TAKING THE GLOVES OFF.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1099, 11 April 1911, Page 4

TAKING THE GLOVES OFF.

The two outstanding features of the political address delivered by Mr., Hekpmak, M.P., at the Conccrfc Chamber of the Town Hall last evening were the, direct and outspoken way in which he handled the labour question and his convincing exposure of the despotism which exists in this country under tho guise of democracy. Mit. Herdjian, to use his own phrase, "took the gloves off," and it was not any too soon. In discussing labour legislation and labour conditions generally, the member for Wellington North made it clear that his remarks were intended for that large section of Labour which does its own thinking and which refuses to accept without question the views dictated by the mischief-making agitators, so oftsn misnamed Labour leaders. For the Labour agitator, as wc know him, here, Mr.. Herdman displayed a whole-hearted contempt which met with an enthusiastic endorsement from the greater part of the large gathering assembled to listen to the address. It is growing more and more evident that the majority of the small body of men in this community who perpetually thrust themselves before the public as the head and front of the Labour movementare estimated at their true worth by the thoughtful section of trades unionists and workers _ generally. There arc, no doubt, sincere and earnest men amongst them, but the majority of the noisy agitators do not possess the confidence of the bulk of the people who comc under the generally accepted definition of Labour, while those whose opinions are regarded with some respect are discounted by their association with the extremists. We have no doubt that a large proportion of those workers who form an independent judgment on tho plain facts placcd before them will heartily endorse a great deal of what Me. Heedman said last evening; and that all must give him credit for an earnest desire to bring about an improvement in tho relations which exist between Capital and Labour with the view,_ not only of benefiting the two sections most directly afl'ccted, 1 but of furthering also the interests of tho people as a whole.

Me. Herdman, probably through lack of time, rather scamped that portion of his address bearing on the state of despotism which has grown up in New Zealand, but that the illustrations which he put forward in support of his contention were sufficient for his purpose was proved by the repeated demonstrations of approval which punctuated this portion of his remarks. The member for Wellington North did well to recall the scandalous incident of last session when tlio Trbie Minister_ refused to supply certain information regarding loan flotations, and Mr. Jaiies Allen, to safeguard the future, moved to provide that particulars of the cost and expenses o? floating all loans should be laid before Parliament within a period of twelve months of the loan flotation. Our readers will remember that Sir Joseph Ward had the effrontery to treat this perfectly proper and reasonable request as ' 'offensive,' ' and rallied his obedient followers to vote against the motion. Even when Mr. llerdman moved to extend the period within which the information might be supplied to tico years after the flotation of a loan,' the Minister and his party voted against and threw out the motion. It is a most extraordinary thing that Sir Joseph Ward should resent being pressed for this information, and still more extraordinary that when members of Parliament who, represent people demand so reasonable a thing as a definite rule on the subject, the head of the Government should repard it as "offensive." "Offensive" forsooth that tho people should, through their representatives m Parliament, demand to know how their money is being spent. Other illustrations of the refusal of the Gotemment to supply information which it, is not only the right,_ but the duty, of members to obtain for the enlightenment of the public, were Given lay Mr. Herdman, and it was gratifvi'ng to note the grasp which the audicnce appeared to have o£ the importance of the issue involved and the signs of approval evinced at the denunciation of the state of despotism readied, under which Ministcis dare to treat the people's affairs as though they were the private and personal concern of Ministers alone. Last night's meeting proved once more that the public appreciate the public man who "takes the gloves off" in a good cause. The country would benefit with more plamcneakint? on the lines pursued bv the member for Wellington North.