LABOUR AND POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 7

LABOUR AND POLITICS.

ADDRESS BY MR W. A. VEITCH, M.P.

IDEAL OF A NEW DEMOOIACY. HOW TO DEAI> WITH THE I.W.W. An able address dealing with a number of industrial and political questions was delivered iv the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday hy Mr \V. A. Veitcb, M.P. fir Wanganui, ut the invitation of the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association. The nominal subject of his address was: "Tho relations between Capital and Labour: how they may be improved." Tlie audience, which cxcceded the seating capacity of the hall, included a number of representatives of both Capital and Labour.

Mr* 8. .1. llarbutt, in introducing Mr. Vciteh, pointed out that the Industrial Association elid not eontine its menibership to employers of labour, but welcomed all who were interested in developing the industries of New Zealand.

DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES, Air. Vciteh leinnrked, by way of introduction, that he regarded the invitation which he had received ns an olive branch extended by one faction in the community to another. Both factions had been altogether too much estranged in the past. Referring to the encouragement of local industries, he expressed a preference for the development of large' hydro-electric se-hemes for the supply of cheap power, rather than the imposition of severe protective tariffs in favour of all industries. He believed that some protection was necessary, but tariffs needed very careful handling, and the development of the mineral and other resources was the best means of making the country self-contained. An essential factor was a better relation between l.a'iou.- ami Capital, and to that end Labour wanted a much bettor political organisation. lie there! re proposed to say something upon the political aspect of trades unionism in New Zi—laivel.

TIIK TARTY BOSS SYSTEM.'' Dealing with the comparatively small direct representation of Labour in Parliament, despite the free franchise. Mr. Veitch put in a strong plea for tlie abolition of the I arty system, which, he declared, had deprived the people of their political rights, ami bad degenerated long ago into a "party boss system" equivalent to one-man gove-rnuient. He did not blame Mr. Massey and bis party. but only the people who allowed such a FVstem to continue and at the elections tied the respective candidates firmly to one party or the other. He would appeal to tlie people to put greater trust iii their representatives, to get down to vital questions instead of keeping up party disputes, and to get Parliament to discuss them on sound economic principles and then legislate upon them. (Applause.)

"There nre about .1 per cent of unscrupulous anarchists at the top of the social ladder." he continued. "and about "> per cent of wild anarchists at the bottom, and tlie other i) 0 per cent have very little say in politics." It was time, he added, that the decent people of tlie community frot together and formed a loyal democratic league to secure government without the old party divisions or the domination of cither the landholders on the one hand or the I.W.W. on the other.

No COMPROMISE. I Mr. Vciteh went on to refer to the' Auckland Labour Conference, called for' next week to consider means of "strengthening the Labour movement industrially ami politically." and in doing so earnestly appealed to trades unionists in Auckland to make no attempt at a compromise with tbe elireet actionists in their ranks. "The gap between Capital and Labour can be bridged by conciliation and reasonable measures," he declared, "but the gap between the extremists and constitutional labour can never be bridged. Extreme measures mean anarchy, and the people will not stand disloyalty. There are men who should be taken by the hair of their heads nnd booted out of the movement. If you pat a mad clog on the head he will only turn and bite you." The chances of Labour candidates (himself included) at. the last municipal elections, had been killed by the few men who fomented the recent strikes—so he believe-—with that deliberate purpose. Labour in Australia, through truckling with the 1.W.W.. had condemned the country to Conservative legislation for many years tn come. (Dissent and applause.) 'llie federation policy adopted by the New Zealand employers had of necessity been copied by Labour, and there were some "pretty hot members" at the head of both parties, but politically the dane-er was not till from the Labour side. There were siirae big employers who were very dangerous members of the community, with as little respect for law and decency as anyone he knew. It was hard to get over tlie extreme elements on both sides, but a strong democratic programme was impossible unless the people could be shown that there was a strong democratic political organisation which could be trusted, and wild talk was the biggest obstacle.

PROGRESS, NOT REVOLUTION. Mr. Veitch then proceeded to speak on the possibility of a 6ocial revolution after the war, and stated his belief that for economic reasons great changes were inevitable, tho present social system, with all its evils, must not be abolished unless something else-were provided in its place. It would be far better, lie was convinced, to go on making wise minor reforms in the present system than to attempt a soeal revolution, with no delinite plans ahead. Labour as a whole was loyal—the war had proved it —notwithstanding the cries of a few undesirables in its ranks. It only wanted a chance to organise politically. I—t employers (many of whom needed to lose much arrogance) and workers make the war a turning point: let them get rid of

"class-consciousness," and let Parliament play the game for both sides. ''We must abandon class bias and all that tends to national disunion," concluded Mr. Veitch, "the Empire wants more sympathy amongst all classes — there arc none when the British flag is attacked. Each of us has a vote, and can use it. Let us carry out improvements under the existing social system, and we shall make New Zealand a brighter and happier country than it is to-day."

The speaker answered a number of questions, and was accorded a beartv vote of thanks, on tbe motion of Mr. VV. B. Lcyland. The latter declared tbat tbe root of industrial trouble was selfishncjs on loth sides. "Let us drop it," he said;

"got together and make a fresh start on a better footing." Tlie motion was sec-onel.-d by Mr. ('. .7. Parr, M.P., who said that, while lie did not agree with Mr. Witch in politics and could not endorse all the views expressed, be had the greatest rcspo.-t for his ability and thy B—.ceriU• of his opinions.