COUNTRY FIRST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 6

COUNTRY FIRST

AYORKERS’ ATTITUDE. MESSAGE FROM BRITAIN. (Press Assn) AVELLINGTON, Apr. 30. National unity in Great Britain at present was emphasised by Air AVilliam Holmes, past-president of the Trades Union Congress and general secretary of the National Union of Agricultural Workers' in the United Kingdom, when replying to-day to a welcome at a luncheon given him by the Government.

“"The working-class movement stands with the Government. AA'c do not ask what Government it is so long as ithas been elected by the people in a democratic way,” said Air Holmes. “Mr Churchill may not belong to the party to which we belong but wc- are proud of him. He typifies the English outlook at present and he will see us through if he gets the proper backing.” The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) presided ,at the luncheon, which was attended by Ministers, members of the House of Representaj rives and Legislative Council, foreign I consuls, trade commissioners and representatives of industrial labour and the trade union movement. Mr Fraser said flic Trade Union Congress members were using every means in their power to help in the present struggle because tlidy knew that if they lost the trade union movement would bo the first of the democratic institutions to go by the board just as it had been overthrown in every country where Nazism had dominated. The people of Great Britain had set aiwexample New Zealanders were endeavouring to emulate. Air Holmes would carry back a message that the people of this country were with them to the very last penny, the very last life and the very last of their property. They would- live to see those countries now dominated by Nazi tyranny reassert themselves and to see the triumph of Democracy. Air Holmes said that whatever differences there might be among the people of Great Britain there was one thing on which they were always united—that was that the country that gave them their freedom and liberty came first. There were many things the trade union movement disagreed with but the attempts to right them were being left to a more propitious, occasion. Loss of property did not worry them much. The skilful fingers of the working class and the brains of technical experts could raise groat towns and cities once more.

“New factories are going up and not only will these soon bo producing munitions of war, but I believe before, this year is out we will be masters of the air not only in the daytime but also at night.” At the suggestion of the Prime Minister all stood in silence as a< tribute to the British, Australian and New Zealand troops fighting in Greece and to the Greeks.