WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 September 1919, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

OFISI’é3I‘AL ‘LABOUR.

AGAINST BOTH OLD PARTIES.

(Speciai Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 29.

Judging from the speeches delivered by Mr H. E. Holland and Mr Robert Semplc at the Labour rally here last night, the “objective” of these turbulent spirits is to drive the Reformers and the ‘Liberals into one camp in opposition to the Social ‘Democrats,’ as they and their associates style themselves when the title seems to fit the occasion. At the moment. their shafts are directed rather against Sir Joseph Wardthan against Mr .\lass—ey. They suspect, or say they suspect, the Liberal Leader of attempting, by his progressive programme, fo lmdermine their schemes for socialising e_very't'hing—— means -of production, ‘distribution, exchange, and the rest, in the -accepted formula-1-and they regard him as a much .nloi‘e formidable obstacle to the realisation of their dreams than they do -the Prime Minister. Mr Massey, they declare,’is merely the tool of the “big squatters,” who have few friends, while Sir Joseph Ward is the tool of the commercial :m'=a-gnate‘S,' who-ftéitercise great influence to the ‘injuryof the workers. * . . A r - THE SANER VIEW. Mr Peter Fraser, though giving by his silence a general assent: to. the: doctrines of his colleagues, took a somewhat broader View of the’ situation. He would not reject s-uch good things as Mr Massey and "Sir Joseph "Ward were disposed to provide for the workers. He did not despair of any, progress being =m.a'de this side -of ‘the. Labour milvlenium.“ He was not prepared-tgw-‘po7stpon'e' the reforms promised; by the‘ ‘leaders of the older parties ‘to the timeof ‘Which Mr Holland and‘ -Mr'Sem--pl'e‘ar.e‘drea-ifiing when Labour will -be “tall-powerful in Pvairliament.-” As a. matter of ‘fact’. the mdmber for Wel--lington'7South has not yetacquiredpthei air and tri‘E‘ks of -the professional agitator,‘-a-‘nd though. he did not tickle the ea'rs"of'»the audience last night’ to quite the same extent as did his more fiery colleagues, he -probably made a more effective appeal -to- its understanding. He, at any rate, did a better service to the Labour cause. THE COAL MINE DISPUTE.

The letter addressed to the Prime Minister by the Coal Mine Owners’ Association, which is published in the newspapers this morning, can scarcely fail to impress the public with the soundness of the attitude taken up by the owners in their dispute with the men.‘ The owners protest against being drawn into further conferen'ces un. 1-ess the men will immediately ab-.md»orn the “go slow” policy and show their readiness to accept ‘the mediation of the; authorities pr.ovi=ded by law. With this "much conceded the owners will waive one or two specified exceptions, and‘ will consent to a conference at each ‘mine, by means of the Conciliation Councils, provided over by the respective Conciliation C.ormmissio’ners.” On the face of it this seems reasonable enough, and if the miners "reject the ofl‘;‘er -they will plate a severe strain upon the sympathy of that section of the public that has stood their frie-nd throughout the dispute. A GENERAL ELECTION. All {the parties (are now lbusying themselves with preparations for the general election in real earnest. There is an idea. abroad that the polling will czome rather earlier than Mr Massey indicated last week, possibly in the last week in November, and the ‘activity of those immediately concerned give some colour to the persistent rumours ‘to this efiect. The Oflicial Labour Party, of course, has set its forces in Order long ago, indeed, it never rests in this respect, -but the Refomners and the Liberals had piactcially no organisation when the National Government dissolved. There appears to be less difiiculty than usual, however, in obtaining suitable candidates, and both the old parties will be represented by a number of new and doughty champions. The friends of both these sides are claiming a certain measure of “independence,” and party discipline promises to be somewhat relaxed inthe new House, and the dividing lines will be sufficiently well defined to prevent —rany' excusable confusion.