POLITICAL LABOUR LEAGUE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL LABOUR LEAGUE.

INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS. INVERCARGILL, This Day. The newly-formed Southland Branch of the Political Labour League has started vigorously. Its first meeting Avas not largely attended, but motions Avere carried, and- some of the discussions on them indicated that the new body means at all events to make knoAvn its existence. The question of assisted immigration Avas the firet matter dealt with. Mr. J. Forde moved that tho branch strongly opposes at present any policy of assisted immigration and affirms that agitation by employers and newspapers in support of 'such movement is in the interests of cheap labour, and further, that such a scheme is neither in the interests of the Avorkers of the Dominion nor of the Avoikers of Great Britain who may be misled by glowing though inaccurate reports of the demand for labour in this Dominion. Mr. Fprde asserted that there was no real scarcity of labour. If farmers Avpre willing to pay a wage equal to that obtaining in the towns there Avould be no disinclination on the part of Avorkers to undertake farm labour. At the present time thero was a steady influx of desirable immigrants into the Dominion, and that together with the natural increase Avas sufficient for the needc of tho country under present conditions. There Avero feAV artisans t»nd labourers at the present time avlio Avorked full time durnig the wholo year. Mt. Neil, on the other hand, claimed to have special facilities for knoAving that there was a shortage of farm labour. He believed, in a mild system of assisted immigration Avheroby farm labourers would be encouraged to come. A rapid increase of population Avns necessary from a national standpoint, as he was of the opinion — though he might be considered a crank — that Asiatic invasion Avas probable and that it Arould be necessary to defend our hearths and homes. After further discussion for and against, the motion was carried by a considerable majority. It Av r a3 resolved also after a short discussion—during Avhich comprehensive and uncomplimentary remarks Avere made about the Government — that this branch begs to draw the attention of the Minister of Lands to the fact that the Inspector of Stock in Southland is advertising for labourers at seven shillings per day, Avhich is one shilling less per day than that recognised as the Government Minimum AWIgC.