SOCIAL SALVATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 13

SOCIAL SALVATION.

LABOUR'S MATERIALISM.

SCATHING ATTACK BY MR.

ISITT.

"GLORIOUS INCONSISTENCY."

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary -Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

Devoting the whole of an earnest speech to the Labour party's politics, Mr .L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North scathingly condemned it and drew hot rejoinders from the Labour Benches, though actual interruption was firmly restrained by Mr. Speaker. Thus the criticised members only got the opportunity to ejaculate, "sob stuff."

New Zealand, said Mr. Isitt, wag not self supporting nor self'controlled. To an enormous extent it depended on the Motherland, with its cheap markets, and as its banker. If disaster overtook the Motherland, it must quickly be reflected in New Zealand. Unfortunately, England was struggling for ber markets against cheap foreign labour, and her industry was handicapped by the virus of revolutionary socialism,-- similar to that which was doing its deadly work in New Zealand. Thrift was denounced as a vice, and the Extremists would dispurpose of every class but their own. "It is not a bond of love which holds these extremists together, but a bond of common hatred against every class but their own." Though their doctrine had attracted some of the finest men, it was purely materialistic. He knew that Capital had shamefully exploited Labour, but he was thankful that there had been big improvements. Ghastly contrasts of poverty and wealth still existed, and good men with no economic knowledge, sometimes swallowed 'jthe Labour doctrine, in the belief that it would provide a solution. Mr. Chappell. of Christchurch, chief promoter of Socialistic Sunday schools, had declared the time must come when we must do away with the Bible, and turn to those broader bibles of science, literature and the human heart. "Mad and Irresponsible." "Can you imagine more irresponsible, self contradictory, madder stuff, than is served out day by day to, and admired by, members of the Revolutionary Socialistic party ("Yes." —"No.") from start to finish?" asked Mr. Isitt, who proceeded to quote as an example of glorious, inconsistency the resolution of the Labour partjv that inasmuch as warships were tools of Capitalism, they would give the cold shoulder toi American sailors." Would they be consistent and boycott those men who carried our produce to England, in the interests of the Capitalistic class, Labour welcomed. the X a mar ad Jap or the Kamarad Chinaman, but it demanded the maintenance of a white New Zealand. Would the Capitalistic Japan be satisfied with a resolution of seventeen Labourites, if there was no other method of maintaining a white New Zealand. Extreme Labourites declared there was no go slow in New Zealand, but he recently went through Christchurch to consult tailors, shirtmakers, timbermen, and many representatives of many trades and professions. Every man declared that lie was paying higher wages, but not producing as much as in prewar times. Last Monday lie saw the manager of one of the hieiest firms inNew Zealand, a man with no bitterness, but speaking kindly of Labour and the character of those in his employ. Ho said: "Ouf minimum wage is 24 ri?r cent above pre-war, and our production 30 per cent less." Mr. Isitt asked how the loader of the Labour party could deny that there was go slow in New Zealand. That party never condemned so vile a weapon which made a man an hovtrlv thief. and turned the worker into a waster. Mr. Jordan's Reply. Mr. W. T. Jordan (Manukau) characterised Mr. Isitt's speech as very amusing talk, all, rehearsed. Mr. Isitt had been a professional talker all his life. He came into politics with good intentions, hut they saw him now as a political derelict, recognised by no side and scorned by members of the House. He was an actor, a showman.

Mr. Langstone: A cheap jack. Mr. Jordan: He is at the end of his career in the House. Whatever aspirations he had he now found himself to be an absolute failure. Last night, con- ! tinued the member for Manukau, the galleries in the House were filled before the supper adjournment. They came from near and far, for the member for. Christchurch North competed with Fuller's for a crowd, but when he did not get a chance to start before, he refused to speak after supperji because the galleries were then 1 empty. "He told mc so," said Mr. Jordan. Our .friends from the gallery went away disappointed because they missed a comedy, and Ttfr. Isitt was disappointed because he did not provide it. To think that the member for Christchurch North could have come down from what he was twenty years ago to a position of selling himself for a seat in the Upper House. (Disorder.) There were many cries of "withdraw" from the Ministerial, benches, and Sir Heaton Rhodes arose in protest, and asked whether it was in order for a member to accuse another member of selling himself for _ seat in the other House. "I am afraid the honourable member is not in order. He must withdraw," ordered the Speaker. Labour members: Will the Government give an assurance it is not true. A Tempered Withdrawal. The Speaker :• "Order. ' Mr. Jordan: I withdraw, but there is a feeling in these benches that because of the way the honourable member served the Reform party, he will, if he does not stand at the next election, be rewarded. by a seat in the Upper House. We will see. The member for Christchurch North has degenerated into a junker, a flagwaver, and a fighter with his. tongue. He hady,accused the Labour."ipafty off; "go slow?'-; was there any other memberwho went slower in the House than the honourable member for "'■'_ Christchurch North, who would miss prayers to play billiards? (Laughter ai.d disorder, with angry cries from the ,= Ministerial benches). / ■'■'•,' ',{': ".'■~\ The Minister of Agriculture, the HoriV W. Nosworthy, protested against Mr. Jordan's remark, and the Speaker said that although the member.; was not offending against.the Standing Orders or rules of the House, he would ask him to avoid such references. Mr. Jordan: I'll not say that again, Mr. Speaker, although -,it is. written, somewherej "what ■ I have said, I have said" (Laughter.) In answer Mr. Isitt would say that the Labour party would repudiate interest, but he thought it would be reasonable regarding the war ;debt; to ask. that, as Mother . Imen: offered their lives, men with money should offer their money at as low rates as possible. .