Reception to Mr. Ben Tillett.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 8, 4 October 1907, Page 7

Reception to Mr. Ben Tillett.

The Socialist Hull, Manners Street, was well filled on Wednesday night,, when tlio mi?mbei'- of" tho Socialist' party gave a formal reception to Mr. IJcn Tillett. . ,j A fair sprinkling of l.lio gqntlor sox also attended. Mr. Robert Ho™ was' iii, the'chair, and in n short speech introduced tho guest of tho evening. C6irirade''Tillett, ' lie said, was, as they all knew, a veteran in Trade Union and Sooialist matters, in tho Old Land. His name was. well known wherever .the workers/had united tor their common good, Hi's strenuous exertions in tli6 cause of Socialism and workers' rights had seriously impaired V)s )iea)Y)i, urn) );c irsA- j)bw on a visit Ys> ■yecajim'te. "XoV fang apo was, Ut£!a syiwU. \\\ t(\a Snaialixt movement in--Navr. Zealand. Tlie ivtiuv 'irns in sco the solidifyingoi the fighting "power of Socialism, and tlio influence of the Socialist party 011 tho politics of this country. Mr. FitiKerald, in a \iKoVous spfcecti, said that tliey were standing 'on ' the threshold of a great. movement, and there la.v Wo re them ns' great 'a .battle as over -took place in the world. They would never rest until,'all. producers, and #U\ men shared in the production. Mr. Ben Tillett was accorded nn.enthusiastic reception on rising to -'address" his hosts. It was,'lie said, some years since he lind hcen in Wellington, and in that time many tilings had happened. The Socialist movement had made great strides. Russia was ill the throes- of .a social revolution; Germany;.- France, Spain, and Italy, Belgium and Holland, had come into line. liu.England,, the. advance forces of the, movement had been brought together, 'and. tho powers that 1)0 were faced by a united army, representative of the ' Socialist and labour party. Tho movement ■ had' spread its influence even into China and Japan. There could bo no manhood,' and poverty would always exist so long as the wages,system obtained. "You people of New. Zealand," lie "exclaimed, " think that" you are well off, compared with other places.' "Does Gd. a week, Is. a week, ss. a. week more constitute your idea of Heaven. Heaven for five bob a week!" He was very, pleased, lie concluded, to seo that the movement had made. such satisfactory strides in New Zealand. For the future he had.great h6p'es;and lie trusted that the optimism which inspired his efforts m the cause, was reflected iu the hearts and minds of his 'hearers.

Eefroshnieuts were dispensed during the evening, nnd the proceedings'were enlivened with musical items at intervals. ' '■'~!..'..'