WELLINGTON TOPICS.
STILL POLITICAL PARTIES.
MODERATE AND EXTREME LABOR.
(Special Correspondent.) i Wellington, May 11. AVhatever Sir Janies Allen may have said or intended to say in his communication to the Manchester Guardian concerning the complexion of the political parties in this country, the cabled summary of his remarks has . served the useful purpose of stirring them all into a certain measure of activity. First of all Mr. T. M. Wilford, the Leader of the Liberal Party, was moved into disclaiming any sympathy with the Official Labor Party; then the local organ of the Reform Party became sure the High Commissioner had suggested nothing of the kind; and now Mr. Peter' Fraser, the fighting chief of the “Social Democrats,” jibes loudly and as offensively as he can, at the make-believe differences between “the two capitalistic parties,” dubbing them the Tory Tweedledee and the Liberal Tweedledum. Mr. Fraser’s humor is mostly borrowed, and some of .it a little strained, but so far he seems 'to have a little the best of the exchange of pleasantries.
BLIND EGOTISM
What is so tiresome about the “Social Democrats” of Mr. Fraser’s type, whose good intentions, according to their lights, no one need doubt, is their tremendous egotism. This quality not only prevents them seeing the other fellow’s point of view; it actually prevents them seeing the other fellow himself, whether in units or in multitudes. At the last general election some 206,009 votes were recorded for Reform candidates, 196,000 for LiberalLabor candidates, and 127,000 for “Social Democrats.” On the strength of these figures. Mr. Fraser and his friends have been proclaiming ever since the results were announced that their party has only to continue its present rate of progress to have possession of the Treasury Benches after the next general election. They ask sane people to believe that eighteen months ago 127,000 represented its voting strength in the country. Of course everyone else knows that at least one-half of the 127,000 consisted of Reform, Liberal and Labor votes, which were cast for “Social Democracy” not because their holders loved that creed, but because they hated some other (yeed more.
SIX MONTHS’ HARD.
For the moment Mr. Justice Herdman’s 'committal of a well-known Christchurch bookmaker to gaol for six months with hard labor is occasioning more comment and discussion here than is the labor trouble or the Irtish tragedy at the other end of the world An idea has grown up in Wellington that both the Government and the Courts has become a little half-hearted over the administration of the new gaming law, and that the worst that could happen 'to the Ghristchurch offender would foe a stiff fine, possibly as. much as £5OO. But while a considerable section of the community thinks the bookmaker has been hardly treated in this case, another considerable section, probably the larger one. is glad to see the majesty of the law vindicated. Whether or not what has happened will make Wellington juries less averse to assisting in the administration of the statute remains to be seen, but the bookmakers themselves may be expected to move more warily in the immediate future.
IMMIGRATION.
The movement among the farmers towards a reduction in the wages of their employees has produced much animated talk on the waterfront and in other places where good unionists congregate to express their views on social, industrial and political matters in general. The main subject of discussion at these gatherings during the last day or two has been that of immigration, and the great majority of the speakers have shown themselves by no means disposed to accept the assurance of the Minister that only nominated immigrants, guaranteed employment on their arrival here, are being brought out. But, they say, admitting Mr. Nosworthy’s statement to be correct, it only means that the new arrivals will oust workers now in employment, and so aggravate the difficulties of a hard winter. The Minister smiles blandly. “There will be. enough work for everyone,” he declares, “and the Government has not the slightest intention of inundating the country with cheap labor.”
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Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1921, Page 6
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680WELLINGTON TOPICS. Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1921, Page 6
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