ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 276, 21 November 1931, Page 16

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

The campaign for the general election is in full swing throughout the land. The weather has been phenomenally fine and the temperatures warm. With a waxing moon the out-of-door night meetings organised by Labour candidates draw large audiences, which prefer the open air to crowded, stuffy halls. It is to be noted that Labour candidates utilise the open air for election meetings more extensively than do their, opponents. In this they are obeying the Biblical injunction to "Go out into the highways and gather together as many as ye shall find, both bad and good." Another reason is that the Labour party is not a moneyed party, and the open air, with "Paddy's lantern" , for an illuminant; costs considerably less than a hall, the rent for which is always increased at election time. The one drawback to out-of-doors speaking is the havoc that is done to a speaker's voice in the night air, with no four walls and a roof to concentrate the sound upon the audience. Half an hour in the open air is more exhausting to a speaker than two hours in a well-filled hall; this I kno\y from experience. A noticeable feature of the present campaign is the large numbers on the Labour candidates' committees in the various electorates. This is more noticeable this year than in past elections.

FREE SPEECH. While Labour meeetings have been characterised by orderly and attentive hearings, not to say enthusiastic, there is no reason for not giving the opposing candidates the same sportsmanlike reception. They are entitled to it. In some quarters Labour supporters are getting the blame for these obstructionist tactics, and it is reported as "organised obstruction"; but I think that the Labour party is not to blame for the attempt to smother free speech. It comes from individuals . who have personal grievances against candidates, or from the host of irresponsibles who frequent election meetings for cheap fun and frolic. These, however, should remember that what is fun to them is at the present juncture deadly serious to the right-minded elector. . The proper thing to do is to hear all sides and judge accordingly. Fair play is bonny play, and it is votes that count, not noise. THE MENACE OF EXTREMISTS. "Anyone who disturbs the industrial peace is a menace to the country and its prosperity," said Labour Premier E. J. Hogan, of Victoria, in an outspoken speech at a luncheon on the steamer Largs Bay, at Melbourne. "There are persons'whose only object is to disturb industrial peace, and to prevent Australia from emerging from her difficulties. They have «been described as 'wreckers.' This is praising them. In Cornwall, many years ago, there were men who put up false lights to decoy ships from their safe course, and lure them on to the rocks to loot them. I would compare these wreckers with those in our midst who are trying to wreck Australia by setting up false lights in the industrial world and inducing men to strike." "I have no misgivings about, them. The activities of the Communists, their intrusion in the meat dispute, their attempts to make this and the shipping strike impossible of settlement, all these indicate that they are a menace to this community, that they are wreckers, whose only object is to ruin the country and the people who are in /it. The workers should take them at their own valuation and tell them to be gone. "I am very pleased the Prime Minister has expressed similar sentiments. I can assure you that -my Ministry has no delusions about the motives of these people. While pretending to help the working man, their only true object is revolution. "Revolution is of no use to us in this country. We can settle everything by reason if we will. The man who resorts to force is a public menace, and should be so regarded by everyone."

BRITISH UNEMPLOYMENT PAY REDUCTIONS. The following table shows the proposed weekly rates for the several classes of British insured persons now entitled to benefit, together with the

The saving estimated to result from this reduction is £12,800,000. An increase of weekly contributions to lOd each is required from employers, employed, and the Exchequer. This will bring the proposed weekly rates of contributions' for the several i classes of contributors —employer, employed person, and Exchequer contributions —to:—: * ,

The present total contributions are 22id, lDicl, Hid, 19Jd, 16£ d, and 9|d respectively. COLLECTIVE . BARGAINING. The State of Wisconsin has adopted a Labour code, which corresponds closely to the model Labour Bill drafted by the Committee on Labour Injunctions of the American Civil Liberties Union. The new legislation declares that any agreement by which a. worker undertakes, as one of the conditions of his employment, not to join a particular trade union is contrary to public policy, and shall not be enforced by the courts. Strikes, trade union membership, the payment of trade union contributions, the. advertising of strikes, • peaceful assembly and peaceful picketing _ are declared legal, and no' Court may issue an injunction prohibiting a!ny of these acts. "\ ■ - '• Persons charged with contempt of Court for violation of an injunction shall enjoy the right, of. admission to bail, adequate defence, trial by jury and trial by a judge other than the one who issued the injunction.' Punishment is limited to a fine not exceeding 25 dollars, ';oi' imprisonment for 10 days, or both. j

present rate: — • Present Proposed ' - Rates. s. d. s. d. Man ........... 17 0 15 3 Woman 15 0 13 6 Adult dependent .... 0 0 8 0 Child dependent .... 2 0 2 0 Young man 14 0 12 6 Young woman ...... 12 0 10 9 JuvenilesBoys aged 17 ...... 9 0 8 0 Girls aged 17 ...... 7 6 6 9 Boys aged 16 .... 6 0 5 6 Girls aged.lG 5 , 0 ' 4 6

Each. Total, d. d. Men ...................10 30 Young men;.. 9 27 Boys 5 15 Women 9 27 Young -women 8 ; .24 Girls 41 131