The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1897. NATIONALIST NOTIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11231, 31 March 1897, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1897. NATIONALIST NOTIONS.

The Otago branch of the National Association held its first annual meeting a few days ago, and some remarks made by the President in moving the adoption of the report are valuable as disclosing the particular standpoint occupied by the “National” party. There were in Mr Sligo’s address expressions that call for the highest commendation, regarding the true aim of legislation, which the President declared to be the good of the masses, including “ all the classes.” He recognised justification for the formation and continuance of workmen’s unions, which is just what every reasonable person does; but when he went on to deprecate “ some of the methods adopted and statements made by labour leaders,” and yet made no reference to faults on the side of employers and their agents,’ he constituted himself counsel for the employing class as against the employed. This attitude was made more obvious when he said, d propos of a hope that workmen would enjoy good .. wages, that “ the prosperity of the workmen could only result from the prosperity of all other classes.” This upside-down reading of political economy is one that is so universally adopted by Nationalist speakers and writers, that it may be set down as the first article in their catechism of economics that all wealth proceeds from the capitalist employer who finds the “wages fund,” upon which all enterprise is based, and by means of which all wealth is produced. If the National Association, in Otago and elsewhere, wishes to be true to its name, it should cease to occupy the ' position of employers’ advocate. It must recognise the economic importance of labour and be prepared to admit the fact that industry is the - basis of all prosperity; that it is the 11 cause and not the effect of general well-being, and that but for labour the capital of the world would be exhausted in less than a year. An- . other statement made by Mr Sligo is worth mentioning in view of the fact U that two of the IN ationalist candidates for Dunedin were returned at the late general elections. He commented on the absence of bitterness and personal animosities during the contest, and on the fact that “alter the battle was over there never remained loss of strained relationship or glowering hostility.” )> This is a pretty compliment-- all

jfche more so because unintended—•to the defeated Liberal voters who took their disappointment in a manly Spirit. But what a baleful light it throws backward on those previous contests iu which three Liberals were returned for the southern city! Does it not show that, in Mr Sligo’s opinion, the defeated Conservative employers and others indulged in a great deal of “ glowering hostility ” towards the successful ' Labour and Liberal majority? As, after this naive admission, the Otago Nationalists complimented their President on his wise advice and methods, we may conclude that there is still hope of the National Association coming round to a reasonable and correct view of things. Otn the meantime, the workers of Dunedin doubtless bless tbeir stars that, owing to the election of Messrs H. 8. Fish and Scobie Mackenzie, they aye not subjected to “ glowering ” which is something really dreadful in Scotch—and “strained relationship ” with the employers and traders who form the majority of the Otago Nationalists.