THE LABOR,PARTY.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1906, Page 3

THE LABOR, PARTY.

MR J. F. ARNOLD'S VIEWS.

Mr J. F. Arnold, M.H.R., addressed a, meting at Waimate on June 16th under the auspices of the Waimate Workers' Union. Mr R. Meredith presided. Mr Arnold, after a reference to the late Premier,, dealt with labor questions. He spoke of the need for consideration of the interests of both capi tal and labor. He said that labor legislation had stopped the awful sweat ing of the matchbox makers, and no one was against that legislation. Yet now there was great room for improvement in New Zealand, and when it was done men who did not like the term "labor legislation" would say that it was right. Ten years previously factories in the cities had been iN-built and ill-ventilated, but' labor legislation had changed all that. New Zealand had ben called "God's own country" and it was the brightestlittle colony on the face of the earth with climate and^ soil unequalled and minerals abounding, a colony that lacked only population. But there was much to be done before its industrial condition could be said to be perfect. He had heard that in the North Island dairying districts little children worked fym 4 a.m. till school-time, sometimes arriving at school so weary as to fall asleep over their books, and left again to work till six or seven o'clock. Labor legis lation should be applied to the backblocks. Legislation was also required to see that men lived in decent homes. In the cities rents were exhorbitant, and what the Government was striving to do was to persuade the municipalities to erect workmen's homes which could be let at 7s 6d or 8s a week. Factory legislation -should apply to offices, and boys should not be employed more than a certain number of hours. ' He did not believe in any boy working till nine or ten o'clock at night. The Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which djd away- with strikes, was a splendid measure, but the workers made a great mistake when they passed oyer the conciliation and went straight to the Arbitration fight. The employer did not understand the employee fully, and the latter did not understand his employeer's needs and struggles. If representatives of each could sit together and talk matters over quietly, in nine cases out of ten there would be an amicable settlement. In country districts it was difficult for the workers to organise, but the time would^ come when legislation would be brought in to to pro-* tect the country employees. It was -posible to fix a minimum wage .and limit the hours of labor, and this would probably be done by legislation. Speaking of the future, Mr Arnold said that he had told a Dunedin reporter that in -the House there was every shade of opinion, the late Premier being the influence that held that conglomeration of interests -to-" gether, and now Mr Seddon had gone and whatever was about to follow, it was certain that there would be a Labor Party independent of the Opposition or Ministerialist benches. Twenty days after the funeral the Labor Party of _ New Zealand would speak, and from that time they would prepare for a fight to "take place at the next general election. 'He was not going to say what would be the effect of a dozen or so of ilabor members being in the House with a leader and a policy, but the party would be thereto speak on behalf of. labor of all classes and kinds. The Labor Party was going to demand 'first a policy that would have three planks in its platform, viz., educational reform,, a national system, to be freg from, the kindergarten to the university ; .the referendeum with the initiative, and the ! abolition of trusts; none of the present Crown lands to be sold; and none that have been purchased to be re- 1 sold. The 4?arty would also consider the claims the country's' workers. At the conclusion of his address Mr -Arnold was ascc-rded a hearty vote of thanks.

At the Ashburton A. and P. show yesterday Mr J. B. Wilson, Rangiora, was awarded the South Island's New Poultry - Association's championship for Bluff Orpingtons. Have you a sore"that won't heal, If so try Witch's Herbal Ointment, "irighty healer. jg, 1