SHARP ATTACK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21979, 25 March 1946, Page 3

SHARP ATTACK

“COMMUNIST ANTICS”

MR. MORRISON OUTSPOKEN

LABOUR PARTY ALOOFNESS (10 a.m.) LONDON. March 24. "Within less than a Parliamentary session, we have transformed the mother of Parliaments from a slothful old dame into a bright, energetic and intelligent woman, but she remains the Mother of Parliament which is admired more than ever by the nations of the world.” said the Lord President of the Council, Mr. Herbert Morrison, in a speech at Leeds.

In just over 100 days Parliament had done more than ever it attempted in any other Parliamentary session. Time would show how. in economic stability, industrial development, trade recovery, agricultural prosperity and living standards these 100 days had provided the people of Britain with their opportunity to live abundantly and peacefully. “If the Labour Party is anything it is democratic,” he added. “It is largely because we believe in democracy and because we urge the advantages of government by consent and government after discussion that we resist the Communists and their antics which are attempts, by some subterfuge or another, to impose a single-party autocracy and single-party newspapers on our country. That line of development is objectionable to us. We will have none of it. as the decision of the forthcoming annual conference of the Labour Party, I hope, will show:” Mr. Morrison v/as suffering from a chill. His speech was read on his behalf.

Nearly 170 trade union leaders representing some of the most important industries signed a statement supporting the Communist Party’s application for affiliation with the Labour Party. The application will be considered at the Labour Party’s Whitsun conference. The party’s national executive will oppose affiliation.