FARMERS AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 208, 28 May 1919, Page 8

FARMERS AND LABOUR

TWO POINTS OF VIEW "THE LOUDEST-MOUTHED DEMAGOGUE" inferences to agitators and demagogues in the speech or' the president of the Wellington Farmers' Union (Mr. G. L. Marshall, of Murton) produced some discussion at the opening of the 'Wellington Provincial Conference. The president appealed to farmers to assist in preserving A'ow Zealand ''from the hands of irresponsible people who wish -to force upon us a kind of social terrorism, which will paralyse industry and bring ruin to the community," "it is obvious," said the president, "that any movement which interferes with the industries of the country makes it harder for 'the people id; a whole to live comfortably. Adam Smith, tho great political economist,, in one of his works, asks: 'What is the measure of value? What regulates the .amount of one thing which will be given for another?' And be answers: 'Labour is the real measure of the exchangeable value of all commodities. ' Labour alone never varying .in its own value, is alone the ultimate and real standard .'by which the value of all commodities can at nil times and places be estimated and colnpared. It is their real value; money is their nominal price only.' "It is perfectly obvious 1 , therefore, that so long as an increasingly large part of the community persist in demanding shorter hours and in decreasing the weekly output or vuluo of their work, so long, I say, will the conditions of 'living be increasingly difficult "When will the public realise this? Lot us follow the movement to its logical conclusion. Let lie suppose that the 'demands o.f organised Labour have been conceded "to until, we had generally a working week of four days of four hours each. The direct resralt would lie that the necessities of life would be unprocurable at any price,-and yet many a man uppears to think that by adopting a 'go-slow' policy he will better his condition. No doubt the absurdity of this will be recognised some day, "but untilpeople in general are ready to onciS more sive ■ a fair day's wprk in return -for a fair day's pay the prevailing unrest is bourid to increase. Hie appointment of an Industrial Council 011 a large scale, consisting of- representatives I from Capital, Labour, producers, and tho consuming public, who are all partliors in 'the great ship of industry, might posniblv have a good effect. "The result of recent by-elections gives us much cause for reflection. What right, for-instance, has 'a man who has; been convicted of breaking the laws of the country, or who has made use of disloyal sentiments, to take a seat in Parliament and help to make or -ovise the laws which govern Ihe community? It. must be our aim and object to see that men are- elected who have a real' interest in the welfare tof this country, and who have a pride _ and inborn love of the glorious Empire of which we form part. . We have nothing to fear from 11 member who is actuated by. a real love of King but I fear that thero is a large admixture of people, 'chiefly in the cities, who will give their votes to tho loudest-mouthed demagogue who will give voice to any wild, untried, and lawless opinions-which he thinks will appeal to an unreasoning Mr. A. G. Parker (Hukanni) said that in view of certain passages in tho president's address he felt impelled to place on record the fact that members of tho Farmers' Union were not all looking on tho Labour movement in a spirit of antagonism. Ho was afraid that the presi : dent's unfortunate- remarks with reference to some Labour members were likely to have the effect of inciting antagonism on the part of Labour towards the Farmers' Union. It was a great pity that anything of the sort should happen, Tiecause the real need was co-operation. The president: I was not referring to the Labour movement at all. I was referring to those so-called orators who arcapt to"" voice things which arc untried and unlawful. I am not referring to any political party in Now Zealand at all. (Hear, hear.) , Mr. W. Douglas (Tinui) said ho nlso. objected to tho remarks. Ho would like to move that the reference to "loudmouthed demagogues" should be withdrawn. , m . „ , t , Mr. H. A. Kevins (Tinui) said »o would move that a vote of thanks bo accorded ■ the president for his speech. The president was a farmer.and he had viewed the -unrest in New Zealand from a farmer's point of view. Doubtless he-, would be prepared to criticise some farm, ers as severely a3 ho had criticised soni'j -Labour men. His statement, in any case) was his own, and the conference could not ask him to revise his opinion. There was 110 man in tho room who .could discuss, the. Labour problem or any otheiproblem without finding' that some other man disagreei} with him. The object of the conference&vas the exchange of views. Mr. E. M'Donald (Te Horo) seconded the vote of thanks. He -said he shared the regret atvthe tone of the president's words. The creation of antagonism towards Labour was a thing to be avoid'" The president said it was clearly out-. side tho province of the conference to criticise his address. He alone was responsible for what ho had said. Mr. W. B. Matheson (Bketahuna) said the speech was the outcome of very careful thought. There were sentences in it that might appear questionable, but no delegate had given those sentences as much thought as the president had done. "As I read them over more carefully," said Mr. Matheson, "I think they are perfectly true and perfectly clear. They are not attacking anybody. I believe that there are many people in tho country as well as in the towns who are liable to be led away by demagogues. The demagogue is one of the dangers that confront this country. He is appealing to the selfish side of .human nature. J think these remarks are auite justified."

Other delegates indicated that they did not approve of the sentences, but regarded them merely as the president's own opinion. The vote of thanks was carried by the conference.