THE LABOUR PARTY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19644, 13 June 1929, Page 8

THE LABOUR PARTY.

ATTITUDE TO LIBERALS. OUTLINE BY MR HOWARD. Because he did not know what Sir Joseph Ward's plans were for the future Mr E. J. Howard, in a presesskmal address in the Dickens street Hall last evening, said that he could not 'oSer any criticism of proposed legislation. "I do not, however, anticipate that any drastic legislation will be brought down," he said. "I daresav vou will find it going down almost unanimously. I have not heard the Labour Party disagree with Mr Joseph Ward's proposal to borrow £70.000,0J0, and the Labour Party does not object to the linking up of those unfinished ends of railways. I am confident the Labour Partv will not disagree with Sir Joseph Ward if he goes in for closer settlement. "The greatest problem the House has got to face is this unemployment question. I notice a Committee is to be set up to ascertain the cause. To me the cause is clear, but what is ti«o cure?" He made reference to the importation of articles that could be and were being manufactured in New Zealand as one of the causes of uriemplovment, and they went on to say that "there was no real difference between the Reform and the United Parties, supporting this argument by reference to the United Party's attitude to Samoa. Sir Joseph Ward had not altered in any shape or form the bad administration established by the Coates Government. The Labour Party contended that the Samoans had been badly treated, and they would raise that question in the House. "There has been a threat,*' Mr How ard said, "a gloved hand threat, by the Liberal Party that if the Labour Party do not like their legislation they will "go to the country. If Sir Joseph Ward brings down legislation at the command of the moneyed people to take off the Statute Book any of the legislation put in in Mr Seddon's time for the benefit of the workers, you may take it from me that Labour will vote against him no matter what the consequences. Labour will accept that challenge and go into the political wilderness. I am speaking as one who knows the heart of the Labour movement."

It had to be remembered, however, Mr Howard added, that Sir Joseph Ward was the father of much of what they termed their advanced legislation. One could hardly imagine that at this stage of his career he would adopt any reactionary attitude. Speaking of the recent election, Mr Howard said that he admitted that the country was not ready for Labour, because the cities were largely industrially organised and the workers had a reasonably comfortable standard of living. He mentioned also 'he attitude of the farm workers in regard to the Arbitration Court as another factor in the position. The meeting, which was a fairly large one, tendered Mr Howard a hearty vote of thanks.