THE COMING ELECTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 88, 27 November 1911, Page 5

THE COMING ELECTION.

(To the Editor “Stratford Post.”)

Sir, —In the present campaign the cry of the so-called Liberals is ote for tho Opposition and down will come the wages.” Now, I want to appeal to the working men in this electorate, not to be led away by this clap-trap, as it is only said to catch their votes. The Reform Party is neither composed’-of, or representing tho capitalists,- and is not getting into power to lower tho working ' man’s wages, but they intend to purify the present administration and reform many of our laws which are not in the toilers’ favour, more especially those relating to tho Maoris and Maori land. I would ask you, does it not appear strange that we should all carry a liability of about £BO a head for the public debt, a good deal of which has been spent on roads, bridges, railways, etc., and has enhanced the value of the Maori land from practically nothing to as much in some cases as £4O and £SO an acre, and the Maori is going to get the whole of this unearned increment at the expense of the white tax-pay-er! If the Government, as many say, are responsible for the prosperity and better wages than paid some years ago, I would ask you was it the Liberal Government of New Zealand that raised the wages in (Australia, where artisans are commanding higher wages than in Now Zealand? On reflection you will see there have been many contributing factors that have improved the condition of things, amongst others the refrigerator, cooperative cjniry factories, direct steamers, and new markets. These are the factors that,have improved things, and not the Government, as many people would try and tell you, as all these conditions have come about in Australia unde]' different Governments in the same period. To working men with families, amongst them growing lads, 1 would ask you; Has the present Government improved the conditions under which tho boys could become apprenticed and learn trades? I say “No.” The number of apprentices has been so restricted that parents have been unable to put their boys to learn trades, and as a natural consequence, when extra tradesmen are wanted we have to import them from other countries, while the bulk of our boys don’t know what to do when tnoy leave school. Another serious blow lum been dealt to us workers by the harassing restrictions placed on factories and industrial concerns by the present Government. Capitalists of to-day absolutely refuse to invest their money in commercial enterprises employing labour, owing to the harassing and unsatisfactory legislation applying to the same. Were it not for this we should have several factories • in a town like Stratford, giving employment to hundreds of boys and girls, thereby increasing the family mcomo. Taking these, and many other things, into consideration, I am satisfied if the workers only think they must conclude that this is not a working man’s Government, and I trust when election day comes round they will vote accordingly, and support the Reform candidate.—l am, etC '’ A WORKER.