WOOL FOR SPAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26243, 29 August 1946, Page 2

WOOL FOR SPAIN

Sir, Mr J. J Hannan, secretary of the Dunedin Communist Party, has written approving the action of Auckland trade unionists in refusing to handle wool for Spain. One can agree absolutely with all that Mr Hannan has stated on the menace of the Spanish Fascist Government but he and the Auckland unionists have taken a very superficial view of the whole subject. In the first place, it was not the New Zealand Government, but the British Government, which negotiated the deal in wool, and New Zealand has no option but to send the- wool on. It may not have occurred to our shortsighted Communists that Britain cannot afford to drop reciprocal trade with Spain, however distasteful it may be. The Argentine is another country which is in political disfavour, but it would be out of the question for Britain to stop buying Argentine meat and wheat. Likewise if would be a serious hardship on the people of Britain to be deprived of Spanish citrus fruits. Mr Hannan also shows scant consideration for the welfare of the common people of Spain. More than half the population is reported to be anti-Fascist and only waiting for a suitable opportunity to overthrow the Government. Our Communists would deprive all the people, men, women and children, of the chance of obtaining woollen clothing. It seems fairly obvious that the ban on woo] was inspired by New Zealand Communists. One can only conclude that they are either lacking in common sense or else animated by a desire to stir up trouble. —I am, etc.. Loyalist.