LABOUR AND REFORM.

Dominion, Issue 1337, 15 January 1912, Page 4

LABOUR AND REFORM.

The most striking feature of the complimentary entertainment ■ tendered to Mr. Veitch, the Labour member for Wanganui, on Saturday last, was tho harmonious blending of iieform and Labour opinions respecting the guest of the evening. Of almost, if not quite, equal note were the moderate and sensible views expressed by those who might be said to voice for the occasion the feelings of Labour regarding the future policy of that party. We have grown so accustomed to the narrow and selfish attitude of most of the Labour leaders in Wellington that it comes almost as a shock to find the interests of the class they represent being advocated temperately and without recourse to those wild appeals to class feeling and passion which _ disgust and antagonise even thc t friends of_ Labour. Labour has legitimate claims, and no one can have the slightest objection to those claims being fought for strenuously and determinedly, either in the arena of politics or that of industry. But so long as Labour chooses as the men to fight its battles those who have no skill in the use of any other weapon than the fomenting of class hatred; no greater constructive genius than the creation of perpetual industrial strife, Labour will never rally to its banner more than a mere fraction of the strength which it should possess, and will never progress very far towards the goal which the more ambitious and more, far-seeing of'those who advocate its cause aspire to. Iu the speeches at the Wanganui gathering referred to there were signs of a recognition of something of this kind. So far as Mr. Veitch himself was concerned he made it very clear that he was not to be tempted by office where tho acceptance of personal advancement was likely to prove detrimental to the cause of Labour. The suggestion was made that while Mn. Veitch could not possibly join a Ward Government, he might, under certain circumstances, accept a portfolio under Mb. Massey. Mr. Veitch is of course without Parliamentary experience, but he has the reputation of being an able man who has shown himself possessed of considerable strength of character and sound judgment. In some respects at least ho would seem to possess qualifications which would make him a valued colleague. Tho difficulty which would naturally present itself would bo to determine how far the policy and principles of the Reform party, and those which Mi:. Veitch takes as his guide, harmonise. Naturally there must be some give-and-take of individual opinion amongst the members of every Ministry, for they cannot be expected to see eye to eye on all subjects. A member may be prepared to lay aside, possibly only temporarily, his views on some given -question for the sake of securing the accomplishment of still more vital issues of policy; but there is a limit to the sacrifice which can be made in this way. Me. Massey and Mr. Veitch have much in common. They both desire to see the finances of the country investigated and placed on a better footing; they both wish to see the cost of living lessened: theyboth object to the Legislative Council as at present constituted; it is probable that Mr. Veitch would be found in agreement with tho Reform party's policy in favour of insurance against sickness and unemployment; they -would both be in harmony asto the desirableness of promoting industrial peace and encouraging local industries. All these matters are planks in the platform of the Reform party. Whether it would be possible for Mn. Massey and Mr. Veitch to thus meet on common ground for the purpose of accomplishing ends both desire in common it is not possible for us to say. Wo cannot pretend even to guess at the answer to the question. There are matters in which they are in disagreement and these may prove an insurmountable obstacle to anything more than a temporary working arrangement. It is safe to assume, however, that whatever may be done as between Mr. Massey and any of the Labour members with a view to carrying on the business of the country will be done in such a manner and on such terms as will bring no discredit to either party.