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football matches that I have handled. Indeed, my work has been very light indeed, and that was accounted for to a great extent by the excellent arrangements that have been made, and the good spirit with which the business has been conducted on both sictes. These in turn are due to the Hon. Mr. Barr, the Manager of the Conference, and to the Business Committee set up by the Conference, who have arranged the subjects to come forward, and have prepared them in such a way that things have gone as smoothly as clockwork. There has been no interruption of any kind, and to those gentlemen is due in a large measure the success which has attended the management of the Conference. There is another element which has contributed very greatly to the success of the Conference, and that is the evident good will of the members of the Conference towards one another and towards myself. I have felt all through that the delegates were anxious to say the kindest things they could of one another, instead of searching for words which might rub one another up the wrong way. As for myself, I felt that every one was anxious to see me through the job well. I thank you all very heartily for the kindness with which you have expressed your appreciation of my work in presiding over the Conference. Hon. Mr. Downie Stewart: Mr. Chairman, there is no occasion for me to make a speech, but I have just suggested to the Prime Minister that, after listening to the references as to the degree of unanimity that has been reached, it might be advisable that the Conference should continue in session, and that its aid might be invoked to frame a Licensing Bill that would satisfy the Prohibitionists, the trade, and the general public. (Laughter.) Then the Conference might tackle the Bible-in-schools question, and if the result again proved satisfactory I have numerous tariff problems awaiting solution. However, if the delegates are anxious to get away in the meantime, the Prime Minister might defer these minor, yet still important, matters until a later date. Hon. Mr. Wright (Minister of Labour) : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I am only present on sufference ; I have had practically nothing to do with the preparation or deliberations of the Conference. I do not know, of course, whether the resolutions passed will mean that I will have a Bill to present to Parliament during the coming session—l am not quite clear upon that point yet —but I do want to express the opinion that it does augur well for both capital and labour in New Zealand that a body of men such as we see here this afternoon could come together and carry on their deliberations in such an amicable spirit even though they fundamentally disagree. That could not be done in some parts of the world. In some places this Conference would have been a Donnybrook fair ; a football match would have been nothing to it. It certainly reflects credit upon both labour and employers' representatives that they are able to carry on their deliberations in this way. I am satisfied that, although you have found it necessary to disagree upon one vital point, each side has been able to see something of the difficulties confronting the other side, and I venture to say that when that is done you are in a fair way to solve one of the biggest problems that has ever faced the world. When the representatives of the employers appreciate the difficulties of labour, and when the workers gain a clear view of the difficulties of the capitalist, there is always hope of a final solution of the great problem. I trust that the result of this Conference will be very far-reaching, and will be the means of laying the foundation —even if we do not succeed immediately —for solving the great problem in New Zealand in the near future. Mr. Acland: Before the Conference finally concludes I would like to propose that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Hon. Mr. Barr for the way in which he has carried out his work as Manager of the Conference. Quite apart from his work during the actual Conference proceedings, I feel that all the delegates must recognize that his duties in connection with this last function of the Conference have been carried out exceedingly well. I think that this motion will appeal to my friends on both sides. Mr. Roberts : I desire to heartily second that motion. Although I have very much enjoyed this last half-hour function of the Conference, I want to say that Mr. Barr has always attended to our requirements as delegates. I might, however, be permitted to remark that Mr. Coates, when he appointed Mr. Barr Manager of the Conference, must have had in his mind that he would possibly make a good Minister of Finance in the days to come. I can assure the Prime Minister that Mr. Barr can look after the purse-strings of the Government as well as any man I know. I want to add that right throughout the Conference he has been a great help to us all. When any difficulty between the parties presented itself he has gone from one side to the other and suggested a way out. This has helped us considerably, and we all realize that Mr. Barr has done everything possible to make the Conference a success. Professor Murphy, responding to an urgent demand for a speech, said, —Mr. Chairman, the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, and gentlemen, unlike most members of this Conference, the professors are of few words and unaccustomed to public speaking. lam afraid I shall have to strike a discordant note to-day. I refer to the great slight put upon us when we were deprived of the rights of full delegates in this Conference. I feel that in doing that Mr. Roberts has struck a blow at the prestige of the intellectual proletariat from which we shall not recover. It is just possible, however, that the financial authorities may feel disposed to recognize that moral damage by awarding us something in the shape of a small bonus. We are in the hands of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, so everything should be all right. There is only one danger that has faced this Conference, as far as I can see, and that is now happily over. I noticed the extreme amiability with which delegates met, and I feared that it might be strained to breaking-point; but I found it quite the other way about. Yesterday I was quite alarmed at the degree of affability displayed on both dides. The delegates were so friendly that I was afraid that an era was coming when the boss would say, " I insist upon your taking £12 a week in wages," and the worker would reply, " I am sorry, Sir, but you really cannot afford it." Then, Ido not know what would happen first —a lockout to compel the men to accept double wages, or a strike to compel the masters to pay only half the amount. But from what I heard

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