A SHARP INTERLUDE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 302, 21 September 1928, Page 10

A SHARP INTERLUDE

LABOUR AND THE EMPIRE Expressing some doubt as to whether everybody in the room would be willing to battle for the British Empire, the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) crossed swords with members of the Labour movement yesterday when replying to their request that New Zealand should have representation sit the International Labour Conference at Geneva. “I wish I could be sure that everybody in this room would be willing to battle for the British Empire,” said the Prime Minister. “I would be glad if that was the ground of your request —the good of the British Empire.” Mr. J. Roberts (secretary of the Alliance of Labour) : Well, I can tell you I will battle for the workers of the British Empire against the sweated labour of India and China. I won’t battle for British jingoism, however. I will battle for British industrialism and the Britsh worker against any other worker in the world. The Prime Minister: Charity begins at home! “You didn’t worry much about that when you appointed the crew of the Maui Pomare,” interjected Mr. E. Kennedy. The Prime Minister: Don’t you talk to me like that, Mr. Kennedy. The members of the crew of the Maui Pomare are as . much British as you and probably more so. Mr. Kennedy: But you shouldn’t sweat them. The Prime Minister: Did I sweat them? Mr. Walsh of the Seamen’s Union has been negotiating over the matter, and I understand it is settled. Mr. Kennedy: It is not settled so far as the people I represent are concerned. Mr. Roberts: There is to be another conference. The Prime Minister: I don’t know that. I left it to them to settle. I was not responsible for it, although, I suppose, I will have to take the responsibility. I think you are out of court in bringing the matter up now, Mr. Kennedy.