Election Echoes

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 9

Election Echoes

What this country wants and must have is a more progressive Government than the present one, not a more reactionary one. —Hon. G. Fowlds. The ex-Minister for Education has a keen eye for the obvious.

.Little Elijah Carey got the following "off his chest" at a meeting the other night. "The Arbitration Act needed better administration. Mr. Justice Sim had failed because he would not adjust his awards to modern necessities, being content, when making an award, to fix an arbitrary standard, regardless of the fact that conditions of living were changing all the time. Thus the workers had become dissatisfied, and they would remain dissatisfied until decisions were given based upon the true facts which faced the workers." Seems as if our little friend is beginning to work up to facts that the "Manners Street School" of Socialists have been dinning into the workers' ears for years.

The lack of a definite policy is a charge made against the power-at-any-price party by that political caveman, Mr. James Allen. But he ought-'to know that that is part of the game with all parties. The worker is getting very tired of it all, and is inclined to say: "A plaguy o' both your parties." '■'"■ I

Speaking at Eltham., Massey, Leader of the Deform Party, said the, report, of the Land Commission was not .worth the paper it :W' aS written on. A fact we' knew long since. Still it cost, the country "a few' thousands. The last act of the, power-at-any-price party will be to appoint a Royal Commission to govern the country.

Mr. G. R. Sykes, a candidate for the Masterton seat, was asked the following question at the close of a speech at Hukanui: "Seeing there is no Government candidate - standing for the electorate, will you tell us the difference between the Reform party platform and that, of the Labor party?" Mr. Sykes stated the .platforms were almost identical, • with one exception. The Labor party believed in the nationalisation of land, whereas the Reform -party, was,, distinctly opposed to it. On almost.-every other point the parties were in accord.—"Express." That ought to be':just about enough to convince the,-toiler how he should cast his vote —if-he votes at all. .. •"■ ':

The -Second. .'Chamber is a relic: of feudal barbarism-, and ought to be abolished.—Mr.. G.- Fowlds. To, which we say, "Hear.,, hear!" ~'.': '

Mr. T. Mackenzie j the Minister foj Agriculture, described Bill ;Massey,,.a3 the '''Rip Van Winkle of our •Parliamentary institutions." Yet Massoy was: an old-time "Knight of Labor.' 5 He. has not yet emerged from tlie darkness of Cimmerian Night.

F. R. Cooke, Socialist candidate .for Christchurch East, speaking in Sydenham last week, said the Government claimed to have dono many beneficial tilings for the but if anything beneficial had. come the workers' way it had been forced at the point of the baj'onet as it were. The Government had given some things which the workers had hot asked. It had given a Dreadnought to Great Britain and a Conscription Act to New Zealand. By these acts a people's trust had been betrayed and their liberty interfered with without a mandate. The time had arrived for a lesson to be

given to such statesmen, and the ballot box should be iised against them. Cooke said that the initiative, referendum and power of recall would prevent mischievous men doing harm to tlie people, and the Socialists would work for that Act.

C McMillan, sec. Miners' Union, Waihi, writes: Matters in connection with th?" <ortbcf.i-.tng Parliamentary elections are assuming .quite an interesting aspect in this electorate. Recently Aye have had five different

speakers speaking "on : behalf of the .workers' candidate, P. H. Hickey. Some weeks ago, Comrade Marshall, of Huntly, addressed meetings at Karangaliake,'Waikino and Waihi, and in each place did creditable work in our candidate's interests. On another Sunday evening Comrades Smith, Kennedy and Dye spoke to an appreciative audience on the. necessity for political action. Fitzgerald and Ross have since been with us. ' Judging by the reception which is being given to the various speakers on Hickey's behalf, and the general feeling amongst the workers, the prospects in favour of his return are decidedly encouraging.

E. Dye, secretary Hickey Committee, Waihi, writes: We are looking forward to a visit from Bob Semple .to shake things along. We will be glad'fo hear Comrades Hartley, Hogg, and Howard when they come through this way. All told, I think that the old bones of capitalism" will get a .great shake before it is all over; if all the unionist and other workers are true,to themselves they can make history.. .• I cannot do better than close with the words of Marx: " Workers of Ohinemuri, unite; you have a world to gain and nothing to lose but your chains..:.

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