LABOUR LIMITATIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2294, 30 October 1914, Page 4

LABOUR LIMITATIONS

Some of the representatives of Labour in the House of Representatives are very slow to realise that there is no room for class distinctions or class hatred in the politics of a democratic country, and that legislation in the interests of tho country as a whole is equally in the interests of every class. There was a case in point yesterday when Me. 1 W. A. Veitch, Labour member for Wanganui, complained bitterly that' there had-been a dearth of Labour legislation this session and went on to accuse tho Government of being antagonistic- to Labour as a class and Mb. Massey of being a complete failure as Minister in charge of the Labour. Department. A little electioneering by a Labour member in the closing nours of the session is not of course either very surprising or very important, but yesterday's incident threw a certain amount of light upon the strangely narrow attitude and outlook to- which Me. Veitch and others of his type appear to be oommitted. ■_ It is of course true that soma projected Labour legislation, like other legislation, has been delayed on account 'of- tho war and tho conditions it has created,, but to contend because of this that the interests of Labour have been sacrificed is in effect to deny the working' population the rights and privileges attaching to their citizenship. With Me. Veitch and those who share his views "Labour" implies a body of people to bo served and placated mainly by special legislation relating to conditions of employment. AI more enlightened outlook would teach these narrow-minded exponents of class prejudice that tho people whom- they to represent are interested and concerned not only in industrial laws and regulations, but in the whole body of legislation which comes within the scope of Parliament. The working people .of New Zealand will benefit just as much as the rest of tho population from tho Liberal arid democratic measures which havo been passed during the term of the present Parliament and it is very much more important in their interests that settlement and the progress of the country generally should bo stimulated as they have been than that' a few additions should be made to the already cumbrous machinery of industrial regulation. It is not, of course, true that the Government has neglected industrial affairs since it took office. On the contrary, it has effected many _ reforms in this class of legislation, notably in the passage of the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, which represents a bold attempt to secure the peaceful settlement of all industrial disputes On equitable terms. It will stand to the lasting credit of tho Massey Government that while the reputed representatives, of tho working population have been prattling about "Labour legislation," it has presented a firm and unbending front to selfish and unscrupulous demagogues, who have no thought.for the real interests of Labour, and has dono a great deal in assisting to build up the stable and prosperous conditions on which the welfare of the whole population depends. These facts are not likely to be overlooked by the people of Wanganui or of other constituencies in which Labour candidates are striving to sow seeds of class hatred. Me. Mooee's speech at Johnsonville last evening was typical of the wild and inflated nonsense some of the /men who_ pose as the champions of Labour give vent to at times like the present. They have no balance or Benso of proportion, and while professing to serve Labour's cause are acting as its worst enemies would wish. It is precisely beoause Labour representatives habitually resort to such- tactics that their party from its birth has remained a sickly infant and has figured prominently only as--a convenient tool in the hands of bogus "Liberals." Mr. Mooee last evening disclosed the fact' that bargaining between tho Wardists and the Labour Party had resulted in an arrangement by whioh they would not oppose one another at the coming Elections. But what is most significant, ' and what tho electors who have not forgotten the strike of 1913 should bear in mind, is the declaration made that the Labour members if elected will, in the event of the Wardists getting back to office, compel them to do what Labour wishes.' It -is a nice prospect for the country to face at a time like the. present when sound •'and. sane government is imperatively called for in order to avoid the risk of financial depression and general stagnation. '