand Labour Party has completely exposed itself as the zealous agent of the capitalist magnates,” said the Red Star, the Soviet Army newspaper, in a recent article.

Extracts from the Red Star article, which covered one column and threequarters, are as follows:— “A conference of the party was held at the beginning of May. Those taking part in the conference wanted to prove that they could serve the interests o’f the capitalists no worse than their London teachers. They concentrated their attention on such questions as the combating of the threat of Communism in general and in New Zealand in particular, and on the combating of strikes and disputes in industry. “Slanderous Attacks” * “A long report was made at the conference on the activity of the Labour Government of New Zealand by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser). He only lightly touched upon the work of the Cabinet, but dwelt in great detail on international problems, conscientiously putting forward the views of his mentors. He spoke in favour of liquidating the veto in the Security Council, of support for a bloc of Western European States, etc., and his report abounded in slanderous attacks upon the New Zealand Communist Party and the Left Wing of the trade unions.

“In his attacks on Communism, the Prime Minister was supported with particular ardour by the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple), well known for his reactionary views. Mr Semple zealously prepared for the conlerence, touring many New Zealand cities, making reports against the Communist Party, and even writing quite an extensive composition on this question, which the conference approved by a majority vote. Right Of Expulsion

“At Mr Semple’s proposal, a resolution was adopted giving the right to lower Labour Party organisations to expel any member who dared publicly to criticise the official line of the party leadership. “Imitating their London colleagues, the New Zealand Labourites are copying their methods of attacking the working class. With the aim of halting the increase in strikes and conflicts in industry they have begun a bitter campaign against the Communists, whom they are removing from the trade union leadership. They are organising legal prosecution.”