International Scene More Strained Than Ever, Says Labour Leader

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 May 1948, Page 7

International Scene More Strained Than Ever, Says Labour Leader

(P.A.) Dunedin, May 3. International affairs had shown no improvement in the past year, and in fact were more strained than ever, said the president of the New Zealand Labour Party (Mr. J. Roberts, M.L.C.)- in his report to the annual conference of the party this morning. “We have the same ideological conflict, the same suspicions and distrusts, and the same disagreements about spheres of influence,’’ he said. “The peoples of the world have a right to expect a greater measure of agreement from representatives at the United Nations, but there has not been as yet any measure of agreement and understanding that could guarantee international peace in the future.”

Differences of opinion between the nations seemed to be mainly ideologilogical, added Mr. Roberts. He had no objection to people of any country adopting any form of political or economic ideology they desired, providing they did not attempt to impose the ideology on others. He war firmly of the opinion that social democracy, such as that obtaining in New Zealand and Britain, was the only policy that would ensure the people freedom. human justice and international peace.

‘‘We have been accused by Mr. Holland of dictating the policy of the party, but our policy is initiated by the rank and file of the organisation,” added Mr. Roberts. Serious divisions in the party, he said, would only lead to confusion among the people- and this might well be the cause of the defeat of the Labour Government. “The party is proud of what the Government has done,” added Mr. Roberts, “but the job has only been started. Much remains to be done before we reftch our final objective.”