Central Branch Rally

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 447, 1 October 1919, Page 5

Central Branch Rally

Declaration of .dependence

Atiotber crowded house listened to tha case for Labor at thfe l'araniouut I'hwalr- on Sunday last. Mr. A. A. Alfti-W, president of the Central Branch, presided. The lirst speaker, Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., read a telegram from Greymouth Stating that Mr. P. C Webb had a great reception there and was carried through tho streets uy returned so'riicr.-. That wass two ansv/eii L> .lit; Wellington ca[iitaii.D .press, which, had declared that the gatherings in this city had not been representative of Labor. He lei terated the declaration of Labor's independence. The Labor Party would not sink its principles and would oppose both IUo other polintieal parlies, nor would it deviate from its pini form and objective. The Liberal party ivas e_u<iUnresponsible wifb.i the Ueform party tor the political crimes oi th c last four year... The Labor members in the House had put up a splendid fijht- for (he returned soldiers. The Labor Party represented the interests of tii.e working class and reiieet'-d the industrial aspiration's of the workers, and while it, was not the province o[ (he parly to organise industrially, whenever the wnrkgrs wero engaged in iii-iuslr;.al strife line Labor Party would bo loyal lo the vvotking clu.-'S. They were organised poli ticai| v because the political method of iightvivg was the intellectual method, but industrial rights ..hould not bo surrendered. l_otli th 0 political and industrial weapons should be used. The duty of every man lji the Labor movement was to gel into line with, (ho political forces and hvip in the coming contest. (Awphuis..; Mrs. ,T. .\itki_ .-aid that a-, a iii.mber ol tile Jjesnital ;ri,d C'-u-itable Aid Board she v. as in ado painfully awuro of I'h-e overorowdmg that prevailed in the poorer parts of the ci'y. h ; be. urged the worker.-, to strengthen t ! «e hand- of the Labor Party by returning iiioro representatives 0.-i. the legislative and adr_uuistrativ, u bodies of the Dominion so that justice would be meted out to all irrespective of rank or position. Mr. N. Nash (New Plymouth Labor Party) spok© upc.ii' the large profits that were being made in wearing apparel, and iiivistratcd nis point, by stating faat He knenV of ;.. linA pi cloth which erigin-a.lr..-.c0.-*...- _/. a- •>._-, changed hands several "/tmes, and was eventually sold tor 2-i/-i a, yard, the usual 50 per cent, being added every time. Air. it. 'Scruple, M.P., endorsed (ho declaration of independence made by Mr. Holland! which was not his alone, but that of the Party as a whole. He dealt in detail with tho question of compensation to soldiers, and said that the position of tho Labor Pcmv v.as qu : Je clear in view of ,th t . drc_.on._ of t' l *-'- Labor conference pi January, 191.6, which laid down the proposition that the mew should bo paid tho xuling trad© union rates of rages, seeing that th.ose left behind were secure of employment Or reaping untold war profits. Tho Labor 'Party was not prepared to tax th© {rencral tax-payer; those who had been enriched by war profits should bo levied on to find the money. ! Mr. P. I-'raser, M.P., also affirmed th>.> pri'iveiplo of Labor _ independence and .--aid. that, there, were certain matters of fjr.:.t, importance with which Parliament-, could deal effectively this c.ossiou, no matter how short, it was. As L''to Pui'liamoiuary rcpj'.seiit.ativ© of Uu> eon- | S-litucncy whero probaidy the housing I question was more i.cul. than any whero i else in Now Zeal.-.aid, he demanded t.h«ifc j tiie Uovemvmen _ shot IJ bring down | effeefivu legislation dealing with (l_a.tj f|U'.btion. forthwith. II >u--es were need- I cd- at once. Privaly onterpri .o had | failed; paly tuo Govern.u.nt could solve the problem. Old age pensions, widows' pen-ions, adjustment oi superauiaination to raiiwaymen and t'i> '1 servants, and tti,o coal trouble were u_uestioi-.s that could be effectively dealt with during the present session.' Tli e Waterside Workeis' Band played selections of music at V-e theatre door.