POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1038, 2 September 1911, Page 3

POLITICAL.

MR ROBERTSON AT

FOXTON,

The campaign for the Otaki seat at the forthcoming general election was opened locally in the Masonic Hall on Thursday evening, when Mr J. Robertson, the Labour candidate, addressed the electors. There was a very good attendance and His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles Esq.,) occupied the chair and briefly introduced the speaker.

Mr Robertson, in opening, referred to the alterations in the electoral boundaries which had thrown Foxtou out of Mauawatu into Otaki. In coming before the electors as a Labour candidate he had prejudices to face, more so in respect to the Otaki electorate as it was the first time that a Labour candidate had offered his services in this constituency. However, democracy throughout the world in the past had to face prejudices when seeking to bring about reforms. All reforms gained were 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, lu fact, all that the Labour party had to face was prejudice. But prejudice disappeared before knowledge and enlightenment. People are apt to lose sight of what is the true policy of public welfare, and to think party interest and the keeping of party in power is the question. This was not so. The true policy was to do the best for the people. The Labour platform starts from that base, and that is the goal belore their eyes. A nation’s greatness consisted not only of possession, but in happy homes wilh healthy children growing up. If 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 can honestly ask the support of the people to reach that aim. That is to give a new lease to the national life of the Dominion. The welfare of the masses should be the first consider *t ion of all parties. We have l ,v j „.eat political parlies, one of wuic’a has been a long time in power. In the initial 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 it is ready to be the tool of any section which enables it to hold place and power, but is wholly unable to proceed any further in the reforms for the betterment of the people. The speaker likened the party to the chameleon, which changed colour in accord with the substance on which it was placed, but when placed on tartan which, being of so many colours, the poor little reptile “passed out,” and this would be the fate ot the present party in power. He would not lay down a definite Labour policy at this stage. The party critic (Opposition) of the party iu power has produced a platform, and something in the nature of a policy. He strongly criticised the Massey statement (of July 6th) on keeping down borrowing within reasonable limits, and at the same time to continue a vigorous policy. Sir J. Ward himself believed in that policy. We all believe in it; but the party has yet to be found that can do this. Both Mr Massey and Sir J. Ward oppose a State Bank, the only instrument by which such a policy could be carried out. Mr Massey's reforms always stop short at the point of being effective. We did not find Mr Massey supporting Mr Hogg’s Bill to take the duty off wheat and flour. Mr Massey’s policy in dealing with laud was one that would enthral small farmers and workers. It was a common thing to read iu the daily press that the workers were going too far in their demands for increased wages, etc. The actual fact was the worker had greater wages and shorter hours than ten years ago, but his condition was worse. This was caused by the high price of produce, Large industries connected with the land, such as meat and dairy produce, had risen, but the cost of production had not increased. Thus the worker was worse off than before. Where is the surplus of the rise in produce going to ? Laud values had risen iu far greater ratio than workers’ wages. This was the first prolific source of leakings. This increase of profit went to the reut and interest receivers. These things being so, any legislator who would make living easier will have to face the laud question. 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 Ballance and Seddou and all their works, but after these leaders had passed away applauded them and their works in stirring words, and had metaphorically strewed flowers ou their graves. Although Mr Massey had opposed the reforms, he would uot now repeal any of them. In the Opposition platform the proposal to make 6o years of age instead of 6s was deliberately lifted from the Labour platform. The old age pension was truly socialistic. Us opponents called it socialistic. Mr Massey would not now repeal it, but would extend it. If he (Mr Massey) is going to condemn any candidate for being socialistic he must also condemn the legislation of this last fifteen years. There was no party iu the world to day which could afford to legislate on anything except ou socialistic lines. The workers had the majority of votes of the country, and a vote was no value unless cast in the interests of bettering

the conditions ot the people. Votes should be used to dominate and alter the things around every day life. We should not worry about Sir J. Ward’s title. What concerned us was such things as compulsory military training, etc. He condemned the present compulsory system. Defence should not be made compulsory. We should endeavour to make our country the best one for the people and then there would be no need to compel the people to defend it—it would be done voluntarily. The speaker contended that in any case before this Act was passed the people should have been given an opportunity to vote on it. In conclusion Mr Robertson stated that he would speak in Foxton again in the very near future and would then outline his platform. In reply to questions Mr Robertson said that his platform had been endorsed by the New Zealand Federation of Labour. Although personally opposed to gambling he considered that the totalisator was the fairest means of gambling and he would not vote to abolish it. He was in favour of deciding all questions including the liquor question ou a bare majority, and was opposed to compensating publicans for the loss of their licenses. On the motion of Mr Hunt, Mr Robertson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting address.

A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.