WAR POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1940, Page 4

WAR POLICY

DECLARATION BY LABOUR CONFERENCE. FULLEST SUPPORT IN FIGHT AGAINST AGGRESSION. ‘By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The joint statement on war policy adopted recently by the national executives of the New Zealand Labour Party and the New Zealand Federation of- Labour and subsequently endorsed by a 10 to one majority at the federation annual conference,, was approved by the annual conference of the Labour Party yesterday by 821 votes to 104. This was on a card vote in which delegates have votes according to the strength of their unions. This statement was given wide publicity at the time if was issued. Summarised, it declared that to fail now to render the fullest support in the fight against Nazi aggression would brand the Labour movement as politically irresponsible or worse. Opposition to conscription was affirmed unconditionally, and on the subject of freedom of speech the joint statement included this expression of opinion: “Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to disorganise traffic b.v holding open-air meetings in busy streets or to wilfully court disorder, but facilities should be provided for meetings in suitable selected places approved by the recognised authorities to enable the expression of opinion by those who aro willing to abide by the laws of the country.”