WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 6

WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS.

A MAN TO LEAD THE PEOPLE. TOO MUCH LEGISLATION. [BY telegraph.—special correspondent ] Wellington, Wednesday. In the course of a paper on "The Craze (or Legislation . and Some of its Aims," read before the New Zealand Employers' Association Conference to-day, Mr. H. Broadliead,' secretary, of the Canterbury Employers' ■.Association, referred to what, he described as 'a remarkable sign of the times that , in must of the young countries of the world persistent attempts are being made to have all. sorts of social problems dealt with by means of legislation. He referred more particularly to the labour legislation of New Zealand, aud held that the craze for legislation, 'ike other craze's*, would run its course. "It. is a matter of notoriety," Mr. Broadliead continued, "that a grbss abuse has been , made of the New Zealand Arbitration Act almost ever since it came into force, by the manner in which disputes have beer created by the workers' unions While it. has seemed to many that the machinery provided in the Act was partly responsible for this, it has been held by some that the. Arbitration Court has exceeded its jurisdiction in hearing many purely fictitious disputes." v Mr. Broadhead dealt at considerable length with the legislative power that labour lias in Australia., and referred to many of the more recent decisions: of _ the Courts in the Commonwealth. "Labour, he said, "makes no disguise of its intention to exploit capital, and without any regard to the welfare of the community, and, having the votes, it employs what it believes to be the quickest and surest means of effecting that purpose." What has been happening .in Australia deeply concerned New ~. Zealand. The danger came through Parliament there, and of 1 ate years there had certainly been measures of a most- objectionable type enacted by the New Zealand Parliament, but if the socialistic element became stronger in the House than it was at present, we would have legislation as menacing V the welfare of the people as had ever been brought forward in Australia. The figh* against socialism was really only beginning, and if the whole community would wake up before it was too late, and exercise its rights of citizenship, the land might be saved from untold trouble. What he feared was that there; was among'- many people too much apathy. Concluding, Mr. Broadhead said: "What I think democratic New Zealand wants today is a man. I believe that nearly all the great reforms, which have left a permanent blessing upon mankind, have -een chiefly brought about through the influence of a few great men. I feel certain! that what the people of this country require is a man with a great personality, a man. above party, place, 01 power, a man whose sole ambition is to save his country, and who has the genius to lead the people."