A MATTER OF TASTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 8

A MATTER OF TASTE.

" MURDERERS OF HUMANITY."

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Friday. The Waterside Workers' Conference yesterday dealt with the general questions affecting the interest* of the workers, amongst them the duty on flour. This alleged iniquitous impost was responsible for Mr. A. L. Jones quoting from the writings of an "undoubted authority", on the dark and shady practices resorted to by " wheat kings" and flourmilling monopolists. The language' employed by the writer was as violent as it was expressive, and included such epithets as " murderers of humanity" and ""brutes."

Mr. D. McLaren, M.P., evidently considered such arguments were not likely to further the cause the delegates had at heart, and he interrupted the speaker, and appealed to the chairman. "I protest," he said, "against any human being being called a brute."

The Chairman replied that so long as a speaker kept to the subject under discussion ho would have to leave the choice of language to a person's own good taste.

Mr. Jackson (Greymouth) also considered that the conference could express its views clearly and strongly without resorting to the language employed by some of the delegates. Mr. Jones, however, was not to be restrained, and he sternly admonished Mr. McLaren for interrupting, and expressed 'great surprise that he should have objected to the terms used.

The conference affirmed the principle of tho nationalisation of land as the only solution of Labour's economic troubles, also urging that each port should provide its own labourers' to work vessels.