Labour Will Fight Reds And lories

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1949, Page 4

Labour Will Fight Reds And lories

WELLINGTON. Tue. (Sp.) The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) told the Labour Party conference last night that the Auckland carpenters' dispute was a political strike, organises and control]ed by Communist leaders. Their real purpose was to create industrial anarchy by undermining and destroying the arbitration system.

“Industrial chaos is in the interests of the Communist revolutionary ideal and is part of a policy of weakening New Zealand in the present international situation,” continued Mr Fraser.

“This dispute was also a deliberate illegal frontal attack on the Government.

“The whole manoeuvre was not organised out of any concern for the trade unionists involved, and its purpose is quite foreign to the objects of New Zealand trade unionism. “This should be clearly seen by all New Zealand trade unionists, and many of them have taken n strong stand against being used as pawns in the Communists’ political game. OTHER INCIDENTS “The carpenters’ dispute has not provided the only manifestation in trade unions of the Communist policy,” added Mr Fraser. “Other incidents have shown that industrial trouble has been deliberately fomented, magnified and protracted by Communists on the basis of extravagant and impossible claims. “Members of the Labour Party and of the trade union movement must recognise the origin anu motive of all such wrecking tactics and take necessary counter-measures. “The best way to reduce the nuisance value of the Communists to the insignificance warranted by their electoral strength is for trade unionists and Labour Party members to be alert and determined to frustrate and expose them.

“For the past 30 years the Labour Party has had no illusions about the Communists and has uncompromisingly fought them.

“Today the Communists have changed from the white-ant tactics of the united front to open attack on the Labour Parly, to a campaign of vilification of Labour leaders, both in the political party and in the trade union movement, and to organised attacks on the system of arbitration in industrial disputes and the stabilisation policy, two of the main foundations of industrial harmony and progress. SUPPORT McLAGAN

“The Labour Party will fight Communism and National Toryism, which has always been, and always will be, the creator of conditions of hardship and distress, which inevitably breed Communists and Communism,” concluded the Prime Minister.

Mr Fraser said he stood four-square with the Minister of Labour (Mr McLagan). The Minister was standing for democratic trade unionism, and he refused to be dictated to by Communists or Communist-led sections.

The Government was backing him up 100 per cent. The carpenters had attacked the policy of the Federation of Labour and the law of the land.

They had shown themselves as enemies of the Government.