LABOUR AND ROYALTY

Southland Times, Issue 18812, 4 May 1920, Page 5

LABOUR AND ROYALTY

CALL TO THE “CLASS CONSCIOUS.”

A CHRISTCHURCH MANIFESTO

(Special to the Times.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 3. The Christchurch Labour Representation Committee has issued a lengthy manifesto in which it states that “it feels constrained at this time to set plainly forth why it heartily welcomes the Prince to this city as a fellow man, and at the same time courteously yet decidedly refuses to take any part whatever in the official welcome accorded to him as the future head of British aristocracy and the representative of the social and Imperial policy which the present Government of the British Empire pursue. Labour, standing for a genuine democracy wherein accidents of birth or fortune aie of po value, finds that kings and aristocrats are as much out of place as paupers and slaves.” The manifesto sets out that the social system of which the Prince is the representative sets the ideal of equality at naught. “A survey of social conditions in Great Britain and elsewhere shows that the lives of the many are at the mercy of the few r owing to the monopolisation by the latter of the means of life. The system by which the capitalist exploiter i.s able to extend his depredations to other weaker nations icsts not on justice but on military might. Representatives of the present social and Imperial order diner in principle from the ideal of Labour as widely as right differs from might. Labour lues little chance of realising its ideals until the war god is cast down.” The manifesto concludes: “It is incumbent upon Labour representatives to stand true to their principles by courteously yet decidedly declining to take any part in officially welcoming the Prince of Wales.” Class conscious workers and all lovers of social justice are urged to do likewise.