Grey River Argus and Blackball News SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1922. LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN.

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1922. LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN.

Delivered every morning in Grc -utix. K r>, Hokitika. Dotson. Wallsend, Taylu. Jil'c, Ngahere. Blackball, Nelson Creek. Brunner, Te Kingha Rotoinanu, Poerua, Inchbonnie, Patara, Ruru. Kaimata, Kotuku Moana. Aratika, Bunanga, Dunoilie, Cobden, Baxter’s, Kokiri, Ahaura, Ikamatua, Ktulwater, Waiuta, Reelton, Ross, Ruatapua, Mananut, Hari Hari, Waiho Gorge, tVeheka, Rewanui, Otira, Inangab.ua Junction, Westport, Waimangaroa, Denniston. Gianity, Millerton. N’gakawau. Hcctor« Seddonville. Cape Fouhvind. and Karams

Although a st ringing-out of the final session, from a desire to limit the chances of exposure, appears the design of the Government, it is not going to prevent the electors from hearing in the eleventh hour the case for Labour stated by the standard bearers of the working class. The familiar ring of wordy political warfare is already from Ibe hustings all over the country. The Government that has wasted time in Parliament so often is busy trying to frame up at the last moment something to serve it as a bait for votes. It hopes its multitude of sins will be now covered by a show of charity. A

j few months ago the claqu-ers of Tory- | ism were sedulously propagating the notion that Reform was confident of holding its own, but the Party s be . haviour since has shown its shrewd I perception that there is quite a different popular anticipation. Both tired out, the two old parties know almost every seat will see a stern fight, with the result in doubt unt'.l—well, until the first horse really does get past the post. The antiquated policy caricatures are useless, especially when the old parties have lost their punch. If money cannot talk for them, then it’s all up. No doubt money will talk through the columns of the press which they monopolise, just as Toryism will talk and masquerade in the guise of “Independents” and half-pie Lib.-Labs. that are sprouting up everywhere like mushrooms, with the prospect of a mushroom exit from the political field before Christmas. The rise of the Labour Party is the dominating feature of the situation. It is the only real alternative to the old gang. The Liberals have gone to pieces, and so the coming election is quite likely destined to make history in a way that, in generations to come, will range it, as a political and social landmark, alongside the election of the I early nineties. Labour has more Th its favour than it ever had before, because its principles alone hold out the hope of a radical and beneficent improvement in our whole social sys-

tem. Labour, too, is getting into its stride now with twice the enthusiasm and organisation that it has had at any previous election. It is noteworthy that the- list of candidates is far greater than ever previously. Take the -West Coast, and it illustrates tnc case, for Labour, in the three electorates, has a chance second to none, and on the whole, one better than any other. Let the workers of Buller, Motueka and Westland stand united, and they can help greatly to mould the future of New Zealand. For there is everywhere and demonstrably, a vastly greater proportion of the people than hitherto, not only willing to trust to the representatives of the working class the control of the Dominion’s

economic interests, but afraid, from sad experience, to repose any further trust in the parties who in ten or fifteen years have changed the country from a prosperous to an impoverished one. Certainly the coming struggle will be a trial for workers, just as for their opponents, who will test their judgment with catch-cries, sops, and promises, and ask them to change convictions formed by sad experience, on the strength of a “sayso,” no more reliable than a bubble. However, the workers know Labour stands for giving everybody his just dues, and for taking the necessary steps to do so.

They realise the evils existing, and alone are honestly determined to strive for their removal. Another thing they know also is the record of the anti-Labour politicians. With two such signposts, the verdict can safely be left to the class who are the largest in the community, who do the useful work, without monopolising tne product thereof, and whose right, and duty, it is to destroy such monopoly. The Government is talking of penal ties for “roll-stuffing,” but there have been some queer instances of roupurging. About 20,000 names have been removed, and a very large number of these have had quite as good a right to remain as many others re tained, and better right than many more retained. There is no penalty for that, it seems. Poverty of policy describes the platform of the antiLabourites. They try to make out housing has kept pace with the growth of population, but they canon t deny rents are still increasing, when other things are said not to be. What does that prove? Certainly not a slackness in demand for houses. The public ser vices are mostly in a neglected state. Industry stagnates. Our Samoan policy is now defended as beneficial for Chinese coolies, whom we exclude from the rest of our territories. We note that the member for Westland is »jne of those who has not much objection thereto, for he kept out of the division on this question of immoral coolie slavery, with, whipping of coloured children as a feature of it. He has not been very much concerned, either, to note how the expenditure of public money has given such poor returns, or to point out how much of it has been diverted to wrong purposes. It is obvious to all that settlement has been bungled. Not even has the worker’s wrong worked out as the exploiter’s right. The majority of employers and owners declare they, too, are in the soup. Surely, then, the time is at hgnd for a sweeping change. Come it will, and sooner than many expect.