LABOUR MEETING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3131, 9 July 1917, Page 6

LABOUR MEETING

APPEAL FOR ORGANISATION

THE IMPRISONED LEADERS

A meeting under the auspices of the New Zealand Labour Party was held in the King's Theatre last evening. Mr. J. Kead, president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, was in the chair, and there was a fnirly large attendance. Tho speeches mado during tho evening included some strongly-worded protests against tho War Regulations and the Military Service Act. Tlie chairman said the Labour Party had not made much progress in recent years, but tho people were realising that they would secure no amelioration of conditions from tho old parties. Parliament looked after the -interests of the class it 'represented, and it was for the workers to mend matters by seeing that their class secured control of affairs. Jir. A. J. Walker, JI.P., president of tho Labour Party, eaid there was evidence of growing interest in Labour matters throughout New Zealand. Some people seemed to think a general election was ponding. He did not believe that tho election would be Tield before the postponed dato fixed by Parliament. .But a , - general election certainly was needed. The people of the country were in a disturlx?d condition, and as changes of Government had taken place during the war in Britain, Prance, and elsewhere there was ne reason why New Zealand should retain its present rulers. Eeferring to military matters, Mr. Walker said that he read between tho lines of Ministers' statements an intention to curtail tho strength of the reinforcements sent to the front". There was a feoliiu? throughout the Dominion that too many men wero being sent away. (A voice: "No.") Tho feeling was growing, and ho believed it would assert itself and commend itself to Ministers at an early date.

Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland) mado an appeal for improved labour organisation. Ho could see no difference between the Reformers and the Liberals. Neither of the old parties would set the workers free. He did not belief that a state of industrial freedom could lie established by ihenns of political action 'alone. If the workers spent their efforts on attaining Parliamentary representation they would be disappointed with tin results, us the Australians had been disappointed. A Government would always lie moulded by the dominant economic power behind ir. The working classes must take that poorer in their own hands by improving their organisation. Mr. E. Heffron (Auckland) asserted that tho best men connected with the Labour movement were "lying rotting in the dungeons of this country." Oppression of this character was possiblo under the rule of a despotic Government. Mr. 11. E. Holland said no argument should be necessary to convince any working man of the necessity for the political unity of the working classes. Ho moved, meeting of Wellington citizens views with astonishment and censure the action of the MaseeyWard Government in refusing.to release the Labour men unjustly held in prison under the oppressive War Regulations, and moro especially in viow of the fact that the Governments of both. Russia and Britain have unconditionally released their political and rebellion prisoners. Wo unreservedly condemn tho Government's action in singling out Labour men for persecution. This meeting fnrther calls upon the whole of the industrial workers and all who stand for liberty to link up under the banner of the New Zealand Labour Party for tho vanning of economic and intellectual freedom, iind thus' to furnish guarantees that men of lofty ideals shall never again bo flung into barbaric captivity for expressing their honest thoughts." The chairman seconded tho motion and put it' to the meeting at once. ' It was carried almost unanimously on a ehow of hands, and the chairman then ■ declared tho meeting closed.