THE LABOR PARTY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 245, 16 April 1912, Page 6

THE LABOR PARTY

PUBLIC ■MEETING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The policy of the New Zealand United Labor ;Party, and also the- Hills unity scheme were explained at a public meeting in the Good Templar Hall on Sunday afternoon, bv Messrs Ivor Hazell and M." J. Eeardon, of Wellington.

In referring to the world-wide industrial unnst 'Mr. Hazeil said that they as members of the New Zealand United Labor Party, were seeking to meet that unrest by sane and sensible methods. They were not, as far as this Dominion was concerned, endeavoring at the present juncture to invoke any other moans than in the '.first place conciliatory methods on the one hand and political action on the other. Dealing briefly with the question of strikes, the speaker said that as a result of what he had seen in the Old Country he was determined to always use his best ilrfllience that the weapon of "strike" should only uS used as the very last resource to secure justice. As regards the unity scheme, he mentioned that when i't was realised that in this Dominion there were no less than seveu separate Labor organisations, it ! was obviously clear that in questions of I vital importance to the great mass of I the people there was a lack of cohesion.

\At the ou'tse't, Air. Eeardon outlined the policy of the United Labor Party and touched upon other phases of the unity scheme in a comprehensive manner. He added that with a convaet party—theresuit of the conferen- just concluded in Wellington—the unit i party could offer a sound, practical policy not in the interest of one class, but in the interests of the useful people of this country as a whole. He anticipated rapid strides for the party in tha very near future. "What we want at the present time," said Mr. Eeardon. "more than anything else, is that the people whose interests we are endeavoring to protect, whose conditions of life we are anxious to improve, will simply study the policy which has .been adopted." He added that they as a pafty were out to protect the genuine small fanner just as much as they were out to protect any other class-of worker. The party recognised that the average farmer at the present time was not reaping the full benefit of his labor. The Labor Party's policy on the question of education was one of free, secular and compulsory. They were determined to hold the small .remaining portions of the Crown lands. Mr. Rcardon explained the Labor Party's attitude towards other political parties, and the need for Labor was to be absolutely independent. Both speakers were heartily applauded, and at the conclusion were accorded hearty votes of thanks.