LIBERAL DAYS & NOW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1990, 21 February 1914, Page 6

LIBERAL DAYS & NOW.

THE CONTRAST.

HON. F. M. B. FISHER AT RAIAPOI. IN OUTSPOKEN VEIN, (By TeleCTasU.—Press Association.) Christehuroh,,February 20. TJio Hon. P. M. B. Fisher addressed a largely-attended meeting of electors at the Oddfellows' Hall, Kaiapoi, to-night. Ho said that at present the Dominion was ia a flourishing condition from end to endj and tho general prospect was most bright, In fact, it was expected that, at the end of tho financial year, all previous financial- records will bo ■ broken. A great deal of sneering remarks, he said, had been levelled against the "old Tory Party," but he ivonld -point out that it was due to tho efforts of those- who were now dubbed 'Tories' that tho foundation was laid for many of the democratic institutions existing now. .These men were also responsible for iho development of. the country at a time, when it needed development, 1 Liberals and Monopolists. It was also asserted that the present Government was the friend of tho mono-' pOlists, but what did , the previous Liberal Government do to- stop monopolies? Did'they deal with the beer monopolies, or.the Union Steam Ship Company's monopoly? These monopolies had thrived under the Liberal regime, and ho said unhesitatingly also that tho Liberal Government was the friend of vested interests. 'Die clamour respecting tho condition, of the working man was due to tho "cost of high living," not-to the cost of living. The Liberal , party went out. because it had been badly led, and the-recent by-elections show•ed that the country had no time'for tho -old Liberal party. • • ' Some Government Alms. .. Mr.* Fisher then outlined what the' present Government had so far achieved in the way of social'and other legislation. . .Hβ' denied.' statements: madq that the Government were opposed to pension principles. Ho himself wanted to see. the pension- advantages. extended. •The Government would also have to •consider very soon tho question of seeing to it that tho, rising generation was taken in hand and turned ,out skilled in some trad© or'profession.^ . The unskilled labour, problem would have to bo faced also,' and ' tho Government would have to try , and establish a living wage in the Dominion.' ■ It must be borne* in mind that; if a minimum wage were fixed, the minimum amount of work to earn that wago should also be fixed. He' did not deny that, any wan had a , right to-strike; but no man had tho right to prevent, another.man from i working, ft was only through the; bal-lot-box that labour could win in. this country; the.,;strike method was quite ineffective, andi the worker and his family were inyotved in ■; the general economic waste.. :,, ~ /.' : - ..' :

State's Relation to - Labour Hid Rings. Begarding naval affairs, Mr. Fisher • Said' that. the Government ■ wanted to giv6 : the-people a live, and vivid ".interest iri the Kfayy. Surely,/ New Zenland could give; one ship and one. crW to. the Navy/ and that was thb only change ■ proposed. Speaking on •■■the repeal of the Second Ballot Act, the Mjnistor said that the figures of last election showed what an absolute failure*'', the Second Ballot Act. was. Proportional representation could not be put into opera-, tioh while the country/quota existed, and 110 Parliament would repeal the country quota. Proportional .representation might be put into.. operation in cities, but,, even .then, they would not get rid of the party system. In fact, in Tasmania, it had prored a perfect . party aid. It was doubtful whether State action' would ever solve labour troubles.■ In the recent troubles State employment did not save .the difficulty because the State's sailors and miners struck. Finally, the speaker said that, in his opinion, the only way of breaking "rings" was State competition. He favoured a State shipping line.