HAMPERING THE GOVERNMENT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1906, 14 November 1913, Page 6

HAMPERING THE GOVERNMENT

The little group of so-called Labour members,-backed by some of the radicals of the Isitt-Atmobb type, are, intentionally or otherwise, doing their beat in Parliament to embarrass the Government in connection with the strike. Daily one or other or all of these members attempt to raise discussions in the House of Representatives on tlie strike situation which can only have the effect of enfiouragins; the strikers to prolong their foolish attempt to bludgeon thi.v community into submission to t,ho dictates of the Federation, of Labour. On every occa^

sion tljoy have been frustrated, in their attempts by the great majority of the House emphatically refusing to permit debate on the question. A few days ago the voting of the House on the question was something like GO votes to six, and } re.sterday it was 51 to 15 in favour of a motion to adjourn a debate which Mr. Paynr had Bought to promote by moving to introduce a Bill dealing with the strike. It must amuse the public to note these so-called Labour members describing themselves as the only direct representatives of Labour in" the House. MR. Robertson, for instance, spoke in this vein by the way, we trust the electors of Otaki will duly note tie mischievous attitude of their member since the strike trouble first arose. Neither Mr. Robertson ; nor ally other of- the so-called Labour members can fairly describe j themselves, as the member for Otaki! did yesterday, as the direct representatives of Labour. Bin. Robertson himself crawled into Parliament on the- votes of the farmers his friends of the Red Federation are now trying to ruin by blocking their produce from reaching the Home market. Mki Payne would never. have seen the inside of Parliament as a member of the House of Representatives but for the Reform vote at the last general election, and Me. Veitch owes his election also to the Reform vote, Mr. HiKftMABSfl won on the vote of the "Liberals" of Wellington South. Even Ms. Webb, ox-President of the Federation of Labour, and in what is probably the biggest stronghold of Labour in New Zealand, could not win on a direct Labour vote, and has sines proved by his votes in the House his recognition of what ho owes to Wardism. The people of Kelson, who are losing so heavily through the strike, should not overlook the attitude of their member and his bitter party attack on the Government yesterday. No one who has followed /his political actions since his election to the House would be likely to expect, him to sink his hosiility to the Government even in & time of crisis like the present, hut one hardly imagined lie Would be so stnmd as to allow his ill-nature to find vent in so palpable a party attack. The tone of recent, speeches of the Labour members (with ono_ exception) and the extreme Radicals who arc seeking' their support is quite sufficient to prove the wisdom of the action of the Government in declining to assist in making an opportunity at the present juncture for the discussion of the strike on the floor of the House. .