KEIR HARDIE IN AUSTRALIA.

NZ Truth, Issue 132, 28 December 1907, Page 6

KEIR HARDIE IN AUSTRALIA.

BRITISH lABOI^ DEADER. 1 Special Interview by Melbourne "fTrutli.^ " - — •• • .-..*., "I. ,Message= to Australia's Democracy. I

Born. jofv.fcfie People, identified throughout his life with the People, and the chosen Leader of the British Parliamentary Labor Party, Keir Hardie, the acknowledged leader and Socialist," is at present on a visit to Victoria, and on Thursday morning,' clirectly after his return from* a flying visit to Bendigo, he accorded a special interview to a representative of Melbourne "Truth." Mr Bardie's trip' to Australia has 'been somewhat hurried, and accordingly j with what' dis-' cretion 'and caution which ..are not on-, ly characteristic of the. man, but are ; likewise typical of his'iace— for Hardie i is a true Scot— he hesitates before* delivering himself r of hasty utterances^ upon matters industrial' and political,;, preferring to reserve his opinions: un- ; til matured consideration' crystallises them into a concrete form. It -is;? however, easy to perceive during *>' half* an hour's interesting 'conversation.! with the stalwart Labor Leader, that) he has come already to CERTAIN VERY DEFINITE upon Labor and Labor-political ;ques-< tions m Australia. What appears to > be the most prominent characteristic of Keir Hardie is Ms whole-souled enthusiasm for the Cause which he has . espoused: .In fact, qnereaivtirk 'made by him' during the interview embodies his faith and deserves to be emblazoned upon the banners of those 'Who, like him, are engaged m the promulgation of the Policy of Humanitarianisin. : ' / "Common Sense must drive the People to Socialism : by-and-bye, " he said, "and Experience." Then he added more, thoughtfully, "And Business Necessity." • The application, of the last three words was made by the Labor Leader with regard to the recent threatened Railway Strike m Britain, which, had it developed, would have been one of the principal .questions to engage

the. Attention of the House of Com-, 1 mons when it meets again in 'January,* "That threatened strike," said Bar.die, 'f turned the thoughts of the People to the NECESSITY FOR THE •NATIONALISATION ' J 'of thY railways, the principle of w-hacli; is very; favorably entertained by all" classes. Of course, you m Australia control and own; the railways, Wut I am -not going to criticise the managementf m any /way. If there are .: evils m; the system; -as worked 'by you' the People have /.-the power ,tp effect', the remedy :"■ • \ Referring to » the personal aspect of; his -vasit to the Commonwealth, Keir Har die remarked that it .was very much -hurried, tout everyone had been very, nice' and had endeavored to make his stay as pleasant' and profitable as possible. As to the industrial situation of 'Australia, he said that he did not feel" confident to express an opinion. He was simply collecting information, but he was that morning going. to devote . himself to obtaining copies of certain acts and reports w-hich will assist him m the . STUDY, OF AUSTRALIAN C0N- .....:' " DITIONS.; l V'" : |c 'Would you care to express any view upon our wages boards system?" "Not just at present. lam studying the whole question. '* "And your opinion of industrial conditions m Australia ? Is everything all right ?" "Nothing is ever all right. Life is easier m Australia. It is much better here than -either 'America or Can--^ ada. As compa-red wit-h the Old Country, organisation does not appear to be quite so good out here, .but that Is more than m'a-deupby the exist-' ence of strong Labor Parties m the various Parliaments. But organisation .does appear to be growing very .rapidly. After all, ' THE LABOR QUESTION is pretty much the same everywhere. If employers can make money by employing people they employ them; if they can make money by dismissing them they dismiss them. No, I do not look upon Australia - as 'the Working Man's Paradise.' It seems to' me that ouc of the greatest factors m the industrial prosperity of Australia is the absence of population' combined With legislation. As m Canada, so here, it will probably be found that, as population increases the conditions of the worker:; will become less satisfactory, although Australia . cm

doubtless stand a > large Jricrease^pf population." ... "You have visited 1 ' the Federal Parliament House. Would you be prepared to express an opinion as .to ' its personnel ?" "No, that' would not be' fair. " l "But your party m the House of Commons, how does it compare-with, the Labor Parties m Australia.?'"OUR PARTY. 'AT HOME is a thoroughly united and-- indeed' • unanimous one. There- is remarkably j ..little friction m its Working. Of course j our conditions are . somewhat different -to yours. We support no par*;y but our own." , "Then you do, not-assist the Liberals ? You do.not adopt' the principle Df 'Support m return, for concesSions- ?" •-.. ..•() ;, •.•■•] ;■•.■■- ■ .... .-> Keir I-lar die smiled as : lie • jeplied : , "No, we support wha-fy we think <ood and oppose .what we consider oad. I think the Labor- bodies at Home are more-highly organised than r ours, and more comprehensive. But ■•'.he old idea is being • abandoned that .reforms .can be sained without the assistance of legislation. There iu ring the past ten or twenty . years 'leeri an extension m Britain" o! the Klines and Factories Acts. The main principles have riot 'been 'changed, but -they have been extended to meet the natural deyelopinleiits:. JBbth forces, that of Labor organisation and .that jf legislative process, are at work, and are mutually" effecting considerable reforms." . • "Will you gi^e me a message to • 1 THE PEOPLE OF . AUSTRALIA with respect to .-Socialism, ■?" "I can merely repeat what I *said •.' few minutes 'ago that Common Sense . and Experience and Business Necessity must drive the People to Socialism by and Wye. The day when Socialism will predominate is :oming.' : In the Old Country it is sig-

•nificant that the Liberals no less than Tories are banding themselves together against the forces of Democracy, and that step will tend to assist our ■corces. In our party of 33 members 53 are pledged Socialists, and it is evident that tho membership of the oarty will, be largely augmented at the next appeal to the electors." fl^eir Hardie persisted m his refusal 1 to express an opihion. upon Austraian Labor Party methods, or to make a comparison- between' industrial conditions V: here and m Britain. - Jut, coming direct from his trip toBendigo and Eagtehawk, he-did not hesitate to refer tot \ .■ . >THE OUTRAGEOUS -ACTION •p.f the injanag.ement of the Virginia Mine m locking out the miners there ; because they decline to submit to the searching process. "It is simply monstrous ,** he said, "that the management should' seek to .Dnforce such conditions." "Then such conditions as are 1 , prooosed would riot be tolerated by Labor organisations m the Old Country ?"• . , .. . "No, certainly, not ; not' : for a f moment. Of course, we : have no gold .nines there. But nothing', seems ■•'to' demoralise people like gold. I adilressed a few- wbrds;'to the miners No meeting, had. been convened, but the miners were assembled round their office; and- were clamorous for a speech,, so J spoke to them m the >pen a-ir, and' assured them of miy sympathy and that of the workers at Home m the stand! they had taken • Keir Hardie leaves Melbourne today (Saturday) for Sydney, and he is looking forward, as an old collier, to x visit to the colliery, districts ofNewcastle. Afterwards he proceeds to New Zealand, whence he returns to' England via South Africa, and expects to again takeliis seat m the House of Commons some time in -.February. • •. ■ . .'.'•■• Mr K;eirH,ardie arrived at 'Auckland by the Mianuka on Sunday . last, and oit'Monday evening addressed a meeting of workers. He will have a busy and strenuous time m the Dominion, as on . Tuesday he proceeded to Rotorua, after which ho came on to Wellington. He will be welcomed by his Worship the - Mayor the Hon. T. W. Hislop, this Saturday aHernoon. Mr I-lardic will leave Wellington on 1 January 5 for Australia. He next provceds to !:outh Africa en route for . I^iijiluK'd . >