LABOUR'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1914, Page 6

LABOUR'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN

A year ago, when a " walking delegate" of Milwaukee was speaking in the Lyttelton district for Mr. M'Combs, a Social Democrat, the American declared that Labour's plan was to first destroy the Massey Government, by a co-operation with the Ward Party, and the " funeral " of the Ward Party could be arranged later on. Unquestionably Sir Joseph Ward's promise of proportional representation, as the basis of a bargain, ha« served (to d*aw many workers' votes to the Opposition, but a more important factor in the massing of Labour against the Government in urban electorates was the belief of the rank and file in their leaders' persistent assertions that the party in power was necessarily " against the working Class." The record of the pas.t two years and a> half does not support that allegation, but it is evident that Targe numbers of men have chosen to believe extreme partisan statements about last year's strike and the Huntly disaster. The Government has been decried among the workers as a callous and brutal oppressor, and they have been incited by inflammatory speakers to take revenge. The audiences have been more inclined to believe ill (without evidence) than good (with evidence) about the Government, and that disposition was reflected in yesterday's voting. Behind the Ward Party Labour has a vision of a Labour Government in the dim future, and, of course, . the figures, of this election will serve as a stimulus for active organisation. New Zealand is a stage nearer to the realisation of The Post's prophecy of three years ago that the parties of the measurable future would be moderate Liberalism and Radicalism. The Social Democrats had very large hopes, but they have no*- added to the three seats which they held. In two electorates, Grey and Lyttelton, the Reds won by the aid of the Ward Party, which did not ' nominate candidates for those districts, and Mr. Payne won in Grey Lynn because Messrs. Fowlds and M'Lean shared the votes of reasonable electors. How far the Reds fell short of their boasts is indicated in the following extract from an article by Mr. P. Fraser, national secretary to the Social Democratic Party, in the Maoriland Worker of 9th December : " Christchurch is almost certain for Social Democracy, likewise Wellington North, which, if not actually carried now, will be made secure for next time. We have every reason to believe that Thorn will have a sweeping victory in Palmerston North, while M. J. Savage will shake the pseudo-Liberalism of Auckland Central to its very depths, and Richards will rally the workers to a determined onslaught in Eden. If it was not for the unwarranted foolishness of the Prohibitionists a victory would be certain in the latter electorate." The Reds were routed in all the electorates mentioned in that paragraph. Mr. Holland, editor of the Socialists' official organ, who challenged Mr. Herdman practically on the ground of the strike, was subdued by 4322 to 1637. j