MR FRED. COOKE BACK IN CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 5

MR FRED. COOKE BACK IN CITY.

WAS OFFERED A “PUB” AS INDUCEMENT TO STAY IN ENGLAND. STILL FULL OF FIGHT FOR CAUSE OF LABOUR. Very much improved in health and full of eagerness to get into the hurlyburly of municipal politics again, Mr F. R. Cooke, a prominent trade union secretary, and a Labour member of the City Council, has returned to Christchurch after a long holiday spent in Great Britain.

“I have had a splendid trip but I am very glad to be back again in Christchurch,” said Mr Cooke, when inter-

viewed by a reporter this morning. “I was offered ten acres of land and a pub if I would stav in England, but I refused. In the first place I don’t believe in pubs, and in the second place I’m in love with New Zealand, the country of my adoption,

ana wanted to get back again.” Mr Cooke added that he had ample other opportunities of remaining in England if he wanted to, and could have worked his way into the Labour movement tli ere.

Broke Up Meetings. Breaking up anti-Labour meetings seems to have been a hobby with Mr Cooke while he was in Britain. As a keen Socialist propagandist he could not stand by and hear mis-statements about Labour without feeling the urge to butt in and put the matter right. The “Peace in industry” movement was what disturbed his peace of mind most. He stated that that was a false name for the movement. It yeally was war in industry, because the leaders advocated war within the unions and peace with the employing class. The object was stated to be to bring about a five years* truce between capital and 'labour, but instead of attaining that desirable end the Campaign .was causing acrimonious discussions and a good deal of conflict between capital and labour.

A Keen Fighter. Mr Cooke said he broke up a meeting held on the mound in Princos Street, Edinburgh, on one occasion, and at another time he took charge of a meeting of university students, and held them for three hours. He also took an active part in the British municipal elections, and seems to have given some of the anti-Labour candidates a fairly lively time. “I’m still as much a fighter as ever,” he said, when asked if he had lost any of his militancy. “I will fight for Labou rail the way; as long as I live I’ll continue to do that. When I see men inking mis-statements about Labour, no matter where it is, I break in as soon as possible, and put the position right. I’m not the one to stand by and do nothing under such circumstances.”

Labour’s Prospects Bright. Mr Cooke is enthusiastic regarding the prospects of the Labour Party capturing the reigns of government in Britain at the next election. “Without any prophesy born of enthusiasm and the fact that I am a Labour man, but as a result of a deeper examination of the position, I’m fully convinced that Labour is going to score at the next election and will become Government with an independent majority,” he said. Many of the Radicals of his day in England who were in earnest about the progress of Britain, apart from money, intended joining forces with Labour. Some of the members of the nobility were at the Labour Party’s conference. These men put the welfare of England before money interests and sincerely believed that if Labour got into power it would make England a better place to live in.

The results of the municipal elections in Christchurch last April, when Mr Cooke was re-elected to the City Council, were received by him at Port Said, while he was on his way to England. There were several Christchurch people on board the boat who were antagonistic to Labour, and they had been stating that Labour would not have a chance. Therefore he was greatly delighted when he received when he received a cable from Mr W. J. Green, secretary of the Labour Representation .Committee, advising him of Labour’s great victory, and was able to tell his fellow-passengers that Mr Archer, the parson whom they ridiculed, had been re-elected by a staggering majority, and that Labour ha,d secured control of the City Council. The Soul in Politics. “I took the opportunity of lecturing them on the soul in politics.” Mr Cooke added. “Naturally I was delighted at our success, and I believe we can make Christchurch a better city. I think we can make a big improvement in the milk supply, and I have obtained a good deal of information about what is being done in England in this connection.” While in England Mr Cooke visited a good number of local bodies, but centred most of his inquiries in Bradford, which was not then under Labour control, but which he believed had come under Labour control since he left England. He was present at the installation of the Labour Mayor in Bradford, lhere the Mayor was elected by the council and a member of each party in turn was apponited Mayor for a year. Bradford was a very fine municipality and he had gained a great deal of valuable information while there. Labour Party Conference. Mr Cooke spent a whole week at the British Labour conference at Blackpool, and chatted with Mr Ramsay Macdonald on a couple of occasions. There were upwards of 1000 delegates present., nearly all of them being public men and members of local bodies. The chairman of the conference, Mr F. O. Roberts, declared that the party had to prepare for a war on the Government, and that that war had to be fought during the next twelve months. During te next year the election would cither be won or lost according to the efforts put forward by the party. Mr J. H. Thomas played an important part at the conference in directing its policy, and acted with great, diplomacy. “The Communists are of no great importance in Britain, but they axe a confounded nuisance, not only to the Labour Party, but to all political parties,” said Mr Cooke. “That was the opinion he had arrived at after studying the position fairly closely. The Liberal Party had threatened to launch a big programme some months ago, but nothing had yet eventuated, as there was still some controversy regarding the election funds built up b}' Mr Lloyd George.