UTOPIAN GOAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 275, 20 November 1935, Page 11

UTOPIAN GOAL.

COUNTRY WITHOUT CLASS. OBJECTS OF LABOUR. "It is said tliat Labour is dictated to by members of 400 trades unions. Some would be glad to know that there arc as many as 400 of them in the country, now that the Arbitration Court has been smashed. The Labour party is the most democratic party in New Zealand.'" This statement, which was applauded, was made at Milford last night by Mr. W. J. Lyon, Labour candidate for Waitemata. He had an audience of about 400, presided over by Mr. C. H. M. Wills, who said it was the largest political meeting held in Milford for years. The candidate was well received.

After explaining the working of the Labour party's machinery as far as the method of selecting Labour candidates was concerned, Mr. Lyon said that trades unions were always in the minority at the conferences held in Wellington. The conference was representative of every section of the community, and a typical cross section showed that such men as doctors, fanners, accountants, ministers of religion and many other professional men attended. The conference was not representative of small minority groups and vested interests. New Zealand was passing through <ui economic phase. It was at present in the agrarian stage, but its markets were becoming contracted. Butter was deflated and quotas had been introduced by Britain, which was starting to plan economic nationalism. The war had taught Great Britain a lesson she would never forget. It had made her conscious of the necessity for self-development in regard to her primary produce requirements.

We in New Zealand have got to consider two things," said Mr. Lyon. "The expansion of our secondary industries and to plan for increasing consumption of primary production. Labour's policy is to start the development of secondary industries. We must realise the fact that wo arc emerging from an agrarian country into a stage where our secondary industries arc of paramount importance and make provision for an expanding population. After providing for ovir own people we should expand. We only want the machinery and the people capable of handling it to increase our secondary industries." Labour, if elected, would introduce just and humanitarian measures. If electors sunported the present Government they were against a policy of humanitarian legislation. If they voted for the Democrats they would be giving a second life to the Government. Electors could only support Labour if they wanted the present system changed. Labour was fighting for a Utopian goal of a classless society in New Zealand. A vote of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr. E. C. Cutten, retired senior stipendiary magistrate at Auckland, and a resident of Takapuna for many years. "I am pleased to have this first opportunity of exercising my freedom from oflicial shackles by moving a vote of thanks and confidence," he said. "I do ask the people to think of what they have heard the candidate say tonight." The resolution was seconded and carried unanimously.

MR. MASON AT BIRKENHEAD. Not an interjection disturbed the close attention with which the address by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Labour candidate for Auckland Suburbs, was followed in the Foresters' Hall at Birkenhead last night. A vote of confidence in Mr. Mason and the Labour party was carried.