Labour Sells Out in '51

The Party started its period in the wilderness in 1949, and with no especially strong line against the Holland Government's rabid 1951 attack on civil liberties and the waterfront unions (Nash declared himself "neither for nor against" the workers' struggle) seemed destined to stay there. The 1951 confrontation showed up another major effect of the Labour Government's reign - the union movement split in two. The radical Trades Union Congress urged the need for organisation and strong unions. The Federation of Labour held strongly to the benefits of cooperation with the Government, and even helped Holland smash the waterfronters.

Wandering around in the wilderness, the Party picked up a few disciples, a few new policies and one or two new faces. The electoral success of 1957 (when Labour got a majority of two seats) was a political disaster. Labour faced a major economic mess, caused by falling export prices but greatly helped by National's dismantling of import controls.

The stem economic steps of the 1958 Black Budget were technically successful (they kept the ship afloat), but politically suicidal (all the crew left). Other measures of the administration were equally popular. Progressive steps such as recognising China or asking the Rugby Union not to tour South Africa (who wouldn't let Maoris in the team) were quietly shelved. Industrialisation was encouraged, but in a disastrous way. There was little consultation with local people and the benefits (e.g. of Comalco) were never quite apparent.

It is clear that the Party had lost contact with the Labour movement. It was trying to manage capitalism better than the Nats (in which task it probably succeeded). But its members left in droves, and at the 1960 Party Conference there was strong support for a motion attacking the Government for being completely out of touch with what was left of the Party rank and file.

As in 1951, and again in 1975, Labour's 1960 reward for its compromises and ploys was a low turnout at the polls (especially of Maori voters) and a sacking as the Government. Its attempts to restore the Welfare State and reintroduce import controls once again got whittled away by the National Government.

Again into the wilderness. And Satan said: "If you will bow down before me I will give you all this." Lip service to socialism went out the door like a shot, but electoral gains didn't come easily. The members of the Parliamentary Party were changing. Fewer now came from trade union backgrounds. Many came from professional liberal backgrounds. None dared think of the class struggle.