LABOUR'S CHANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24291, 4 June 1942, Page 5

LABOUR'S CHANCE

ATTAINMENT OF UNITY RESPONSIBILITY TO PEOPLE AMERICAN MINISTER'S VIEWS , oC) WELLINGTON, Wednesday "To-day, in many of the free countries, organised labour is the largest factor in"government," said BrigadierGeneral Patrick J. Hurley, United States Minister to New Zealand, speakj__ at a reception tendered hy the Wellington Trades Council. "The responsibility for the war effort in Now Zealand is distinctly in the hands of the Labour Party. Now, Labour is in DOS ition to exclude others from a voice f n the Government, ''lf Labour leadership is wise it will insist that every element of the citizensnip participates in the management of the war effort. The leaders of Labour t 0 .day have an opportunity to be intelligent, generous, tolerant and patriotic and, by that kind of leadership, to unite all the people of this Dominion in the war effort. Distribution oi Burdens "This." continued Brigadier-General Eurley, "brings all of us who are trade unionists at heart to understand that this war is our war. We must ficht. We must unite the forces of the free people to destroy autocracy whercver we find it. The enemy has made this total war. Every man and woman v ho works is fighting. If we shirk we are breaking faith with those who die in battle. "There is no way by which military burdens of war can be equalised. Even \rhen comrades are fighting shoulder to shoulder one may pay the full measure of devotion by giving his life, while the other will, fortunately, remain uninjured. That depends upon the fortunes of war, which every soldier understands. "The economic burdens of war can be equitably distributed. Your leaders. I am certain, are endeavouring to distribute honestly, among the various communities and people, what is commonly called the war load." Equality of Opportunity General Hurley said that over the years it had become apparent that no one element in his own country had contributed more to the improvement of the general welfare than the trades unions. They had been a great factor in bringing about equality of opportunity, toe right of collective bargaining and jn sustaining the highest standard of living in the world. There was a time when oranised labour was denied the unbiased administration of justice and freedom of speech. That day was long past. In free countries the Government was the creature of the people. In autocratic countries the people were the creatures of the Government. If we were to lose the war Labour would have no part in the Government. Totalitarianism and organised labour could not live together. One must perish. Economic Unit ''One part of the country, or one class of the people, should not suffer economically by reason of the war while another profits," said the Minister. ''ln war, the whole nation should become an economic unit, wherein industry and every individual contributes a part New Zealand has a splendid history. Organised Labour being the dominant factor in the government of New Zealand, it is therefore the custodian of the splendid record of achievement of this country, and is charged with the responsibility of leading New Zealand in the gravest crisis. "Therefore, I repeat," concluded General Hurley, "if Labour is wise it will forget ail the conflicts of the past, turn its face resolutely to the future. and unite every element of the citizenship to bring the entire force of the Dominion to bear upon one objective—the defeat of the Axis Powers." Delegates at the reception carried -i resolution pledging themselves to give the utmost loyalty in word and deed to General Hurley, and to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and technicians whom he represented as the representative of the United States of America. TALK TO FARMERS REMARKS BY MINISTER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The opinion that if a National Government were formed an Opposition would immediately be created was expressed by the Minister of Marketing. the Hon. J. G Barclay, at a conference of the Farmers' Union. Upon a delegate interjecting that "Jim Roberts ran the country," the Minister retorted that such statements were the result of class hatred bred by hearing one side of the case. He added that national sentiment had to be bred from the inside; a National Government without national sentiment was worth nothing. "You'll never get unity while you keep picking at the watersiders and other labourers," added the Minister "When the workers were given the 5 per cent wage increase newspapers cried inflation, but when the farmers were given a 15 per cent increase for their wool price, nothing was said about inflation." CONFIDENCE LACKING OTAGO FARMERS' OPINION (P.A.) DUNEDIN. Wednesday Assertions that there could not be an all-out war effort without the full confidence of the people and that at present such confidence in the Government of the country did not exist were stressed at the annual conference of Otago provincial council of the Farmers' Union, when the following remit was carried:— "That in the opinion of the conference this Dominion will never make a maximum war effort, whether in the sphere of primary or secondary production, military activity or patriotic effort generally, until Labour Party caucus control of the Dominion is replaced by a National Government representative °I the people as a whole." PRISON FOR THEFT A joint charge of stealing four reels of brass valued at £4 10s was admitted bj Alexander McKendry, aged 52, lorry driver, and a youth, whose name was Suppressed, before Mr. J. Morling, jj-M., yesterday. Detective - Sergeant Trethewey said the youth was induced to steal the brass by McKendry, who d 'sposed of it. McKendry was sentenced to throe Months' hard labour and the youth was on probation for two years. LADIES' GOLF MATCHES DhvJ ,Bma,a ' — A " L.G.U. medal round was tra/ii? Wsterday in conjunct ion with the Testi, K roU!ll! f"f the captain's prize. The uaujts were:—Silver division: Mrs. N. HeelcLc ■' ly —"»■ Bronze division: -Mrs. D a&'„ 05 ' '-'l--1; Mrs E Mace, »2. w'7: Mrs. P Carnachan, 101, 20 —75. th»■ 1 n Shore.—Following was the result of Riii. k- medal round played yesterday:— °' ner division. Mrs. B. Cockayne. »H, p7. 1; Mrs - w Houshton, 98, 10—88; Mrs I i nc f. 105, 17—sh Bronze division: Mrs. ••.Uupin. 115, 83—82: Mrs. D. Stehr, 120, ms' ; Mrß M Corner. 113, 26—87. wiaungakiekie.—An L.G.U. medal handicap irtl C H, Played yesterday resulted :--Seniors: £«• W. K Michael 04 16—78; Miss I. Gar«no, 96. is—7B; Miss E. Scbnauer, 91, Isrf- Mrs Michael won on a recount. "Uliors;; Mrs r Kirkup, 98, 22—70; Mrs irii -Walton, ill, 34—77; Miss C Lloyd, lis oi~~ r ' C grade: Miss C Clements, ihrit .V"^ 2 M '-s. G. I'fx'ock holed her tee S at the third, a distance of 165 yards. w«anukau.— The best cards returned for We?*, trophy in the second round Swa„T Mrs - H Pollock !>!>, 28—71; Mrs. iS "°. 24-72; Mrs. Fleming, 08. fielTirio U "- Barnard, 89, 12—77; Mrs. OldMrs a i- 25 —78. Rest cards in third round: im o/ lwa rd. 102. 34—68; Miss Whitburn, ttonhv W?\ The Grst car d for the M P, , . aln 8 Min, n bogey) resulted as follows: 27- \w V.nrtbnrn, 34 points; Mrs. Aylward. _ '• Mrs Barnard 20