Labour Plans To Break “Political Truce"

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1940, Page 6

Labour Plans To Break “Political Truce"

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”J CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. An Open rupture of the “political truce” agreed upon by the Government and the Opposition at the outbreak of the war is being planned by Labour organisations throughout the Dominion. Further steps are being taken to carry out the concerted arrangements made before Christmas to hold demonstrations by workers in support of the Government. The arrangement made early in December by Labour organisations was that the first rally should be held in Auckland. Coming Out into Open. Labour Party workers at that time held that the “truce” had been broken by statements issued by National Party members, and a resolve was made that Labour should come out into the open and place its views on the political situation before the public.

It was news to the National Party workers that any mass demonstration of workers was proposed. Wellington Rally on March 4.

Officials of the party in Canterbury were, however, not surprised, an official report having been received that a public address had been given in Morrinsville by Mr J. G. Barclay, M.P., since the absence on military service of Colonel J. M. Allen, M.P. The holding of a demonstration in Christchurch has been under consideration by the Labour Representation Committee for more than a month. The indications are that the rallies will not be held until the Wellington workers hold their demonstration, reported to be fixed for March 4.