LABOUR RULE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 3 January 1924, Page 5

LABOUR RULE

NEEDLESS ANXIETY.

FRIGHTENING THE PEOPLE.

ADDRESS BY MR THOMAS,

BT CABLB—PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYEIGHT

LONDON, Jan. 1. Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., speaking at Derby, said the attempts by certain -sections of the press to frighten the people would be amusing but for the bad effects abroad, where people were forced to the conclusion that Britain waa plunging headlong into bankruptcy. •"These people," said Mr Thomas, " cannot really believe that Labour is ignorant of the value of British credit. If Labour were called upon to take office it would be unfettered by any alliances or agreements. It would be a grave political risk, but it was necessary for the party to do its duty in carrying on the King's Government. "We shall attempt to establish peace abroad, and having no past entanglements we ought to have a good chance to succeed. We shall also attempt to substitute work for doles, which are demoralising the people, so we are entitled to ask for a fair deal." The Times declares that nothing would be more damaging to the future of the older parties than an attempt to prevent Labour from forming a Government merely because it is Labour. , pie majority of the electorate, which .^^as afforded Labour a chance of governing, will condemn as unconstitutional and unfair combinations to that end. England's trust that a Labour will think and act as Englishmen is coupled ■with the certainty that the trust will be withdrawn if abused. These facts afford grounds for regarding 1924 hopefully.