THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 47, 19 November 1919, Page 8

THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN

MISKTING IN VICTORIA HALL. A meeting was held in the Victoria Hall last evening, at which addresses in furtherance of the campaign Gf (lie Liihniir -Piirlv were, delivered by Mr. A. L. Monleith. ciindidnto for Wellington Has), and Mr. H. Semplc, candidate for Weliinulon South. .Mr. 'I'. Young presideo (iver a crowileil atlendiuiee. Mr. Moiileith was the first speaker, and he snokc on the lines of previous addresses, advocating l.he iiatioiialisaiion of the coal industry as a means of proinot\ti conti-ntnienl among the miners, and ilie i-shblislmient of Hl.ile bakeries. He enntendrd that Ihf present Adniinislral.imi had no intention of <\elving into the iiiie-li(in (i! I he cost of living. The price of bread had been iixed at; one timo, but liv failimr lo eslnlilisli Stalo bakeries and coniinuinc to rcgulnto prices, Mr. Maflsev showed that ho wns uot in earnest

over the matter. When Sir Joseph Ward went to tho people at election time ho was in favour of nationalisation of various industries, but when he took his "snug" seat in the House ho forgot .ill about-, it. That was the irhnlo case thn Libora.l Party had got; they wore running in the same stakes— the "kidslakes"—as the present Reform Party. Tlio Labour Party, which last session aluavs voted in the interests of the wonle. believe! that when a workman was disabled by accident lip should receive not half-pay as compensation, but full pay.

Mr. Spinnlc emphasised that Uip election should In; fought on fundamental nrindiiles. The various parties should keen to political principles, and not descend to the "political gutter." The Labour Partv stooJ for the common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. Dealing with minii)'.' conditions, Mr. Scrapie clainieo. that hundreds of men had been "industrially murdered" through dying of miners' phthisis, but the mine owners haff made huge dividends. The common commodities of tlio earth shonlo' be used for thn common use of mankind. Thnt was fi iust claim and somewhere and somehow the people would wako up and secure it. The people should have Erenter control over legislation, and tho only wav that could be done was by tho initiative. Hie referendum, and the recall. That wouM do away with Cabinet rnlo win , political oligarchy, and place the reins of power in the hands of the neeple. Mr. Massey was opposed to nationalising shipping because he was a friend of the class that "owned the outfit." Referring to Colonel Mitchell, his om>onent for the Wellington South seat, Mr. Semnlo said that no one- in New Zealand appreciated more than he did tho services that Colonel Mitchell rendered in Eurone. (Hear, hear.) Ho was not'concerned with that matter, but with Colonel Mitchell's programme. "When lie tells the people that we want more iwibics fliid more immigration, I want to tell him thnt he is on the wrong wicket." remarked Mr. Scrapie. "We want Ivaises and fixifl for those we have before we take other people in." A. unanimous vole of thanks and confidence was accorded tho candidates,' and, on the fall of Mr. Semple, three cheers were riven for the Labour Party.

MR. FB-ASEB AT ARO. STREET. Hγ. P. Fraser, Labour candidate for Wellington Central, addressed a large audience in tho Aro Street Mission Hall. Mr. Fairclough occupied tho chair. JLr. Frnser stalled fat tho Labour Party's principles and platform were derived from the needs of tho workers. He dealt with the homo lifo of the people from the Labour Party's point of view, and said thafi tho old non-essential buildings should be replaced by modern houses. lie believed that a proper ficihemo should bo devised, and that proper materials should ]» commando %ed for tho building of homes for workers. He mentioned the high* cost of living, the prices of boots, shoes, clothes, food, etc., and quoted figures showing what the Queensland Government 'had done in reducing the cost of meat by opening •State butcheries. Hβ showed that the cost of meat there was cheaper than in New Zealand, and that profits were still made in Queensland. He advocated a Slate medical service and the adoption of free maternity care. Speaking about education, he. said that Uio physical development of tlio child should by no moans bo neglected. It was very important, because unless -wo developed tho child physically, wo could not do so mentally. He believed in a. freo system of education, from the primary school to tho college and university. Ho thought that, in addition, a special grant should be made to'parents so that they might send their children to college and to the university, lie urged that tho widows' pension allowed to epidemic widows should bo extended eo as to include all widows. Mr. Fraser ulso touched on tho subject of unemployment. He favoured tho payment of unemployed soldiers, but thought that it should also include all out-of-works who were willing to work but who were unable to obtain employment. Mr. Fr.v-er urged that workers in public works should bo provided with suitable 'houses or coMages, and better social conditions generally. He referred to the coal question, and stated that (ho only menus of a satisfactory settlement was by nationalisation. Ho also mentioned the servant problem and other matters. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanmonsly.