INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 56, 29 November 1929, Page 10

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS

GOODWILL AND UNITY “HUTT CAN LEAD THE WAY” A further appeal for goodwill and co-operation as a basis for the promotion of industrial prosperity was made by Mr. H. F. Johnston, Reform candidate for Hutt, in the course of addresses at Petone yesterday. Addressing about sixty employees of the Gear Company at the company’s works, Mr. Johnston contended that the Reform industrial and workers’ programmes were the only ones available if New Zealand was to make any success at all. For the young man it was the only possible solution of present difficulties. The unity of Capital and Labour was essential if New Zealand were to remain a first-class community. The United policy did not offer industrial expansion; Labour stood for standstill and division; while Reform was out to bring the interests of Capital and Labour together. “We are out to fight the political views of the Labour leaders in New Zealand and to try to free the Labour workers from a leadership that spells ruin and disaster,” he declared. “My mission is to try to bring about unity between Capital and Labour. All I ask you to do is to give serious consideration to our policy of progress which will bring prosperity to the whole district, in opposition to the standstill policy imposed upon you by your leaders. It is your duty to see whether your leaders are running true to form or for their own benefit.” Mr. Johnston, who received an attentive hearing, answered several questions at the conclusion of his talk.

“Get Together.” Elaborating the same subject at his meeting at the Grand Theatre, Petone, in the evening, Mr. Johnston vigorously attacked the proposition advanced by Mr. H. E. Holland in 1913 that Capital and Labour had nothing in common, and brought it into sharp contrast with the utterances of the Right Hon. J. H. Thomas and other British Labour leaders. Mr. Holland’s proposition was a false one, said Mr. Johnston, and the state of political serfdom he was endeavouring to impose on the workers of New Zealand could only lead to ruin and disaster. (Applause.) It was strange, yet true, that the Labour political leaders here should preach international peace and goodwill and seek to create domestic discord. A voice: That's a good one I “Whether we win the Hutt seat or not on this question we will win in the end,” declared Mr. Johnston, amidst applause. “If we win in the Hutt on tins question of ‘get-together’ in industry the rest of the Dominion will follow immediately, and the result of it will be to raise the credit of New Zealand higher than it has ever been before. (Renewed applause.) Movement Misled.

In the opinion of the candidate the Labour movement in New Zealand was being misled by the present leaders, and every mother with sons would support the Reform Party’s policy of industrial progress based on the principles of goodwill, and Labour’s participation in a fair share of the profits. (Applause.) That policy would succeed. Given a policy of goodwill prosperity would return. The Hutt could and ought to give the lead to the rest of New Zealand. (Loud applause.)