LABOUR IN OFFICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21189, 9 November 1938, Page 7

LABOUR IN OFFICE

PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALAND IMPRESSIONS OF TRADES’ UNION OFFICIAL United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 7. The chairman of the Trades Union Congress (Mr Ernest Bevin), who has returned from Australia and New Zealand, told the Associated Press: “I am taking every opportunity to impress on Britain that financiers and others threaten the solidarity of the Empire if they show displeasure at the Australian and particularly the New Zealand efforts to improve the standards of living. I am convinced that it is a grave mistake to assume that the real feelings of Australia are expressed by politicians visiting London. “The New Zealand Government is more efficient than the Australian Government. This was most evident during the crisis, when Australia was hindered and confused as a result of having seven Parliaments. Australia would follow New Zealand to the Left if Mr J. T. Lang retired from politics.” Mr Bevin added: “New Zealand which is developing a real social democracy resents British financiers opposition to it. There will be constant hits and reaction because if New Zealand workers once felt that British underground intrigue was always opposed to their forward movements, it would destroy confidence. British labour should fully understand how a new nation is developing.”