Paradox

The Labour Party has shown in the past that it is prepared to take up an unpopular position to further its egalitarian objectives and in support of its principles. It remains however, something of a paradox. On the one hand it is disciplined and demands high standards of loyalty. On the other it is a movement for social liberation from fear of illness and want, committed to the guarantee of meaningful debate and criticism and a free flow of information. In its essence it is an idealistic movement with a strong commitment to internationalist ideals and aspirations. Its coherence and unity are derived from its background and support from Trade Unionism and enable it as a government to implement policies demanding the establishment of priorities to an extent that conservative governments would never be able to do, because of their dependence upon an ability to hand out shares of an ever expending national cake.

It was not by accident that a book containing excerpts from speeches by Norm Kirk was entitled "Towards Nationhood". This is not pursuit of the sterile, mystical nationalism of the Welsh and Scots Nationalists. It does, however, imply a recognition that specifically New Zealand solutions are being sought for specifically New Zealand problems. The Commonwealth and Monarchy are irrelevant to present problems but remain as reminders of a common opposition to Fascism and Militarism the former providing at the same time a useful experiment in multi-racial cooperation. "Nationhood" envisages an international role for New Zealand which will recognise its size and resources rather than its "influence" base on servility to the "mother" country. Our obvious focus of attention is the Pacific and the Islands but with our relative affluence and well developed representation in many parts of the world we can play a role as the organiser, lobbyist and leader of the small, largely underdeveloped emergent nations of the world. Looking further ahead Labour recognises the potential friends to be made in the Pacific basin in China and South America.