LABOUR AND THE WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 15

LABOUR AND THE WAR

Sir. —Tn the Herald of February 22 a meeting of the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party is reported, and I ain not a little surprised to find that I —an overseas Briton —am indebted in part to the New Zealand Labour Party for the entry of my country into a war against aggression. Very good! I am all against aggression, whether in the form of the National Socialism of Germany, the Communism of Russia, or just plain aggression either capitalist or labour. I am prepared to go the whole way, and only regret that I am.far beyond the fighting age. New Zealand Labour has helped, it seems, to raise mv income tax to 7s 6d in the pound, with more to follow, and forced me to tighten my belt and do without things. Also, it might be argued, the New Zealand Labour Party is. partly responsible for conscription in Britain, under which my friends and relations are compelled, willy nilly, to enter the fighting services. Recognising their duty to themselves and to world freedom, and encouraged by the New Zealand Labour Party, they are showing a praiseworthy cheerfulness in doing their bit. And they and 1 want to know where New Zealand stands. There is a Labour Government in Now Zealand, and as the war is, according to the New Zealand Labour Party, a sort of holy labour war, one -would expect to hear that every man and every shilling in New Zealand is already engaged in it. It is all the more mystifying to be told by the Herald that, in proportion to enlistments in Britain, there should be 40,000 men under arms here. Where are they? Their "standard of living and culture" may not be "excelled by that of the peoplo of any other countrv," but, even so, why do they sulk in their tents? Are they merely lacking in courage or have they succumbed to fat living and a security for the continuance of which they expect me to pay and my fellowcountrymen to fight? "The British Government has at last taken the course repeatedly urged upon it," says the New Zeajand Labour Party. When is the New Zealand Labour" Party going to take the course which duty ajid a sense of decency would appear to urge upon it? James Macmasteh.