The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1913. THE LABOR PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 223, 8 February 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1913. THE LABOR PARTY.

It becomes more anil more obvious Hint With diplomatic management the Labor T'arly bids fair to become a power in polities that will liave to be more reckoned witli in the immediate future than it has been in the past. lint before it can hope to become this appreciable [tower it must modify its attitude and its language >o far as some sections unconcerned and must aim at a greater amalgamation of its discordant members. At present some of its branches and or-

ganisations are its own worst enemy. I We cannot -ee that the country could come to much harm under the adniinislration of a sane and responsible Labor Party drawn from both town and country, but we shudder to think of the destinies of the Dominion being placed in the hands of a party in any way controlled by so despotic and revolutionary an organisation as the Federation of Labor. Its attitude over the Waihi strike alone is sufficient to condemn it in the eye- of every right-thinking man and woman. There is no reason why a minority of organised Labor should not,

it it chooses, art independently of the Federation, yet the mere thought of such action has driven the Ked Feds, to a display of bluster and aggressive despotism almost to the verge of criminality. "We want," it says, "the law amended in such a fashion that the majority shall have the right to control the business of the organisation.'' The workers ought to realise what this really moans. It is a proposition that the workers of the country should be asked to hand over legislatively the administration of their a flail's to an irresponsible cabal of men who have not yet been shown to be representative in any sense of I lie vast army of Labor. We do not for one moment believe that the Federation represents one tithe of the working men of the Dominion. Unfortunately, a large number of the workers are so busy earning their livings that they have neither the time nor the inclination for an extended study of polities, and are eontent to adopt either a laissez faire attitude or to follow blindly the dictates of their generally self-appointed leaders. In a majority of cases there men who have been shrewd enough to pick this joint in the armor of Labor are busy exploiting it for their own personal purposes. There have been many instances of the kind in Australia., the latest being at Blayney, where the good sense and lr.vel-headodness of legitimate unionism revolted against dictation and refused to hound out of public life a man whose only offence was independence of mind. There could be neither rational liberty nor sane freedom for the workers of this country under the rule of an organisation controlled by men of this type, who compose the executive of the Federation of Labor. The true worker of the country must, for the protection of industrial concerns from which he wins his living, make common cause against such incipient anarchism. The federation is not only doing passive Intra to the cause ! of Labor, lint actual harm, for it is alien- | ating many Liberals who have the in- : terests of Labor at heart, and is driving i them forcibly into the present Governi ment camp as the lesser of two evils. The I party may yet be laced by a combination of Reform and liberal parties, in which case its success at the polls will be put back for years. There must, in fact, be a vigorous rally of the fnrccs of law.and order against the "red Hag" teachings of dangerous 1 and ill-balanced men, if the country is to progress with any degree of prosperity and security. The Labor Party proper can help materially in such a campaign as this.

THE WHITE PLAGUE. The official report of the conference of medical men convened at the instance of the Minister of Public Health, for the purpose of enquiring into the prevalence of tubercular diseases in the. Dominion, particularly with regard to the-measures considered necessary to prevent their spread, makes valuable and interesting reading. The report, which is signed by no fewer than thirteen leading experts in various branches'of medical science, is of far-reaching importance, and should serve to focus increased attention on that dead and insidious scourge, the "white plague." At the outset, it strikes a reassuring note, correcting an impression to the effect that tubercular diseases are gaining ground in this country. The primary importance of having an educated public in regard to the disease is stressed by the report, which points out that little can really be accomplished unless the masses are thoroughly .aroused to an appreciation of the need for the measures which it outlines. An educated public, it is stated, is the most formidable weapon that can be used against the common enemy, and every effort must be taken—by dissemination of literature, lectures- and demonstrations —to inform the public of the nature of the foe against which war is being waged. The conference was unanimous that the campaign must be conducted on uniform lines. The same methods, the same mode of attack, must he observed throughout the Dominion, whether by the central department, hospital boards, or other authorities interested. All will agree with the report in its expression of opinion that "though we must be ruthless in our warfare against the common foe, we must not be unmindful of the private interests of those who are its victims." The conference agreed with Dr. Blackmore that restrictive measures must not be pushed too far, and that "tuberculosis is not a highly infectious disease." The report goes on to point out that the success of the campaign largely depends on the persons in the early stages of the disease seeking advice and treatment; and if such persons find that in their efforts to benefit themselves and the community methods are adopted that cause them to be regarded as pariahs of society, and their personal liberty to be thereby involved, the campaign will be productive of more harm than good. While not blind to the value of home treatment, the conference expresses itself as strongly of opinion that every possible facility should be provided for those patients needing treatment, and that the increased accommodation should be provided in connection with existing institutions, or by means of annexes attached to our general hospitals. Opinions were unanimous to the effect that little good could be obtained by dotting the Dominion with small sanatoria, and that consumptive patients ' could be treated at our general hospitals without detriment to other patients. The report recognises that (he present machinery is sufficient to cope with the "plague." but strongly advises the appointment of bacteriologists by the hospital boards of our four chief centres —their work to be entirely confined to those duties for which they were primarily appointed. The appointment by the larger hospital boards of at least one district nurse apiece is also recommended, for the purpose of following up those cases that have received or are receiving treatment in the various pnblic institutions. Tim medical inspection of schools should also, it is hoped, "take a very prominent part in the discovery of the 'early cases.'" Tn this connection the Minister is asked to use his influence in the direction of the establishment of open-air schools in the Dominion, as suggested by members of the conference, so that it may be possible for children who are predisposed to consumption to pursue their studies under an environment less prejudicial to their health than in some of the more crowded schools in our larger centres. Special dispensaries (to be the headquarters of the campaign in each district) are also advocated for the treatment of chest diseases in our chief centres, and. where possible, in other hospital districts, the smaller boards with advantage combining for the purpose. The subject of farm colonies for consumptives is dealt with at some length in the report. The conference holds that the establishment of such institutions is a xt-ry essential matter, and considers that they might with advantage he placed in close prox-

imity to the sanatoria. In this connection every effort should be made to fit these patients to earn their livelihood by outdoor occupations. Incidentally, half the trouble, that has arisen in connection with the ex-sanatorium patients is owing to the fact that during their stay in institutions they had little to occupy their minds other than their symptoms. Patients, it is stressed, must work for their own sakes, not solely for the benefit of their institutions. Naturally the conference was much interested in Mr. Fioake's statements with regard to the protection of the milk and meat I supplies of the Dominion, and their relation to the disease. Commenting on the matter, the report states: ''Unfortunately, so long as the public, exhibits such apathy with regard to the quality of the milk supplied for human eonsumption it will be difficult to effect any very drastic reforms with regard to the control of this industry. ... In the meantime the recommendation of the conference—-that hospital boards should obtain milk for their institution's only from those suppliers who submit their herds to periodical tests by responsible officers of the veterinary branch of the Agricultural Department —should have some effect, and imprest the public with the importance of this aspect of the problem." After urging caution and discretion in the use of tuberculin, the report states that the conference was unanimous in its approval of the measures about to be taken by the Clovernment to prevent persons in advanced stages of the disease from landing on these, shores, and was confident that the most effective means to this end could he brought about by rifdd inspection prior to immigration and during the voyage. It is interesting to note that the conference unanimously decided that if time should show that the responsible authorities fail to act in concert, the Government should take over the complete control of the tuberculosis campaign. We believe the matter is one for the Government, which should institute the service without delay. In its manner of dealing with the "white plague." the Home Government can give us many points, and New Zealand could with advantage to itself copy some of its methods of combatting the dread disease.