DISTRICT NEWS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 August 1911, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

EVENTS IN SHANNON. (Chronicled ,by our Resident llepreeentative.l MR ROBEHTSOX'S POLITICAL ADDRESS. About 150 persons attended at bho Druids' Hall on .Satuiuky night to hear Mr Robertson's (the Labour candidate's) political address. _ Mr Selby occupied the chair and introduced the candidate in a few well chosen remarks. He said tho time was not far oft" before we would have a Labour administration. Mr Robertson held views, some of which were, near and some far. The candidate had given a deal of thought to S'oc-ial and economic questions, and 'liio had been reared in the same political school >as Keir Tlardie and E-amsay McDonald. After a flattering reference to Shannon audiences he called on Mr Robertson to address the meeting.

Mr Robertson said it gavo him pleasure to come before a Shannon audience, as he knew that whether they agreed with him or not they would give him an attentive hearing and consider his views. As a. Labour candidate he had prejudices to face. Democracy throughout tho world in the past had to .face prejudices when seeking to bring about reforms. All reforms gained wero at one time new and met with prejudice, and it was just the same now when Labour was advancing to bring about desired political reforms. Tn fact, all that tlie Labour party had to faco was prejudice R'ifc prejudice disappeared before knowledge and enlightenment. We are pfc to loso sight of what is tho true policy of public welfare, and to think party interest <and the keeping of party in power is the question, 'ihi.s was not so. The true poliev was to do the best for the. people. The Labour platform starts from that 'base, and that is the goal before- their eyes. A nation's greatness consisted not only of possession, but in happy homes with healthy children growing up. Tf we take it that the Labour party's aim is to produce, the greatest amount of happiness, and that its mission is to bring us back to a clearer realisation of a nation and an ideal to gain, we enn honestly ask the support of the people to reach that aim. That is to give a new lease to the national life of tho dominion. We have two great political parties, one of which has "been a long time in power. Tn the iniitial stages of its career it possessed an enthusiasm for reform and brought about considerable betterment, but failed to get at the root of the evils. We find to-day the energy of the party spent and is I ready to ho the too] of any section [which enables it bo hold place and power, but is wholly unable to nrocoed any further in the reforms forth e bettormon! of the people. Tin's partv, nftr losing sislit of its first idop.K turned about any way 1o keep itself in power, and there was no Mo'-ips to lead the way. 'Io speaker likened the pnntv to the ch-a'.iicleon. which ehnngrd colour in accord with tho substance on which it was placed, but when placed on tartan which, of .some many colours, the prsfir little reptile "passed out. ' and this would be the fate of the* present party in power. He would not lay down a definite Labour policy at. this stage. Flo did not think it wise to do so. The party critic of the party in power has produced a plat- | form, and something in the nature jof a poliev. He strongly criticised tho Massev stnfoment (of July (5tM on keeping down bon'owing* within reasonable limits, nntl .nfctiho same time to continue .n vi'/oro'iis policy. Sir .!. Ward himself believe'! in that policy. Wo a.ll be- | I'o'-ed m if; b'if (he nnrtv has vet jto Ik> found that r-nn d-n tip's. Both I Mr M;i-<cy nnd %ir J. Word oppose. !n Slate Hank. Hi" only instrument bv which such a ooliry could be carried 'out. Mr M-assi-v's reforms always stop short !>t the point of being effective. We did not find Mr Ma«sev snpnorlinrc Mr Hour's Hill to take !i'-o"dnty ofl' who-nt and j flour. Mr paliev in denlI ing with land wa< one tbat would j enthral small farmers nn r 1 workers. jTt was i common tiring to read in j the daily mrs« that i-he workers were g-inrr too fir in fi-cir -demands I for i'lpi-e'ise 1 M-i;/es. etc. . The ac--1 tn.il fact was thf workers had crenj ter \vni"s airl sh^-H-ei , ho , its than I ten yrflvs a<7o. but his-condition was 1 wor-'e. This was on-u-pd bv 'the ; hiuh iiricv of pi'O'lure. Largo ijij dush'ics coiuiecte-1 with th<* land. ■ such as neat and dairy produce, had j ris"ii. but the cost of production haxl j not increased. Thu> tho worker i was w-oiv ; e off than before. Where ■is the surplus of the ri-o in produce 1 going to? Land values had risen jin far greater ratio than workers' wages. This was the first prolific source, of leakiiur.s. This increase of 'profit went to the rent and interest j receivers. These things being so, any le/isbitor who would make living easier will have, to face the land, question. He submitted as a. question more important than freehold, .against leasehold : Wore producers getting full value of that which fhev produced? The answer would he found to be.in the The solution was not in frcii'dd or lea«e-ho-hl. Here a L/ibour cau.didato is met with the cvv " Socialistic." But when we becamo more enlightened that cry Mould loso its weight. Wo must not be afraid of such statements. Let us consider them as a means to attain the end we have set forth to reach. The people were divided into two parts, as Prof. Mills had said: "The useful people and the others. , ' . The influence must be for betterment. Mr Massey and his predecessors had condemned John Ballancc and Soddon and all their worlTs. but after these leaders had passed away applauded them and their works in stirring words, and had metaphorically strewed (lowers on their graves. Although Mr Masscy had oppose:!, the reforms, ho would not now repeal any of them. Tn the Opposition platform the proposal ie make 00 years of age instead of i 5 the minimum for old ago pensions Was deliberately lifted from the Labour platform. Tho old-age-pension was truly socialistic. Its opponents called it socialistic. Mr Mn.ssey would not now repeal it?, but would extend it. If bo (Mr Massoy) is going to condemn .any cancliidato for being Socialistic lie must also condemn the legislation of this last fifte-11 years. There was n« party in the world to-day which I could afford to legislate on anything except 011 KfH'i-ai'istic lin.es. The workers 1 ad t!ie majority of votes of tho country, and <a vote was no value unless cast in the interests of bettering the. conditions of the pewo.'!. Votes should be used to dominate and alter the tilings around every day life. Wo should n<ot worry about Sir J. Ward's title...,. "What concerned us was .such things as compulsory military training, etc. Ho condemned tho present compulso/v system. Mid quoted Sir J. "Ward's .speeches to prove tlwit even he. hvo or threo years ago. did not think anything beyond volunteering «-,■« necessary. Labour, the speaker said, stood for industrial democracy. Parties in the pnst hn-1 found it expedient to grant the full purchase. This was .a tremendous weapon in the hands of the worker if used properly. It would control the political machine and operate tho land. In concluding Mr said ho would later on speak again at Shannon, and then would give uis

platform. On resuming lus seat Mr Bobortson was loudly applauded. The, chairman called for questions. In. answer tho candidate said ho was in favour of tho bare majority at tlic Licensing poll. An elector who was fluxions mio ut pure boor asked if Mr Robertson was in favour of keeping the chemist out of the brewery. Tlio candidate said this was one of tho weak spots of private enterprise. He was not in favour of wiling any more Crown lands. He was opposed to the present compulsory military training: tilie volunteer system ncrer had a. fair trial. Mr Honsma-n moved: That tlio candidate was a iit and proper person to -.opresent the Otaki electorate. Tin's was seconded by Mr Barclay. Mr Mitchell moved, as an amendment, ihat a 'hearty vote of thanks be accorded the candidate.

This was seconded by Mr Law. Tho chairman declared the motion carried on tho voices.