BRITISH LABOUR NOT GOING “RED.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18188, 22 June 1927, Page 6

BRITISH LABOUR NOT GOING “RED.”

NEW ZEALAND M.P. COMES BACK FROM ABROAD. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, June 21. During a seven months’ visit to the Old Country', Mr F. Bartram, M.P. for Grey Lynn, accompanied by Mis Barlram, had some interesting experiences, which included an invitation to Buckingham Palace, a stay' at Easton Lodge as guests of the Countess of Warwick, tea with Mr H. G. Wells, who would like to come to New Zealand, meetings with some of the big Labour leaders and sundry other gatherings and meetings, which made the- visit-' a memorable one. Mr Bartrair’s primary object in going Home was to see his mother, whom he had not seen for forty years. She lives at Worthing, near Brighton, in Kipling’s beloved Sussex. Incidentally Mr Bartram heard a sermon from a well-known Church of England divine, “ which would have got Mr Harry Holland fix months in gaol.” Warwick is Mr Bartram’s home town, and he spent a pleasant time renewing acquai itance with his old home. “ I had no political object in view,” he said this morning, after his arrival by the Marama. “ I have come back from England a convert to buses, and am quite confident that the providing of good roads is of more importance than laying down .tram tracks. I am still in favour of municipal ownership, i but I can see that we must move with the times; and from what I saw at Home the modern development in the way of traffic means that the bus is the thing. I would not for a moment suggest scrapping the trams, but in future development we must recognise the claims of the bus. “ I came in touch with a large number of leaders in the Labour movement, particularly Arthur Henderson, Philip Snowden, J. H. Thomas, and others, and discussed with them the • subject of immigration and placed before them the Labour Party’s views on the matter.” “ Are Labour people in the Old Country going Red?” “No, I certainly do not think anything of the kind. As . far as I saw, the Labour movement at Home is very' sane, and the party I more than ever realise the necessity for development of political action. The effect of the Trades Union Bill now before the House of Commons, whatever its defects may be, will, I am sure, consolidate Labour along the lines of political activity. The attitude of a great many of the Labour men at Home is such that I found them trades unionists first and then Labour men, and a large percentage of trades unionists did not vote with Labour, a state of affairs which will not recur at next elections.” Mr Bartram said he came across a good many Civil Servants, mostly in the Postal Department, who were very sore at the Trades Union Act depriv- * ing them of the right to unionship and affiliation with outside bodies. New Zealand Civil Servants did not possess : such a right, but those at Home had it, j and they were loath to give it up. A frequent visitor to New Zealand I

House, the office of the High Commissioner, the member for Grey Ly r nn was agreeably' surprised at the activity shown, and particularly with that of the Publicity' Officer, Mr 11. B. Drew. From what he could learn, Sir James Parr was going to make good and ably' fill the important post to which he had been appointed. “ While my views on immigration are well known.” continued Mr Bartram, “ I must say that I would like to correct some false impressions that have got about concerning the High Commissioner’s office. The office is only' there to administer the law. and 3 am satisfied any misrepresentation that is made to prospective emigrants does not come from tlje High Commissioner’s office, but is the work of interested shipping agents.”