LABOUR AND COMMUNISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 19

LABOUR AND COMMUNISM

Sir,—On behalf of the Communist Party we wish to protest against the paragraph appearing in your issue for June 19. accusing the Communists of aiming "to gain control" of sections of the trade union movement. The constitution of the Communist Party states: "All party members in mass organisations (trade unions, farmers' organisations, cultural bodies, etc.) will co-operate to promote and strengthen the given organisations and will abide by the democratic decision of these organisations." 'Mule 5, clause G.K

This clause demonstrates beyond any possibility of misunderstanding that Communists in trade unions respect the democracy of their organisations, abide by their democratic decisions and under no conditions can be suspected of any intention to "control" these organisations against the wishes ot their membership. Furthermore, the unity of the trade union movement calls for opposition to any faction, clique or group formed for the purpose of making decisions apart from and contrary to the wishes of the membership of the unions. Therefore, the Communist Party resolutely opposes any sectional attempt, no matter from what quarter it mav come, to divert the aims and functions of any union from what is desired by its membership. We believe that the worth of Communists as union builders and the role of the Communist Party as the champion of trade union unity in the fight against reaction have long been recognised among wide circles of the workers, but since you have seen fit to j publish the statement we referred to I above, we must ask you to give equal | publicity to this definition of our real J position. C. G. Watson, j National Executive. Communist Partv. I