SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14839, 3 December 1913, Page 10

SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS AT LYTTELTON.

THREE SPEECHES.

An open-air meeting was lield in Norwich quay. Lyttelton,' last night, ■when Mr J. Osßdrno presided over an attendance of about 150 strikers, seamen and firemen, and a few of the general public. Addresses were delivered by Messrs Robertson, M.P. (Otaki), and P. C. Webb, M.P. (Grey) who were leaving by the Wahine for Wellington. Both speakers criticised the

Massey Government at some particularly in regard to tho land pSfc 3 icy. They urged those present to vot* 1 solidly next Tuesday to secure the r*. turn of the Sodal-Demoeratie candi- - ; date, Mr J. McCombs. Mr Roberteon stated that the Liberal Party had ceased to b6 actuated by any definite principle, and was like a chip VaDovin.,! ; about in a sea of political expediency.-' The Liberal Party would nover agjun* be a driving force, and the worker* • would have to come together and ««. i cure control of the political machinery. He urged the workers of Lyttelton to ; secure tho return of tho Social-Denio. cratic candidate, so that tne hnlf-dotea Ijabour rcon in Parliament could j»i together as tho nucleus of what woafct be a groat Social-Democratic PartyV after the next general election. Sir Webb said that the workers of NewZealand were combining to fight against the monopolies in lana and in tJ»& shipping; business, which were sapping! the life's blood from the community, Tho ships engaged in New Zoalsnd'j coastal trade should bo the property of tho people , .■ Later, at the Oddfellows' Hall,"Mr J. Thorn addressed a crowded meeting. In the course of a speech lasting nearW two hours he complained that whife the strike leaders wero nnsafe in ma& i mc nnv reference to strike matters,' "Tho Press," in its leading columns, ■wns making all kinds of statements concerning the lcadors whom it accused tf inciting their followers to murder - arson, and robbery. , *.

In their speeches. Messrs Robertas Wobb. and Thorn strongly appealed for a fair lioarinsr for Mr Mffler, the (Jo- '" vernment candidate. They said that bj denying him and the other candidates a fair hearing they were only damagfoij, their own cause.