UNITY BEFORE PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24284, 27 May 1942, Page 2

UNITY BEFORE PARTY

A brief passage in the cabled report of the British Labour Party's annual conference should give food for reflection in New Zealand. There exists here the situation which one speaker at the conference wished to see re-established in British political life. Lord Strabolgi indicated the Coalition as a failure and advocated the recall of Labour members from the Government to form in Parliament what he called a "constructive Opposition." This was represented as being in the interests of the whole cause of civilisation and the future of democracy. However a different note came at the end when he said "If we go on as we are, we will split the party and lose some of our ablest members." Lord Strabolgi knows the Dominions at first hand. With recent experience of their affairs, he can be imagined as impressed by the example of Australia and New Zealand, wH%re Labour-in politics has resolutely refused to abandon party divisions and present a united front to national peril. A different and weightier voice than his was heard, however, when Mr. C. R. Attlee, who led the Labour Party in opposition, deprecated such suggestions for a return to party strife as being a diversion from the task of winning the war. Mr. Attlee, as a member of the Cabinet, as one actually bearing responsibility, can be presumed to have the clearer view of national needs and the imperative demands of the war effort. He is not moved by the example of New Zealand and Australia. Instead he gives them an example they would do well to heed, that of putting national unity before party for the sake of the imperative need, that of winning the war.