LABOUR IN POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 70, 16 December 1907, Page 5

LABOUR IN POLITICS.

lender to-day on above subject, •a. mild criticism of the derision come to.br. the Trades Unions and the Independent Political Labour League to contest sen's at the next general ylecVion; is somewhat misleading when it assumes that there is a desire among the workers to exclude every jsnio except wages ,and ■: hours of labour. : Certainly the workers' political programme must he largely, on the lines of "bread-and-butter ,, politics;-.; We have become used to the com. plaint of the impertinence of the workers do. mnnding political power, but those, who would ..Ipcturir'.tbeyworkcrs «s to their use ofpoliti-'' ca|. power; and'who object to that power being used by the. Labour party without consideration of the convenience' of other .parties, take good care hot to relinquish any ,oi the privileges rhich. polities have given. Why should the worker refrain from making what appears to be the. best use of his vote:- If tlio weekly ■expenditure in shape of, rent '.. can..be reduced, by-measures advocated by the Labour party, should ho Jiofc iavour and assist to Parliament those who ure,. willing, to show their sincerity by. pledging themselves to vote, when elected, on all 'important matters as. the .Labour party' directs i , ' Labour's prospectus; as you'term it, will , be published in due. course,-'ami-then wo may expect, a* in .the. past, that other candidates will have the- opportunity of taking from our programme the most popular proposals and claiming, them-as their own, leaving the unpopular'iiems for the'JjKooiir candidates. ■ Jt is ■to the credit of Mio liabour party -thnt -the.' mere popularity of its'proposals , is not its first consideration. -~ Kor the education of your readers', 1 may -state . that' the • Labour party wants more than either the. present Government or Opposition is likely to willingly give. . The pretence of .-two parties in the Hoilsc' has oxiste'd. too long. For-all-'intents tho U-overnment might be called the Ward-Mas-sey Government, there being no real difference on fundamental principles between the followers of either of gentlemen. A glance at, Hansard for..last session' will show quite a surprising intermingling of "Government" and "Opposition" members ou ■ numerous .measures upon which, votes. wero cast. Rumour also lias it that arrangements arc being made by candidates, suc■cosslul and unsuccessful, who have in ■ tho past boon designated members of opposite political parties; to select seats mutually ■and thus avjjid contosts. Lessons have bec'ii learned recently liy the workers of this dominion wliich will not tie easily forgotten. By means of State, coal-mines the price of coal has been lowcnjd and combination among mine-owners auj coal-dealers to keep up excessive prices has boon made practically impossible.- State intervention in the. • insurance world has reduced rales and premiums 33 pur cent. The Hour industry, meat and timber trades, .steamer services, and humorous other industries will probably have to be treated in a similar manner as the coal trade if tho worker is not to be exploited in the future, as in Mm past, both as producer and consumer, by the powers that own the industries of llie Dominion. The resolution passed by the Labour party .last Monday specially invites , those who are desirous of seeing Labour represented in 'Parliament,'and no possible reading of that resolution can be made Which will- show that only manual worltors are dosired t<i ■tissist in tho return of the Labour candidates. However, only a successful preliminary meeting has heen hold at present, but you can depend that the Labour party will put up a Mod fight, and , tho prospects are exceedingly bright.' Hoping you will pnblish this "retort "to your crits cism.—l am, etc., C. H. CHAPMAN. .Wellington, December 11, -...,■