LABOUR NARROW-MINDEDNESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25804, 27 March 1945, Page 6

LABOUR NARROW-MINDEDNESS

Sir, —In. youE„sub,leader on the subject of the Prime Minister’s visit to London and San Francisco, you rightly deplore the paltry narrow-mindedness of the Labour Government, in that it would sooner not be represented at the Imperial Conference than give such representation to the Leader of the Opposition. The Labour Party as a whole suffers from an inflated opinion of the ability of its members. Consequently, it is bound to continue making bad decisions. In 1931 when Mr Forbes and Mr Coates formed the Coalition., which they deemed necessary to meet the depression, Labour refused to join. Such an attitude shows that it is not the interests of the country which count; it is party advantage, and that comes before the needs of the people. Labour is going to leave a sad record of mismanagement behind it mainly because, on getting into power, the leaders and their followers became swelled-headed and arrogant, and there is nothing worse than the arrogance of ignorance. Unfortunately, it is not the leaders of the Labour Party who will suffer most from the result of their policy; it is the rank and file of workers who will be left to “ carry the baby.” To remain in power is more to the party than the good of the country and, consequently, we must go through the mill, so to speak, before the people as a whole realise what is taking place.—l am, etc., Filins Populi. Dunedin, March 26.