COUNCIL OF ACTION

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 198, 21 August 1920, Page 5

COUNCIL OF ACTION

NEW ZEALAND LABOR PARTY'S

CABLE

STRONG COMMENT IN PAR-

LIAMENT

[from our correspondent.!

WELLINGTON', Aug. 20. A long cablegram was received "by Mr P. Eraser, chairman of -tl.it> New Zealand Labor Party, last week from ■Mr Adamson. chairaiaSi of the English Labor Council of Action, declaring its policy, and that the Labor Conference authorised the Council to call any and every form of withdrawal of Labor when the circumstances may require to give effect to the policy. It called upon every trade—union official, effective committee, local cbuneil,, and the member-ship-generally, to act swiftly, loyally and courageously to sweep away secret diplomacy and assure- that the foreign policy of Great Britain shall bo in accordance with the desires of the people for an end to war and the interminable threats of war.

The-following-reply, was sent by the Labor Tarty to Mr Adamson, M.P., Housu of Commons, London-—-'New Zealand Labor unanimously supports t thc magnificent stand of the British v-orkers against the militarist and capitalist attacks on the Russian Republic; It congratulates the organised Labor movement of Great Britain on its glorious achievement for internationalism and peace. AVe»consider your attitude the greatest event in tttte history of British Labor. We arc whole-heartedly with you.—P. Fraser, president of the- New Zealand Labor Party; F. R. Cooke, vicepresident; M. Ayrton, secretary and treasurer; H. E. ■ Holland, chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party. The Prime Minister's attention having been directed to the matter by Mr D. Jones in the House Mr Massey declared tliat he regretted exceedingly that any members of the New Zealand Parliament should express approval of and thus assist a .small section.

Mr Fraser: "They represent six millions.".

Mr Massey : "The lion, member has no more right to speak for the workers than any other member of the House. By expressing approval of the action of a small section of people he was assisting .to harrass ■ the Imperial Government at the most serious crisis in the Empire's , history. I take this opportunity of declaring that the large proportion of ' the people of this country is thoroughly loyal. (Hear, hear).- They are opPo^d to Bolshevism, Sinii Feinism, I.AY.AY.-ism, and all other isms tvith wlucli civilised countries a.ro afflicted. I hope there will bo no more of this •sort of thing. The people of New Zealand are prepared to stand-by tho Imperial Government in preventing m every way tho possibility of .disintegration, which seems to 'be intended by those with whom the Labor I i.rty have been corresponding."Mr W. Veiteh (AVanganui,, who also expressed regret at the message, asked if the Prime Minister would consider giving the House the opportunity of passing a resolution ing its opinion on the matter. Mr Massey replied that He "we.iM ocnsider the. proposal and give an answer on the next sitting day. Mr I>. G. Sullivan (Avon), by w.iy or a question without notice, suggested that a, large number of by-'eiec-tjoas won by Labor and the presence of two ex-Ministers at tlie ConferI once, was evidence that it vns net a small or disloyal section of die comn. unity. Mr Mtwfeey: "I spoke from personal _ experience. I believe the Council of Action is no more representative of tho public feeling of Britain than the small .section of Labor members here are representative of the New Zealand people. Mr Fra.ser declared that ho had neon misrepresented. He contended that tho Labor Conference was most representative of the British workers, .'Hid included two former Coalition Ministers. "If such communications arc received from a representative body," he- concluded, "I nm going to reply and Members: "Order! order!1'