WELLINGTON CENTRAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1296, 27 November 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON CENTRAL.

SPEECH BY Ml!. W. T. YOUNG. Mr. W. T. Young, selected Labour candidate for Ihe Central seat, addressed a large open-air gathering of electors at the corner of Gbuznee and Cuba Streets on Saturday night. In referring In tho matter of immigration, the candidate expressed himself' as being entirely in accord with the principle of the immigration restriction laws of the country which he thought, essential and in the best interest of the general community, but he was not in favour of the Government, policy of using public, moneys to assist people to come lo New Zealand, believing such a policy to be altogether wrong in principle. It was his opinion that conditions of employment should ho of such a nature as to induce immigration to our shores without the expenditure of a single farthing by way of assistance. During the past winter, steamer after steamer leaving Now Zealand for Australia had to obtain permits from the Customs Department to carry an excess number of passengers over the number specified >n tho passenger certificate. This loss of population Mr. Young attributed to the bad conditions of employment prevailing in New Zealand, anil especially to (he wantof apropersst of working conditions for agricultural employees, and the fact of conditions, of employment in Australia being exceptionally good under the rule of a Labour Government. With reference to the electoral laws, he was in favour of an amendment so that Civil Servants should have the absolute right to contest a public position without being called on to resign from Ihe Service. Jt was a well-known fact that State employees were almost afraid to express a definite opinion on any subject affecting the national politics of the country, or to in any way criticise the present Administration, the members of which could not see a person get even a billet at cleaning offices without interfering in the appointment. In reply to questions, the candidate stated that he did not believe in 20 per cent, of the population, which constituted tho employers, governing the remaining 80 per cent., which. consisted of tho workers, and, therefore, he and the l.abmrr party stood tor the principle that all questions submitted to ballot of the people should be decided by the bare majority vote. Mr. Y'oring received an attentive and orderly bearing, and at the conclusion of his address hearty cheers were given for the candidate anil tho Labour party.