MR. KEIR HARDIE INTERVIEWED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 78, 26 December 1907, Page 6

MR. KEIR HARDIE INTERVIEWED.

(BT TELEGRAM—SPECIAL COBKESFONDENT.) ■ - , ■ .■ . Aiioklarid, December 24:' In an interview.'with a""Star "■ reporter Mr.- -Ivei.r HaMie' said he-was ■ Highly -. im- : pressed with .'.Australia, ..which; lie; regarded as a country of great possibilities. ■.Before it could; be -thoroughly opened up,, however, its present land laws would', need drastic alteration; . Asked' how. lie'.' would '■' pfbposo coping .with, the land, probieiris-,!. Mr.. Hardie replied- that' it was •essential that' 'AiistrAlia should place, a penalising tax on the absentee landlord 'and a "progressive, tax'on.all estates over a reasonable, size.' ;•, ■' J ■ , ; -i;'■"What is ■ tlie\ limit, at, which, you .wguld ■have the-landow'nc'r exempted',fronj'a>'graduated tax?" Ml". Hardie was : .asked.; ■■' '/, v \",]f.,sHch a, tax.w.ere, brought irilro.ppgration. on /all. estatej o f 'over ■ 000 acres',' , '• was the reply," •'.' it, would tettd to .brp'ak'lip, the larger hpldingsj-whicli, in-the majority' of oasps,' 'includes, the■.y.ery ,be'st'-'.lajid. v ." mbnpy will also require 'for. irrigation •' purpose's, in those districts'.whero; the effects of, drought'are most felt." " .' ,1" "Australia," said-Mr. Hvii'diii" "is just on the eve of a new development : by a more definitely-avowed Socialistic policyl appear to have reached,the .end: of".palliative measures in-the Commpn«"ea|tji.- The .VVages Boards and •Arbiration Courts' havo. proved, and will coritinne.to prove, iiseful,. especially in their a'pplicatioli to sweat'Cd industries.? . Asked whether lie considered sweating did exist in; tlio Australian .capitals as; recently alleged in . such omphalic terms ■ by Messrs. Ramsay Macdonalcl. and ~ Boh,-, Tillett, the English Labour leader replied that -'there was plenty of- sweating'both-in Melbourne and Sydney, although, of coursei-it.was nothing Into what they were accustomed to at. .Home. Where the. practice, did exist, in- Australia, Mr. Koir .Hardie.'added, it'was mostly" confined .to the .unskilled labouring classes. Questioned as-to what ho • thought. of .the proposal to institute 'cpinnulsory \ military training in the- Colonies,; Mr: llardib said that. at. Home they were opposed - to. all methods of compulsory militarism.'.' :' ' ' ''Socialism is flourishing'at Homo,"'said Mi". Heir Hardie. ",The exciteinent, that: its growth is causing amongst .-'ihe, ranks, of 'its' opponents gives' ample proof 'of tluit," Referring '■ to Austrahais' protective tariff, Mr. Hardie sSiid it was' to.-be : regarded as a most interesting .experiment; '.There jWero two..points to be -tested, , however—its' workability, and './whether it was;' constitutional. On .the .latter point the Jiiw : courts -would 'be. callett. upon to decide. ■;. ;,; - : ~.';-,..,

••■■•;'.■ The noted British.M.P., 'Labour leader, and .Socialist, Sir; Keir liardic,, is expected to arrive in Wellington tomorrow. .In, Mr. Keir IJardie the public sep. a man who has risen into prominence from. , the, rank's/:.Born of working-class parents, of, Scottish' descent, in. 1856, lie was put. to work at the niines in his seventh year,! and continued at this employment until 24 years of "age. , ,He was then elected secretary .to tho, Lanarkshire Miners' Union. In .1880.lie'married',!tlio daughter of .a Lauark collier". In 1882;-ho' was, editor of ■■tho,. "Cumnock Nows," but resigned.tho.position four v yea'r» latbr, and in 1888 became Labour, candidato for Mid-Laiiark. • A few'years.afterwar.dsh.e was elected for. South-Wost. Hani', but iviis' defeated for tile same seat.,in J895. Later he, again , entered ,Parlia_ihont;, for McrthyrTydfil, and became Chairman of the ■IndeEciulcnt Labour, party, , also Chairman of. the abour-party, of the House' of,-. Commons: Mr. Keir Hanlio '■. has turned considerably to literature, contributing to various magazines, and issuing ino'ro than one booklet on Socialistic subjects. ' ''..."• ."■'

A reception will bo ; tendered to Mr. Keir Har'die, M.P.,: at the Concert''Room, ;ToWri Hall, to-morrow evening "at 8 o'olpck, K up6n his"arrival , from Auckland'.. ..Ticketed for the function may'.b'o procured,from Mr.'S. .Gordon, Ingcstre Streot, or from members; of the Committee.. ■'■■..'■■■■■.,..''-■'■ ■ '■: