KEEP PACIFIC PEACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20603, 3 November 1941, Page 5

KEEP PACIFIC PEACE

AUSTRALIA READY

FULL AID TO FRIENDS (Elec. Tul. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Rccd. Nov. 3, 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 2. Mr. Alured Kelly, addressing the International Labour Office conference yesterday, said: “Australia is vitally concerned with the maintenance of peace in the Pacific and does not propose to be kicked around by international'bullies. Nor shall we permit our friends to be kicked around. “Australia is a small but not a weak nation and is not seeking protection with nothing to offer in return. Our wartime industrialisation has brought a vast revolution in manufacturing aircraft, armaments and ammunition as well as naval and merchant ships. “This great achievement has not been produced by a single section but jointly by all classes. Such achievements are not accomplished without cost, sacrifice and self-denial. It is the purchase price of freedom. When we have bought our freedom again, we want to be able to use it intelligently, not only for ourselves but for the whole world. Unless we begin now to plot our course, the formidable difficulties will overwhelm us. Inspiring Call To World “The International Labour Office has an inspiring and effective call to a weary world to look forward and upward—not to an idealistic new world or to a grotesque new order, but to something which can be achieved for all mankind through blood, sweat, tears and goodwill.” Mr. Monk, addressing the conference, said the Australian Federal Government, prior to the advent of the Labour Administration, almost spurned any attempt by the trade union movement towards active co-operation in the war effort. He said this was the result of a. hybrid policy of forcing all claims for the adjustment, of wages and working conditions to be determined by the Arbitration Court. He said tliat the Menzies’ Government had exaggerated strikes for political purposes, though there had been very few major strikes in Australia throughout the war. Mr. Monk urged the International Labour Office to adopt a social improvements plan during the war, as it would be too late to talk about added benefits after the war.