Patea & Waverley Press MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1923. THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 3 September 1923, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1923. THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM

THE New Zealand .Welfare League, in an article recently issued, states that its drastic criticism of the Bolsheviks has made open pronouncement of disruptive, disloyal and Communistic ideas so very unpoular that the Reds have taken refuge in secrecy. Their.movement, the League says, is guided by astute minds, both inside and outside of New Zealand,, and instructions have been given to “press hard on the soft pedal. 5 ’ There must be no violent talk, no strikes and no public dissions and quiet must permeate all quarters. These are the present orders. The movement is obeying the direction of the International Socialist and Communist heads to win power first and let open action be held in abeyance till the power is consolidated. The Red movement is foreigndirected against the British Empire, and tlic policy of camouflage, which will create the impression that there is no danger, is enjoined by the heads in Europe to capture public confidence in politics, and ensure complete industrial organisation for the day of revolutionary action. Whilst the public is led to believe that peaceful reform is all that is sought, the Red political parties and Industrial Alliance abate nothing of their revolutionary objectives, definitely stated as: (1) The socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. (2) The control of all industries by the workers who operate them,

Another danger rests on the fact that many of our public men Miner apparently from political myopia, if not actual blindness. Tbey take such a short and narrow view of the trend of affairs from the standpoint of the nation and Empire’s safety. For the sake of party or personal interest they adopt methods of political contest which can have no other effect than to strengthen the hands of the persons and parties that are aiming at revolution and the diseintegration of the Empire. In New Zealand, with our threeparty system, we find, many times over, Liberals striving to beat Reformers, and vice versa, to the advantage, in both instances, of the Red Party, which sits back and laughs. Were the Labour Party safe for the Dominion and Empire we would be disposed to laugh with it, but knowing its policy is destructive of personal rights and liberty, and tiiat it is in co-operation with the International Socialist forpes that are going to disrupt the Empire, we can but protest against the folly displayed. For the most part the party politician sees but party kind particular measures. The greater issue of the growth of a force in society that aims at the overturning of our ' whole economic and social system is not sufficiently considered by them. On occasions they shriek at it, but in general they let it go on growing in power without taking effective steps to combat it. This weakness is a source of danger that should not be overlooked, those who warn of dangers ahead generally get little thanks; people dislike being disturbed. “A little more sleep; a little more folding of hands," is the attitude of too many of our people throughout the Empire to be at all safe. The Socialist revolutionary movement in New Zealand (calling itself Labour) is but part of the International Socialist movement. The direction is largely from a foreign source, which looks upon the British Empire as the bulwark to be destroyed in the interests of world-revolution. Here the Red movement is consolidated in a political party controlling a large measure of the confidence of New Zealand electors, and an Industrial Alliance controlling the great majority of the Labour unions. With such giant combination in our midst, led by men having avowed revolutionary intentions and allied' to the greater forces of revolutionary organisations in Britain and the Continent of Europe, the possiiblity of concerted attack upon our civil liberty is ever imminent. When we realise the fact that this power is becoming greater every year and its influence ever more widespread, the warning to all loyal citizens is very grave. The very silence that obtains is a menace, the false security of camouflaged professions is a ’ serious danger, and the general apathy displayed by our people „ is the greatest danger of all. Our warning to all who think is that this foe within, allied to the Empire’s foes without, must not be lightly estimated. It is well led, disciplined and directed, and to meet the evil of its fixed purpose we must have greater effort and organisation on the part of all who are opposed to revolution. The warning stands before us, and the shame will rest on us if it is neglected.