CLASS WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1925, Page 3

CLASS WAR.

AIR J. 11. TJIO.MAS'S PROTEST. LONDON. April 7. The Prime Minister : 111,1 the Ri. Hun. J. IT. Thomas - the one formerly a director and the other an engine-clean-er on the railway- were the principal speakers at a complimentary luncheon at which the diairman (Y iscounf Churchill) and the directors of the Great Western Railway entertained their old colleagues. Air Baldwin sat on the chairman's right, and Air Thomas on his lei t. Mr Baldwin said he must have been getting into years of maturity before lie ever travelled on, or realised Unit there was, any other lailway system in Great Britain but the Great Western. “My friend, Jim Thomas, wa.s a fireman on our railway, and has qualified himself before the eyes of the world to occupy the position of a Secretary of State, and not only that, hut to fill it in a manner that filled us all at homo with 11ride and satisfaction, and made everybody in the Dominions feel that they had in him a man who understood them, and was prepared to do nil in his power to bring together the different parts of the Empire, and develop that heritage for the benefit of the oidinarv people throughout the two hemispheres.” (Cheers.) Mr Thomas, proposing the healths of the chairman and direr tars of the Great Western Railway, said: ‘There is a lot of talk to-day about class bitterness. class hatred, and class superiority. I not only dissociate my self from that cry. but T join issue with if. This gathering to-day is in itself a sufficient answer. Your honoured guv

started on the Croat Western as director, bearing a revered name, and determined that the greatest contribution lie could make was to iollow in the footsteps of a father "hose character was esteemed and whose work was appreciated by all. T started on the Great Western Railway as a cleaner at 7.s a week. It is true that 1 once led a strike on the Great Western, not for more wages, hut because they weie allowing us 3oz. of tallow to clean our engines! and I thought. Joss, was the minimum quantity. (Laughter.) With English good sense 1 was not dismissed, hut 1 believe we compromised, and 31 o/,s. of tallow was not only won, but--1 believe, is in existence to-day. (l.a lighter). THERE IS NO CLASS.

Illustrating the moral of this story, Mr Thomas said: “A fortnight ago 1 addressed a meeting in Glasgow. Ihe gentleman entrusted with the moving of a resolution thought he would encourage me by saving: "i want to make it perfectly deer to" ml those who associate with Mr Baldwin are traitors to their class.' ‘Gentlemen. I said, when I got up immediately afterwards. T introduce myself as a traitor to my class.’ My mural is I this: Whatever may be the political ' differences in this country, however much your l’rime Minister and myself may find ourselves arguing, quarrelling if you like, across the liner d the I loose of Commons. 1 ice!, like him. that when this eountry is passing through not ' • ißflicult, but a dangerous stage, when folks talk to me about the cost of the dole and a financial burden to the emu try that, is in itself staggering, that is secondary to the moral deterioration of our • people. You cannot have men of 18, ' 19 and 20 years of age, whose brains are very much like a sponge ready to

>ay U]> evil as well as good, walking the streets day after day without a moral deterioration. 'Those ot ns who value the future of our race gravely regard the pra-n.-eis ot their being the fathers of the next generation. “There will lie criticism of my rrehere to-day." said Mr Thomas. ••Many of my friends will interpret it as an imtiiation that 1 have d.-orteu the class to which 1 belong. 1 here no class to which I belong. I refuse to believe that brains or virtue are the monopoly of any soot ion ."