LABOR'S AIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 93, 28 July 1910, Page 5

LABOR'S AIMS.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. ' • A TRENCHANT REPLY. By Telegraph.—Press Association,. Wellington, Yesterday. A deputation representing the Trades and iLabor Councils interviewed the Premier and Mr. Millar to-day to bring under the notice of the Government resolutions passed at the recent conference in Auckland. The Hon. Mr. Paul emphasised the necessity of preventing the growth of trusts and combines. Mr. E. J. Carey said that though there had been an outcry against the Arbitration Act, the trades councils were not yet prepared to throw it over, but suggested amendments. The President of the Court had administered the Act with unconscious bias, but it was not suggested that the maladministration had been deliberate. Sir Joseph Ward said the Government were introducing an anti-Trust Bill, and it seemed peculiar they should be urged to do what they had already done. Na tionalisation was not possible in many cases,' as it meant huge borrowing to an extent which was not practicable. This legislation would be introduced after the financial debate was over. The Premier did not ftg ree the proposal again to give the Arbitration Court sole rights to deal with breaches of award. The Premier pointed out that the claim for non-borrowing, except for redemption of loans, would mean throwing thousands of men out of work, and if the Government attempted to carry out the policy outlined by the conference it would wreck itself and the country before it knew where it was. Money was borrowed for advances to workers and settlers. How was the Government to carry out the things the conference wanted without borrowing? As to the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service, he repeated the statement of last year that it was only a matter of time when 'the two great railway systems of the country would have to be connected by steamer. However, that could not be done now. With reference to n State bank, Sir Joseph Word said: "We have one and a half million interest in the | Bank of New Zealand. We have control i of the bank so far as audit is con-1 •-rued, and my judgment is that as] long as this country is associated with '•" B-nk of New Zealand as shareholder, ■•'th shares upon which we are receiving dividends, and with control of the bank itself, it would be impossible to give effect to what was being urged in the direction of establishing a State bank. Regarding State notes, the Premier said he was going into the who'e question of banking. The ordinary i*sue of what were called State notes, from the point of view of utilising a larger number of thorn in the interests of the people, was. in his opinion, a fallacy and delusion, and not going to make the financial position any better. The issue of Treasury notes on proper lines, with adjustment .of the banking system, was j quite" another matter.