HAMILTON SEAT.
ADDRESS BY MR. YOUNG, M.P. AN ATTACK ON LABOUR. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, this day. Mr. J. A. Young addressed an enthusiastic meeting at Hamilton last night, when he declared that trades unionism had departed from its laudable original objects* to attack the democratic constitution on which the Empire rested. In regard to the fusion negotiations, the Liberals had viewed with grave concern the attitude of the Labour party, and so were anxious to present a united front to Labour at the elections. They wanted fusion without delay, but the Reform delegates, of whom he was the leader, could not see the need for such, haste, and the negotiations fell through.
The Labour leaders now had their feet on the soft pedal, talking about obtaining their ends by constitutional means, but during the dark days of the war Mr. Holland had described himself ac a revolutionary Socialist who was readyto fight when the time came. Was the Labour party sincere in its present attitude? No importance could be attached to the reservations Blade by any individual member of the Labour party, for they were tied hand and foot by their declaration of membership and committed to the platform enunciated by their leaders.
The Land Question. Tt was noticeable that Mr. Jordan, who expressed the opinion that the land plank of the party's platform should be dropped, answered the crack of the party's whin as readily as any other member. The leaders did not worry about Labour members' statements, but if any of them violated their promises the leader knew what to do with them.
Dealing with the Labour party's land platform and the statement made by Mr. Holland that there was no such thing generally as a freehold in the Dominion. Mr. Youne said that with less than 4S per cent of the security mortgaged, there wrs at least 52 per cent absolutely freehold. Freehold implied what it means. Mortgage did not destroy freehold.
Freehold meant free to use. free to transfer. frp-» to mortgage and free to transfer while under mortgage, and free to release from mortg-age. It meant credit aeainst security, with the payment of interest for thp urp of that credit. Credit the world over could not be done without under modern civilisation, or indeed under a new form of wellordered society dependent upon exehanee of products. No fancy ill-thought scheme under thp name of "usehold*' or "losehold," or any other kind of "hold" which would be depriving the farmer, or any other industrious worker and improver of the soil, of an part of the value of his labour and investment would work.
Under the Labour platform the Labour Government was to be both valuer and buyer. Labour "usehold"' simply meant forced leasehold, or forced mortgage held by the State over the occupier without the riaht. at least the Labour platform did not provide for the right, to raise capital for working purnoses secured against the rredit of any financial interest which the occupier might have in the leasehold. In fact, it would confiscate or rob him of his equity, as he couold transfer it to no one except the State. The more one looked into the whole thinsr. and the more one analysed thp proposition, the more unsound, unsafe, ill-tliouirht and ridiculous it wa=. Tt woulod destroy private credit in land, and what, was worse, it would deetrnv the country's national credit. Tt wouold bring- disaster to the credit and business of the country.
The Right to Work. The Rieht to Work Bill of the Labour party, said the candidate, was to provide for the payment of a "dole." This would be so generous that if it ever Wame law there would be a ereat dea.l of willing unemployment in the country —it would be a premium on loafin<r and place a heavy tax on the producers to ke«"n those who would not work.
The candidate dealt with the legislation of the past session, laying particular stress on the measures adopted to obtain money for the working of the Stato Advances Department. He was aeninst an agricultural bank, holding that the best way to, help the farmer was to extend the activities of the State Advances Department. The Government had been as treneroxis as finances would permit in raising pensions. He believed in Mr. Coates. who had proved himself a most capable administrator flml a wonderful loader, and he was confident that he would be Prime Minister for many '■*ars to come. There was no in the rumour tViat Mr. McLeod was to be made Prime Minister, for Mr. Coates hnd lo more loyal supporter than Mr. McLeod. who was a most able Minister of Lands. At the conclusion of a two hours' address. Mr. Young was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.
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Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1925, Page 8
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801HAMILTON SEAT. Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1925, Page 8
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