REPLY TO MR JELLICOE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1333, 10 January 1912, Page 5

REPLY TO MR JELLICOE

WHAT THE HIGH COMMISSIONERS SAY. NEW ZEALAND'S LABOUR- LAWS. By Telesraph—Press ABsociation-Copyright (Rec. January 9, 10.25 p.m.) London, Januaa-y 9. Sir George Beid, tho High Commissioner for Australia, writing to the "Standard," states that Mr. Jellicoe's attack on Labour is whoily unjustified. He quotes Mr. Fisher's statement in the Federal llouso on October 2G on the Commonwealth's prosperity as a sufficient answer to Mr. Jellicoe's allegation of financial and industrial ruin. Sir George Reid says that when h6 was politically opposed to Labour ho was compelled to acknowledgetho Labour party's character, intelligence, and public spirit. Somo people are bo accustomed to see capitalists combine to fight in their own interests that they aro unablo to recognise a similar development on the part of tho workers.

Sir William Hall-Jonos,. High Commissioner for New Zealand, writing to tho "Standard," states that New Zealand's exports are greater per head than any other country. Arbitration lias . saved hundreds of thousands of pounds by settling disputes. Much of the labour legislation has substantially improved the workers' conditions, and no humane man could object lo the factory laws of New Zealand. The labour conditions were tho best in the world.

Lady Stout, in a letter, combats Mr. Jellicoe's criticism and taunts him with being rejected as a political aspirant.