HON W. P. REEVES AT AUCKLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2419, 1 November 1892, Page 3

HON W. P. REEVES AT AUCKLAND.

The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Minister for Education and Labor, addressed a large public meeting at Auckland on Saturday night, the Mayor presiding. The local members of the House and the Council and a representative gathering of Auckland Liberals were on the platform. Prior to speaking, Mr Reeves was presented with an address of thanks from tho shop assistants for his efforts re the Shop Hours Bill. Mr Reeves began by referring to tho orders received that day to despatch the llingarooma to Samoa, proving the advantage of Auckland as the most convenient naval station in the Pacific. Regarding the Council appointments, he said the Government were not unmindful of the special characteristics required in a revising chamber The working classes had particular reason to be proud of the labor Councillors, amongst whom was an absence of the noisy agitator or stump orator typo of politician. In importance the now departure giving representation to labor in the Upper Chamber could hardly be overrated. It meant for the first time in any colony the second Chamber ceased to represent property solely. He defended the Government at length from the charge of caring only for class legislation, pointing out that every measure dispensing with the influential section of any country was always branded as class legislation by those who did not like it. All the greatest English Reformers of the century, from the abolition of slavery to the Irish Land Act, and the grant of free education might payp tfip same charge levelled at them. Another cry that the Government was setting town against country was too absurd for notice. As a matter of fact tho Liberal members represented a larger area of country districts than tho Conservatives. The truth was too Opposition for th r e past t\yo years had been frying to set the country against the towns but without avail. It was only necessary to examine the measures to see how aosurd was the cry that they neglected the interests of country settlers. Mr Reeves went on to explain and defend at length the ei x Labor Bills already passed and two ythw which they failed to pass.

The opposition to these measures was chiefly founded on misunderstanding. As an instance, he quoted a clause in the Employers’ Liability Act which had been described as an example of American Socialism, whereas it merely emboided a decision of the English House of Lords. He threw on the Legislative Council the responsibility of mutilating the Shops and Shops Assistants Act in such a way as to ensure friction and uncertanity. On the Council also rested the responsibility of throwing the Conciliation Bill back for another year. Unless a really strong effective conciliation and arbitration system was sot up in the colony the industrial position would always at a certain crisis become almost unbearable, and the suspicions of men and uneasiness of masters continue permanently. He believed the more the Bill w T as studied the more converts it would make among enlightened employers. He referred to the strikes in Australia and America, and the unsettled tailoresses’ dispute in Auckland as instances of the want of arbitration tribunals. For a generation the Australasian colonies had been governed by the middle classes by dint of periodical concessions to democracy. Now, democracy was demanding and taking a more direct and active share in government. He believed that their vigour in reform ought to, and would be, united with prudence in finance. They should be radical in legislation, but conservative in expenditure, and remember the first duty of a colony was to pay its way. With that precaution they could safely go on with the great work of extending the functions of the State. Mr Reeves dwelt at length on the relation of State to the individual, and in an eloquent peroration urged the people of Auckland to use the surpassing natural advantages of their beautiful city with an indomitable spirit of progress, and by patriotism and devotion to the State continue to raise the standard of comfort, refinement, and education in a manner worthy of their truly great country. A resolution of thanks for his address, recognition of Mr Reeves’s services to the Libearl cause, and confidence in the Ballance Government was carried with about six dissentients.