“LOUDEST MOUTHED"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10291, 28 May 1919, Page 7

“LOUDEST MOUTHED"

SOCIAL TERRORISM A FARMER’S DISSERTATION ON DEMAGOGUES. Portion of the presidential address by Mr G. L. Marshall, of Marton, to the Wellington Fanners’ Union Conference yesterday, touched on politics. It ran:— “Xhe result of recent by-elections gives us much cause for reflection. What right, for instance, has a man who has been convicted of breaking •the laws of the country or who has made use of disloyal sentiments, to take a seat in Parliament and help to make or revise the laws which govern the community? It must be our aim and object to see that men are elected who have a real interest in the welfare of this country, and who have a pride and inborn love of the glorious Empire of which wo form part. We. have nothing to fear from a-member who is actuated by a real love of King and country; but I fear.that there is a large admixture of people, chiefly In the cities, who will give their votes to the loudest-mouthed demagogue who will give voice to any ~ wild, untried and lawless opinions, which he thinks will appeal to an unreasoning moh. “Gentlemen, I appeal to you to so organise your branches of the union in the different parts of the province that you may, do your part in preserving this beautiful and bountiful land from the hands of irresponsible people who wish to force upon ns a kind of social terrorism, which will paralyse industry and bring ruin on the community. It 1® obvious that any movement which interferes with ,the' industries of the country makes it harder for’ the people as a whole to live comfortably. “Adam Smith, the great .political economist, in one' of his works, asks; What is the measure of .value? What regulates the amount of one : thing which will be given for another? And he answers: Labour is the real measure of the exchangeable value of all cornmodi ties. Labour alone never varying in its own value, is alone the ultimate and real standard by which the value of all commodities can at all times and / places be estimated and '’compared.,.: It is their real value;; money,iiis “tfiWp price only. 'lt is * perfectly' obvious, therefore, that so long as an increasingly large part of the community persist in demanding shorter hours and in decreasing the weekly output or value of their worjc, so long, T eayj will the conditions of living be increasingly difficult.

“Wien will the ■public realise this? Let ns follow the movement to its logi. cal conclusion. Let na suppose, thpt the demands o{) organ!se<J'Uabonr have been conceded’ to nntil wn ! liSd gbnernl-' ly. a working week of four days of four hours each. The direct result would bo that the necessities of life would be unprocurable at any price, and yet many a man ■ appears to think that by; adopting the go-slow policy he will better hia condition. No doubt the ' tbsnrdity of this will Bo recognised some day, but until .people in general are .ready to. once more give a fair day’s work .in .tfor .paw fair -day's pay. the prevailing’ unrest' is' ’bound'’ to r increase. The appointment of an Indus, trial Council on a .large scale, consisting, of representatives from Capital, Labour, producers, and the consuming public, who are all partners in’ the great Ship, of Industry, might possibly have a good effect." BLAME, AND PRAISE. When Mr Marshall resumed his seat Air A. J. Parker, of Hukanui,. took exception 'to'tbe uso’of the' term-‘ ‘loud-est-mouthed demagogue.” ' Any remark that might antagonise Labour should not he allowed to go forth from the conference.

Mr W. Douglas, of Tinui, moved to have the reference expunged from the address. Mr Marshall said that he had not referred to the. Labour Party, but to agitators, wlio were dangerous men. If the conference did not like what he said, it knew what to do. z' s i , , .

Other speakers--congratulated Mr Marshall on his address. '