I’m a fan of New Zealand history, particularly our political history. I read a lot of political biography and on occasion, when I’m a bit tired and bored in the House I pick up copies of the old Hansard and read what some of our esteemed former leaders talked about (from all sides). A while ago I came across these quotes from the late, great Rt Hon Walter Nash. They sum up pretty well for me what it means to be Labour.
“We have obligations towards the old and infirm because their work in their earlier and more fruitful years has made it possible for us to enjoy the standards we enjoy today – because they have done their share in making our present life possible. We have obligations towards the young because if we fail to provide for them, we fail to provide for the future, because it will be the duty and the privilege of those who are young today to make a still better world for tomorrow.We have obligations towards the sick and the ailing because they cannot care for themselves. And when those obligations have been fully discharged, when those unable to provide for themselves have been provided for, it is our duty to ensure that those who do the useful work of the world enjoy the full reward of their toil”.
“Men and women are not free to develop their own souls, to express their own individual personalities, to contribute according to their individual capacities to the world’s cultural inheritance – they are not free to do any of these things so long as the fact and fear of economic insecurity confronts them. Only when this fear is removed do they become in the fullest sense of the term a free people. We cannot reasonably expect the flowering of the higher attributes of humanity in a society that is diseased at its roots. Squalor, destitution, unemployment, slums, malnutrition, ill health, insecurity – these are diseases of the body politic which must be stamped out fearlessly and without equivocation before we can hope to build on foundations that are spiritually as well as materially secure”.
Wow, Stuart’s gramps was one great dude
John A Lee also had great insite and pushed Labour beyond the politicians comfort zone to establish reforms that transformed our country. He was eventually booted out of Labour , but remains a man above most of the other contributors. He wrote extensively about issued very relevant today. A visionary with a power to persuade. A hero of the common person.
That sums up pretty well for me what it means to be ACT.
The only difference between you and I is in the delivery.
@John W yeah John A Lee was a great man, a real inspiration. Which reminds me I need to finish reading children of the poor. Lee could have made so much more difference to NZ, if only he had been a more loyal man…
Did Stuart use your log-in Chris?
Yes. so lets get on with it. Capitalism is not and was never going to deliver this Chris
That’s a bold thing to say Jen but in general I agree with you
‘…these are diseases of the body politic which must be stamped out fearlessly’
I wonder exactly what Nash meant when he said these economic and social injustices must be fearlessly stamped out and if by those standards we could say weather or not the Labour party of today is a ‘fearless stamper’ of things.
“We have obligations towards the sick and the ailing because they cannot care for themselves”
Does this include help for Chris Carter, who, by reports from within labour is suffering mental health problems?
We need a courageous, transformational Labour Govt beginning in 2011 which will be quoted with awe and respect a full 50 years from now.
Chris, I’m curious, can you say on what occasion Walter Nash said this? For example, was it a General Debate or part of a budget debate?
Dylan
The loyalty issue was drummed up as an excuse to expel John A Lee from the Labour party.
Lee was not tolerated by Savage, Lee gained support to push through changes that Savage opposed buy had to give way to. The Labour party took credit for Lee’s State housing initiative but Savage put Armstrong as Minister for housing.
Savage was a sick man and when Lee questioned his fitness some sympathy for Savage tipped the voting on Lees expulsion.
Lee was the highest polling MP of the time.
and fiercely loyal to principles. An inspiration to common people.
An Unforunate personal clash rather than disloyalty.
Whats your solution Clare, launch a crusade against free trade to help NZ business? Theres a flipside to that coin:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Indian-milk-protests-could-harm-Free-Trade-deal/tabid/421/articleID/168395/Default.aspx
Sorry wrong thread
If only we could clone JA Lee, we could damn well do with his ilk now.
great post Chris, Labour needs to communicate that desire to make life better for the vast majority of people, then we will win next year, no problem
@Peter – yeah that rogue Trevor needs keeping in line
… 
I was only kidding Trev , gulp 
Chris, thanks for the quotes from Walter Nash. Reading from the biographies of Semple, Fraser and Lee, all in their way give me encouragement that the thinking of great Labour personalities still resonate with me, and you, and others hopefully too.
I have even used your quotes to Simon on the thread “I’m Angry” immediately above since it seems to resonate with the Adam Smith he quoted.
This is what is lacking from both major parties at present, clear principles to measure their policies against. People can be convinced by more than immediate term pole driven politics. As someone who has never voted Labour (although I think the 4th Labour govt was the best govt of the modern age — I was too young to vote then) I agree wholeheartedly with the W Nash quote.
Here’s the thing, though. The bit that most people don’t trust Labour on is the following:
“And when those obligations have been fully discharged, when those unable to provide for themselves have been provided for, it is our duty to ensure that those who do the useful work of the world enjoy the full reward of their toil.”
If you want to have the chance to implement the rest, you need to convince people you are serious about this part.
The philosophies and principles espoused by our leaders of yesteryear are still as relevant today as they were 50 years ago. We haven’t managed to stamp out economic insecurity, but Labour is the only party that at least works damn hard to alleviate it – as National is now increasing it for the vast majority of hard working kiwis. Some things never change.
Labour should ask itself why absolutely no one is quoting its leaders of the last 25 years when they look for guidance on the values, inspiration and philosophy of the party.
To be fair, no one seems to be quoting anyone from other parties in this regard. There’s been a shortage of great orators lately!
‘If only we could clone JA Lee, we could damn well do with his ilk now.’
Damn right Peter, I am actually working on that.
@John W
Yeah I don’t find that hard to believe, John Lee would have naturally been ostracized within the party because of how radical he was, he wasn’t what you would call a typical or common Labour member, he was a socialist of the radical kind he wanted the government to take control of the countries financial sector and at the time that would have been seen as pretty extreme, you could call him a communist really he was into karl marx.
Lee was a Socialist and with strong expression of what he saw as good for Society starting with the needy getting a lift to function. His economic ideas had socialist ends of sharing opportunity for wide prosperity.
This is different to Communism with conservative dogma and only a few control power.
Lee was active and fervent for change through democracy and popular support. He engaged with writing and disseminating his concerns on broad sheets. No internet then.
None of the wealth trickle down stuff we have accepted since Douglas, even when knowing and have experienced that trickle up is what is really happening.
Lee was radical but clear with his message. He excited possibilities and had widespread following. Lee resisted Labours shift from its social philosophy.
The party was not in good shape when he was expelled as Savage was dying and McMillan deserted Lee when pressed. Frazer followed Savage as the new leader.
Lee formed the Democratic party.
Terrific post Chris and good discussion Labour has a rich history and Nash’s words are absolutely current and on point today.
It’s cool that you guys think that, coz Nash’s government nationalised the BNZ