LARKIN IN POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 8

LARKIN IN POLITICS.

In* tho course of one of the more ponderous leading articles in the London " Times " a few months ago there occurred an admission that was sufficiently striking to fix itself in the memory—a statement that in recent years a certain quickening of thought had "made us suddenly aware of the absence of meaning and purpose in our politics." It would be an easy and not uncongenial task to apply this text to New Zealand affairs, but we are reminded of the phrase just now by the announcement that Mr James Larkin has been elected president Of the Irish Trades Union Congress. Tn the course of the nest year or so parties will be organising in Ireland for the purposes of domestic politics, and in the natural order of things Mr Larkin will be the leader of the Labour Party. When that happens we may be sure that there will be no absonco of meaning and purpose in the politics of Ireland. It may seem to tho ordinary observer that it would be inconsistent with his strong syndicalist professions for Mr Larkin to take the leadership of a purely political group, but so far as his own record is concerned there is no reason to suppose he would be troubled by criticisms of his consistence. He would simply seek the shortest road to the betterment of the condition of tho masses, and would be perfectly sincere in doing so. But the prospect of Larkinism becoming an active factor -, in leish politics almost tempts one to reflect that Home Rule is not going to bo all heaven for Ireland. The very fact that Mr Larkin is president of the Trades Congress in Dublin is evidenco that the advocates of constitutional methods are not a strong body, at any rate not sufficiently strong to be able to shape the policy of an Irish Labour Party. It' the leaders of the great constitutional Labour movement in Great Britain are wise they will not ignore these signa of the times, but will seriously undertake the education of the Labour foives on the other side of St George's Channel. Tho agitations of Irish Labour will have a very direct influence on Labour prospects in England and Scotland, and Larkinism, however attractive it may be to the underpaid workers of Dublin, is plainly fr,aught with danger to tho cause of Labour in general.