PRIME MINISTER’S COURAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21557, 20 January 1940, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER’S COURAGE

Tribute By Mr Fraser

Recent Comment Deprecated

By Telegraph Press Association

AUCKLAND, January 19.

More was heard concerning statements circulated throughout the Dominion in reference to the Prime Minister when a combined meeting was held in the Trades Hall of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee and the Auckland Council of the Federation of Labour. More than '250 delegates were present and the meeting was addressed by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser. The president of the Trades Council, Mr F. G. Young, presided.

Mr Fraser deprecated comment concerning Mr Savage and spoke of his devotion to duty during the period of his ill-health and his courage in carrying out responsible duties at this time. He also referred to the desirability of holding the proposed mass demonstration of workers in the near future and of inviting the Prime Minister to speak. A resolution was finally carried endorsing the proposals already adopted by the Labour Representation Committee and the Trades Council in connection with the holding of a mass demonstration meeting and promising wholehearted support for the gathering.

A question was asked whether the demonstration would be used for attacking any particular section of the working class movement. If such was the intention, it was explained, a certain section of delegates would not be prepared to co-operate. An undertaking was given by the chairman that the demonstration would not be used for such a purpose. One delegate strongly opposed the resolution on the grounds that he could not support the Government’s war policy, which he considered was against the interests of the working class. This evoked a strong reply from Mr Fraser who, it is understood, quoted extensively from a pamphlet issued by the secretary of the Communist Party in Britain setting out the attitude of Communists to Nazis and favouring war against them following the German invasion of Poland. An animated discussion followed, but eventually a decision to support the demonstration was wholeheartedly endorsed on a show of hands, only about 20 delegates voting against the motion.