MR. EWINGTON'S MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12238, 6 April 1903, Page 6

MR. EWINGTON'S MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— was present at the above, and it was without exception the most disgraceful exhibition on the part of the unionists I .1?: ever Witnessed. Mr. Ewington had enfrn,ge» the hall and had invited non-unionists to at- :;j tend. A large number of unionists, however, were present (uninvited), and were evi- t dently there riot from a desire to hear any reason or argument against further -legislation making preference to unionists compulsory, but simply to prevent anything being said arrainst it, and bv hooting and howling : succeeded in gaining their object. And this is their idea of liberty and fraternity, viz., coercion and intimidation. " ; True Liberalism seeks the greatest good for the greatest number, hut here was & J minority at a private meeting, and who were there merely upon sufferance, behaving in a' 'gt m ° st outrageous and intolerant manner which_ would have warranted their forcible -,? exclusion. For a far minor offence W. Richard3°v'r w " 3 sent- to prison. ;S : the unionists think to strengthen their cause by such means they are very much mistaken, and public opinion will be very much against them, as they will find to their • cost, when they attempt to float union co- \£< operative cabinetmaking or any other industry. . V

Mr. Seddon has already told them they are going too far, and should they succeed inSetting further legislation in their favour the result will be the closing of not a few local industries. ."v?? It is all very well to sneer at and decry capitalists, but labour can no more do with-' out capital than capital can do without' labour. It i s capital which has developed ™ mi "? and is now sliv of it. *'° 20 ear ? the Bay of Islands Coal Company carried; on work, during which time the shareholders got only one or two dividends, and lost their m °noy, and there is not one gold mine in 50.; winch has given an return for capital invested. I need not say that mv sympathies are with those who are willing to work, and who, if they cannot earn Is 3d per hour, r are willing to take less, sooner than let then families starve.—l am, etc., ' \ True Libbbtt. ■'■