THE LABOUR PARTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 13

THE LABOUR PARTY

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I accept Mr Neilson’s explanation regarding his excerpts from Kinsman leaders”speeches, I do not mind evidence and facts from any country, so lone as the examples cited are not regarded as infallible precedents. Every country and society is either progressive, stagnant, or retrogressive, and it is the manifest duly of all Governments to improve the welfare of the masses and not allow them to be exploited by a privileged class. 1 cannot recollect any case in history where a workers’ Government extended its popularity by raising the price of bread, or any other prime necessity of life for that matter. Would it not bo more desirable to establish a system of State-owned, centralised bakeries, to give the people better bread for the lowest price ever known in New Zealand. In other words, give the people at least one practical evidence of socialistic industry. Likewise the high exchange rale is not in (he interests ol the masses, but is making the cost ot living much higher than it would otherwise be. I did not say Hie New Zealand Labour Party should lake no cognisance of anything done in Russia because the Labour Party is not affiliated to the Third International. I merely said that until the united front between the Communist Party and Labour is officially cstablished in New Zealand jt appears to me wrong to eite Soviet authorities ;u ■support of the New Zealand Labour Party’s actions. Labour cannot honestly ban Sovietists from membership, and (hen turn to Russia for arguments and evidence to refute my criticism. Regarding sex equality. T favour the principle in all spheres except heavy industry, dangerous Work, or military iios titities, but consider _ that spinsters, widows, and wives of invalid husbands should be employed in preference to other married women whose husbands are able V) maintain them. Necessity should always be supported b* fore luxury. T am in favour of a six-hour day, five-day week, no night work, and no overturnfor all industries. Equal pay for equal working time is good, and no difference should exist in the rates for different v.ork except on a bnsis_ of fatigue, unpleasantness. etc. The idea of a privileged executive class receiving better con-

ditions and much higher incomes'appears to me as an anomaly which needs dim inating from a workers’ industrial system. According to my theory that grade oi worker ought to receive loss, because he is compensated by having a clean, congenial type of work. Growth and develop ment along these lines would be decidedly in the interests of the rank and file workers who wore mainly instrumental in putting Air Keilsou and his colleagues in power locally and nationally. No workers’ party ever went into power to bolster up a privileged idle (or semi-idle) class, either rich people on the one hand or paupers on the other. We look to the Labour Party to reduce the cost of living by abolishing economic parasitism in all its forms. It is the duty of a Government to lead, not follow, its citizens. How otherwise can it appeal for co-operation, suggestions, etc.? A Government which waited for a new type of citizen to emerge spontaneously would not need to wait long. The electors would save it the delay.—l am, etc., Dunedin, March 14. Citizen.