MODERATE LABOUR AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 3, 29 September 1919, Page 4

MODERATE LABOUR AND POLITICS

SPEECH BY MR. YEITCH.

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent,

Masterton, September 28. . The political situation from tho modcrate Labour viewpoint 'was the snbipct of an address by Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P., in tho Municipal Hall to-night. Air. JM. Coradinc presided over a fairly law. and attentive audience. Mr. Veitch dealt at length with tho preferential tariff. He instanced Australian tariffs as most detrimental to New Zealand industries in that they favoured English markets only. Unless they could guarantee industrial peace the industries womd have a very poor chance. The country's debt at present stood at .£IOO ppr head, and that would require hard wort- to remove. Any Government which did not impose the duties of true citizenship on the population was not carrying out its own duty. It was time they set up in this country an entirely new line of thought. Ho would not suggest that tho Arbitration Court should be done away with, because it was most necessary. What was wanted was the banishment of the idea that there was nothing in common between Capital and Labour, a doctrine that was being preached the world over. Tibey heard the employer speak of his labour and his bricks costing more. That was an example of the idea of labour being regarded merely as a commodity. The eyiployer placed his labour on the same footing as his bricks. He (the speaker) believed that, the' old system of workers' guilds was the only solution of tihe labour problem. Under that .system tho workers would have a direct interest in the industries in New Zealand. Air. Veitch also touched on a national insurance the Workers' Compensation Act, and the coal shortage. • The speaker said that the position of the coal supply was' that they were short of a thousand miners, and this could be easily remedied by a sclieme of house-building, because the miners would eitiher buy or rent the dwellings at a fair price. While he was not in favour of the nationalisation of everything he did favour the idea being applied'to the mines. A very'serious house shortage while (lie war. ivn,s on had been accentuated since tihe return, of the men from abroad. It was absolutely necessary for the Government to enter on .a comprehensive, building scheme. Ho had always been a. strong opponent of the present Government, but be would give t'liem creili': for hav-. ing promised to deal with Ihe ijuesiion. Tho conscription issue was the reason of the speaker's severance from (he Labour Party. He would not be forced by any parly to support what be believed to be contrary to the welfare of the country. Ho would continue to stand for tho course lie had takes'. He had condemned the party system, wliidh, he had contended) allowed one man—Hie lender —lo rule the country. Proportional representation was a necessary electoral' reform. A State bank was iv necessary institution which should have been created lojig ago. Mr, Veitch concluded with a reference to the needs of education, transport reform, and land aggregation.

A vole of thanks to the speaker eon. eluded the meeting.