THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1950. A SORRY EPISODE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27523, 18 October 1950, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1950. A SORRY EPISODE

The Australian Labour Party has shown up badly in its opposition to the Communist Party Dissolution. Bill and also in its last minute decision to withdraw opposition. What is so striking—apart from the issues at stake in the legislation itself—is the demonstration of the manner in which the Parliamentary Labour Party, consisting of the elected representatives of the people, is controlled by the Australian Labour Party, and especially by the executive of that party. As Mr Menzies has commented, opposition has been withdrawn “by the decision of twelve outsiders who have already succeeded in holding up the legislation in the interests of the Commu ist Party for six long months.” It is less than a month since these same men ruled that the party was to press on with the amendments which it had brought forward at the previous session of Parliament. It is believed, however, that disagreement within the executive was so acute that this was not so much a new declaration. as a refusal to depart from the policy which had already been decided upon. The Parliamentary Labour Party accepted this instruction and for nearly a fortnight past it has implemented it. Now the party **'po!itbureau ” has issued another instruction and the parliamentary members again do as they are told. Mr Chifley and Dr Evatt, who have led the opposition to the Bill, have protested—but they, too, obey. To this humiliation is added that deriving from a reversal of policy dictated not by an honest change of opinion, brought about by world events, but purely and simply by expediency. During the last session of Parliament, Mr Menzies made several amendments to the original Bill and, when baulked by the refusal of the Labour-dominated Senate to pass the legislation, he announced that, as any further amendment would make the Bill unworkable, if opposition was continued he would seek the dissolution of both Houses and go to the country for a verdict. He reiterated his intention when Parliament resumed, but the Opposition, as instructed by the Labour Party executive, continued to obstruct. ' Then, about ten days ago, 'the Government leader in the Senate gave notice that no further legislation would be brought forward until the Communis! Party Dissolution Bill had been dealt with. This was a necessary step in the Constitutional procedure relating to the dissolution of Parliament and, given a direct challenge to face the electorate and justify its attitude, the Labour Party or, .rather, its controlling clique, surrendered. It was not prepared to send a radically divided party to the campaigning platforms to advocate the protection of Communists when Australian soldiers were fighting Communists in Korea. This has been a sorry episode in the history of the party, and it will not soon be forgotten. Whatever merit Australian Labour may have won by its original objections to the principle and the details of the legislation has been besmirched by the shameless opportunism with which the fight was waged and abandoned.