THE ATTITUDE OF LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 6

THE ATTITUDE OF LABOUR.

(To the Editor.) Sir,— 1 think the Social Democratic party would further trio interests of •Labour by advitsjng the workers to suppont the l/i-bera] candidate in electorates which the S.IJ.l*. are not contesting, instead of ai---rriiii£ that there is nothing to ohoij-.-e between Liberal and Reform, and implying that the workers can export no bet'lcr treatment riorn the Liberal party than they have received fxxm the present Government. The proof of the pudding i.s in the eating, and as we have partaken of the cookery of both these parties, we should jpve impartial judgment thereon. That of the Liberal*. although not highly -palatable, was at lca~t digestible.. ■whJlßt that of the Reform Government is not only indigestible, but U leaviiijr a decidedly bitter taste; -so if Labour i* wise it will not a,k a second 'helping of the Reform dish. Labour to-day in N.Z. i.- in a worse position than ever nt 'wus during the Liberal Administration, and. whilst admitting that 1/a-bour lias made mistakes, and is partly to blame, for its present position, the Reform (iove-nunertt is for the greater part responsible. l-'or instance, the Maespy Government have done nothing to prevent unions, formes!, during the strike, and under t'hc IX". an.l A. Act. from men of ixookl chariurter fr<i:rr. enteriujr. sort of persecution never existed during the rci;rn of Uio Liberals. The question of whether a union could legally ui-e it~ own funds for any purpose it Haw lit j did not arise whilst the Übena.l party was in power. It was taken for pramted, and rightly so. that a union could: but Uu" iLastey Government have decided otherwUe, or to be more accurate, its administrators 'have done so. Whether this decision applies to " Farmers' Unions." " Employers" Associ-itioim " and other organisations ifor the. ipurpose of fljrlltillg Labour, is not stated: presuTUiubly it does mot. The repeal of .the second ballot was accomplished with ■the object of not only defeating Labour at the polls, but ali-o with th<> object of eplfbtin;* the Liberal vote, 50 ac to enable the Missey party lo crawl in between the oilier two. The Liberal party recognise J the ri<rht of nn:ons. refri=.tereAl under the Trades and labour Act. to strike. The Massey Govprnnient 'lui\e repudiate.! thin aipht. Picketing, peaceful or otherwise, is nw\v unJawful. If the worker*, be they supporter* «f the S.IJ.P. or not. will acquaint fchemse+res with the ifacts, and them to reason, they will ascertain that theTc is a vast differenco between the attitude and disposition of the Liberate and of the Reformer* toward Labour. Therefore. I consider is. i* tjhe worker , * duty to vote Tor the Liberal candidate in ere.r>- electorate 'where a Social Democrat is not Pt-andinfT, anil if tliey do their duty ifchey ftlie workcTs) need not fear the result.— T am. etc., H. J. S]I!EPPARI\