TO WORKING PEOPLE

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1943, Page 3

TO WORKING PEOPLE

September 25th., 1943, is a. most momentous date in Now Zealand’s history. On that day the doctors of this country will decide many vital issues.

They will decide whether New Zealand is to continue playing its full part among the Allied Nations in waging the war against the scourge of Fascism; or whether, on the other hand, New Zealand’s war effort shall be slackened and weakened in the interests of the profit-mongers and such elements in our midst.

The electors will decide whether the 40-hour week principle, a fair wage policy, reasonable workers’ compensation regulations, and many other beneficial industrial enactments shall survive, or whether all shall become issues for which the ■workers must again fight if they are to be retained.

They will determine whether New Zealand’s humane system of providing for the aged, the sick and infirm, Hie unemployed and the needy, by the payment of benefits under Labour’s Social Security laws shall, continue to servo as a pattern for. the rest of the, world to emulate, or whether Now Zealand shall once again take a place among Hie more backward countries in social legislation of this kind.

They will decide whether the wealthy people, of this country shall be assisted to become more wealthy, and the poor become poorer, by readjustments of the present burdens of taxation made inevitable by the war.

.In other words, the electors will decide whether Labour shad continue Io administer the affairs of New Zealand, or whether the Tories, the. agents of Big Business, shall take over the office of Government.

It is futile for the Tory politicians to promise Hie electors they will do, or will not do, this or that. We, should know, even if some of us do not, that the National Party politicians are little more than marionettes, dancing as desired when the wealthy interests who foot the bill for their expensive election campaigns pull, the strings.

The trade unionist worthy of the name will vote Labour. To do otherwise would be treachery to the trade union niovmcnt—and to his fellow-workers. But it is not sufficient for the trade unionist to just east his vote for progress and against reaction. He must peysuade the politically-backward worker, the small business m!an, and the lower middle-class voters whom he comes in contact with, to do likewise. He must, patiently explain to the womenfolk who arc likely to be swayed by cunning and perfidious Tory propaganda 'why they must vote Labour—and nothing else but Labour —in this most vital of all elections.

The situation in New Zealand to-day demands that Labour must win—just as the situation in Australia demanded recently that Labour must win. If the working people, and those allied to the working people, put aside their comparatively petty criticisms of past Labour administration, (many ■of which criticisms are probably justified because no Government was ever perfect), and view the full results of Labour rule since .1935, then Labour, will again win as decisively as it did in Australia.

A victory for Labour means on this occasion a victory for the working men and women, the (small and middle farmers, and the small business people of this country. It means another nail in the coffin of Fascism. A victory' for the Tories will assist the Fascist enemy, and may bring irretrievable disaster upon the New Zealand nation.

A victory for Labour means we can face the future full of hope and confidence. A win for the Nationalists will bring years of misery and bitter struggle for the working people; Nationalist rule has never brought anything else.

So. on the momentous 25th. of September VOTE LABOUR.