POLITICAL CLARITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 3 June 1937, Page 8

POLITICAL CLARITY.

(To the Editor.) Sir,- —H. A. Dean’s enquiries from “Stormy Petrel’s”' revelation of apparent contradictions of Labour polities is an important issue. Being an explorer of truth 1 have certain opinions of the political situation which I would like, to put forward without any responsibility of party labels. Firstly, the position of the Nationalist Party is obvious. They are a , spent light. Judgment has been passed on them by the people because of their past .results. A long period of administration that resulted in wage cuts, unemployment, malnutrition,' etc., which' will live fresh in the minds of the people for a long time to come. They to-day are trying a reyival by presenting a united iront against Labour. In short a resurrection of placing the burden of maintaining vest r ed interests on the hacks of the .struggling farmers and workers. The Labour Party-is pledged to a policy that is in the interests of the masses -in preference to vested interests; viz., a

40-hou.r • week and more leisure, uni- . versal superannuation, control of credit, tax on ability to pay, stabilised incomes; guaranteed prices, etc. In short, as trom the local election pamphlet, “To abolish poverty amidst plenty.”-/ “(stormy Petrel” put forward a conglomeration of apparent cont/radictions concerning the Labour Party and the Communist Party, and the relationship of the Labour Party to the Communist Party. Are not the Communist members of the working class and part of the Labour movement? Did they not strenuously oppose the last Government and organise protest action which was a factor contributing to a change of Government? I think that these questions can only be answered in the affirmative. Although the Communists put forward a Soviet Republic as an ultimate solution my investigation reveals to me that they are prepared to support a progressive administration and offer the hand of unity so as to consolidate the Labour movement. They reserve the right as part of a world political factor to criticise and oppose those features of Labour’s policy which they consider to be detrimental to progress. They maintain that where they have achieved unity it lias brought' good results. In the London County Council elections where they supported the Labour candidates the jatter were returned with a greater majority than before. In France Communist support for the People’s Front Covernment has resulted in stable democratic government. In Spain , this same united Labour movement is resulting in a • stubborn resistance to Fascism. Germany, which brings tears to the eyes of the ardent unionist, is the classic example of divided Labour ranks. Summed up it could be safely said that the policy being pursued by the Communist 1 arty is a fair trial of the Labour Party and if the Labour Party carries forward its programme the Communist Party will be quite satisfied because, in the words ot Mr Armstrong, “When every worker has attained the level of the American millionaire,” the people? will not be looking for an alternative party. For the special benefit of “Stormy Petrel,” whose contribution could have no other effect than to split the Labour movement, I wish to point out that the Labour movement consists of industrial organisations. cooperative movements, Labour Party, Socialist Party, Communist Party, and other fraternal associations. —I am, etc., M. WOLF. 174 Botanical. RoacL -