"COMMUNISTS THREATEN N.Z.”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22587, 16 March 1948, Page 6

"COMMUNISTS THREATEN N.Z.”

MR. HOLLAND URGES PARLIAMENT TO ACT

PASSAGE OF ANTI-RED LAW ADVOCATED

(P.A.)

WELLINGTON, March 16

An immediate meeting 1 of Parliament to pass legislation providing that persons guilty of subversive activities or owingallegiance to a foreign Power should be ineligible for employment in any branch of the public service of New Zealand or in the management of its industrial system was advocated by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, in a speech in Wellington.

“The matter is of such desperate urgency that we should call Parliament together and pass a law without a day’s delay,” said Mr. Holland.

* He added that he believed in democracy and in the right of people to subscribe to any political philosophy they chose, but he did not subscribe to the idea that fifth columnists had the right to organise the overthrow of our democratic way of life. Mr. Holland was speaking at a gathering held under the auspices of the National Party. Still An Unrealised Dream The new order which people had hoped for and had fought for during the war was still an unrealised dream, said Mr. Holland. Instead of being busy with the tasks of reconstruction the world was torn asunder. There was ever the fear of another world conflagration. To ignore the signs of the times would be less than thefr duty. Unfortunately, the United Nations’ Organisation, established to maintain peace and promote human welfare, appeared powerless to perform its proper function and arrest the pattern of events which had shocked the world in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary and other countries. Russia was out for world domination and sought to impose her Soviet form of totalitarianism on the whole world, including the British Empire, of which New Zealand was a member. In France, Russia sought to establish her system, by causing chaos and disorder in the French factories. In Italy there was a danger of civil war. Finland and Persia were under great pressure from Russia. Greece was torn asunder by civil war promoted from outside her borders. Palestine was facing civil war with the United Nations unwilling, unready or unable to enforce its decisions. Half of China and half of Korea were under Communist control.

Friendship With U.S

One bright spot was the bond of friendship and understanding between the British Empire and the mighty United States of America, plus the happy conclusion of. agreements with France and the Benelux countries.

Turning to New Zealand, Mr. Holland said the same technique of stirring up industrial strife which was being employed in other countries was being used here. The important Mangakino hydro works, where 900 workers were idle and part of the workings was now flooded, the trouble had arisen because the local secretary of the Workers’ Union had been transferred elsewhere. The engineers felt that they could not work with elements which had been persisting among the men and that control of the work was being slowly filched from the engineers in charge. The only reason why the Communists sought power was to impose the Soviet system and destroy the New Zealand way of life. Mr. Holland added. They were using industrial unionism to achieve their ends. “Subversive Organisation”

‘‘Communism is a subversive organisation,” said Mr. Holland. “It is antiBritish. It is anti-Christian. In my opinion, we should pass a law declaring such subversive activities unlawful. Until we do that this poisonous propaganda will continue. “We cannot sit quietly by and read what is happening in other countries. These things can and will happen here unless we take precautions that will prevent them.” Mr. Holland also made reference to defence matters. “In New Zealand, notwithstanding the dangers that face us, we do not apear to have any defence policy.” said Mr. Holland. “We have allowed our defence system to fade away. Our training staffs are being reduced to. very small numbers. “These questions transcend all considerations of party politics. In my opinion we should immedately set about the task of determining an adequate defence policy so that we in New Zealand will have done everything that lies in our power to ensure the peace of the world by equipping ourselves in readiness to defend our country.”