SECOND EDITION. Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] FRIDAY, MARCH 2,1894. THE KNIGHTS OF LABOUR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4662, 2 March 1894, Page 2

SECOND EDITION. Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] FRIDAY, MARCH 2,1894. THE KNIGHTS OF LABOUR.

The Knights of Labour in tin's district assume tho position of beiiog'die working man's friend, and while wo have on many occasions differed from the views which they have expressed we have never doubted their sincerity and have expressed a certain amount of respect f >r the opinions which they entertain. On more than one occasion we have felt that it is a : help in the solution of any social problem to be in possession of their sentiments, At the present time a social event of exceptional interests on the tapis, we mean the coming licensing election. We attach more importance to the social than to the political aspeot of this election. As Mr H. I). Bell has justly point' d out, the result of it will not materially affect the position of the Government, and wo for one do not intend to make party politics a factor in it. The Opposition Party in this district will not ns a party put forward any candidates, or lay down any rule for voting on the questions of mors licenses, less licenses, or no licenses at all. From a political standpoint the election has no significance, at nil. It is true, it may be snid, that a Liberal Association will run.the election, but this association has lit' 1b political weight or influence,'' and is understood to be promoted mainly to serve the interests of Licensed Victuallers. It may decide ibo issues of the coming election, hut certainly not on political grounds. It is, therefore, rather the social aspects of the question that have now to be considered, and • it is on these that the opinion of the Knights of Labour will be of value. The public house is said to be the working man's cellar, and it would bo interesting to know whether tho working men themselves want a greater or a less number of these cellars, and whether they are satisfied as to the mamiir in which their cellars are conducted, Our own view is-,that a reasonable number of houses under good management, and under an, exemplary licensing committee is the end to be kept in view, but the difficulty is, can this result be brought about 1 Can we expeot, if the publicans, not, perhaps, by direct means, hut through a friendly association, elect their own committee that we shall get either good uianngoment or an exemplary licensing committee. If there is no reasonable chance oi securing a proper control then moderate men may be driven into the ranks of tho Prohibitionists, many of whom now are saying " let the traffic alone, don't check abuses and misconduct for these nill in time bring about its total abolition." The problem is.a many sided one and any help in the direction of solving it will be useful. We dp not know whether the Knights of Labour intend to face the question or to shirk it, but if they are prepared to take upon themselves the'responsibility which their principles enjoin they cannot well bold .aloof from the election. Aro not the great capitalists who control the liquor traffic the big brewers with their tied houses the very men whom the Knights aro bound by their preamble to fight,that preamble which commences with the following words:-"The alarming development and aggressiveness of great capitalists and corporations, unless checked, will .inevitably lead to the pauperisation and hopeless degration of the toiling masses," We are aware that Knights of Labour without necessarily being either . teetotallers or prohibitionists discourage intemperance, and for .this reason we atjmit their fitness to control the liquor traffic; If we had to ohoose between a list of. candidates for a -licensing ' committee, nominated by tho.Knights of Labour, and another nominated by a Pownall' Association, we should without Lesitation support tbo fortaor, llwq in

of course a riiroour that the Kniglita of Labour are beiug merged in the Association. An effort is doubtless being made in this direotion, but we should be somewhat surprised to see it successful.