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Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 08, 10 January 1908, Page 2

" CANNOT PLEASE EVERYBODY." SPEECH BY THE HON. J. A. MILLAR.

[BT TELEGRAPH.- -I'KESS ASSOOIATIOH.] AUCKLAND, 9th Januiiry. In the course of his speech at EllersHo tho Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour and Marino, said no Ministry would over pleaso everybody. What they had to do was to carefully consider what, in their opinion, was tha best for the colony as a whole. He thought that was the d-ssire of the present Ministry ; ho believed it was the desire of the great Liberal party of this country. He maintained it was the duty of every party to strive to put legislation in a etate that would give equality of opportunity to ' every man, and, having, given that, then it rested with the" individual himsjlf, if he had the ability and application, to raise himself to the- highest position; but they should not go further than giving equality of opportunity. They had to watch expenmsnts going on throughout the country and to watch the results of certain legislation and conditions in older countries, because they knew that like conditions produced like results, and if they found that the experiences of older countries had led them ink) certain channels not to their advantage it would then be thoir duty to prevent anything of that' sort taking place in this country. "We want 'no poverty in this country," said the Minister. "We know perfectly well we cannot have absolutely equal distribution of wealth, but wo want to make that distribution as equal f as possible. The happest, most contented, and prosperous country in tho world is that where the wealth is most equally divided throughout 'j'ho country ,N, N not where a few hold large money-bag 3 and the rest a mere pitunce." ' ' * A voice: That's* New Zealand. Mr. Millar: Thank God, it is. New Zealand ' gives greater opportunities for men than any country 1 kno\r. It will be "a sorry day for us as members of the Ministry if we ever allow any legislation to pass which will in any -way curtail those rights which the people of this country, after many years of ttiuggling, have obtained. (Cheers.)