"A WORKERS' PARADISE."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 41, 24 June 1913, Page 2

"A WORKERS' PARADISE."

[Per Press Association.] Christchurch, June 21

The Rev. Vallanoe Cook, who by invitation of\the United Methodis'j Church of New Zealand is conducting a series of mission gatherings throughout the Dominion, will open his work in Christchurch to-morrow. "New Zealand. is' the working man's para dise," declared Mr Cook in the course of an interview to-day. "and as far as the working people are concerned

I am convinced there is not a country equal to it in the world. The whole of your legislation seemp to be made in the interests of the workers, and the wages paid,' hours worked, anj conditions generally are all in favor of the working class population. I cannot say as much for the wealthy and middle classes. What I mean is that the latt.-r classes arc .confronted with the servant problem, and they have not here facilities for home luxuries and the general attention that they are accustomed to have in th« more highly-organised society which prevails at Home. In England, where they have three servants, here they have to be content with one, and that means a great curtailment of liberty." Mr Cook added that although New Zealand was the working man's paradise he regarded it as one of the most religious countries he had ever visited. That was pleasing surprise for him, for reports he heard before leaving Home f were quite to the contrary. Referring to the suffragette move, ment, M r Cook said that the general feeling at Home was that women ought to have the vote, and he believed that it was the serious intention of thg greater part of the present Govern, ment to have afforded facilities tc that end, but the tactics of themili tants had -undoubtedly erected a great wall of prejudice against the movement, for, after all, John Bull would never be bullied into a thing. He believed, however, that at no distant date women's franchise would be granted in spite of the militants.