RAMSAY McDONALD, M.P.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81886, 13 November 1906, Page 3

RAMSAY McDONALD, M.P.

BIS VIEWS OF OUB LABOB LAWS. Per Psess Association. IsvxBCAEGfiL, November 12. Mf fiamsay McDonald passed through here te-day on his way to Australia Interviewed, he said that Britain could not copy New Zealand , 'labour conditions to any extent. Home •industries were too big to enforce New -Zealand legislation. He was not sure that the New Zealand Arbitration law Iras as great a success as one could wish. He tkonght the New Zealand ■workers should consider the purchasing power of jnoney, and not merely •the wages received. When they did that, a new field of legislgtiqii would opra to them. Trades Unionism at Home 111 totally different to tkut in New Zealand, where the Arbitration Xaw had knocked all faith out of Che Unionists. In England, although the ■'proportionate numerical strength of the Trades Unions wis not so great as 'tare, they were more aelive, alert, and I •erea riligoßt against encroaching on 'their rights. He denied that British o»mmerce was declining. ChataberJaiu'- figures were wrong, (ierman -competition was growing, but that, -coold not be prevented. The best thing they cotdd do was to maintain TreetraJe, and fight strenuously for a (bare of the world's trade. They ■ could not expect to keep it all. He was delighted with this country and -the kindness shown Mrs McDonald gad himsc I '.