MR KEIR HARDIE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 10

MR KEIR HARDIE.

MOKE IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND. (FROM Ot'K OWX COBRESPONDKXT.i LONDON, May S. Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., has been giving; mine of his colonial impressions, .the latest occasion being a demonstration in llio Manchester Freotnide Hall, organised by the Manchester ami Salford Inclepondent Labour party, and attended hy between 2000 and 3000 people. Mr Hardie said he had been round most of the world. He had set out with the determination to be a man unto men— not to go either as a member of a conquering nation or 'of a Mother Country or of a superior race, but as a human being who wanted to know his follows. Wherever lie had been be had carried the Socialist gospel of fraternity, co-operation/ and brotherhood; and everywhere he had been received in a. comrade-like manner by the Socialist and the Labour people of all lands.He liatl looked into the various panaceas at work in various colonies for dealing with poverty. The one country where monopoly bad not yet been able to overtuke labour legislation was New Zealand; and the explanation there was that there had bwn more Socialist legislation than in any other .country. Referring to South Africa, bo said he ' rame to the conclusion that in the mines , there, a3 in those of New Zealand a.nd Australia, there was no need for either J. yellow or black hbom;; it. .was all a. quos-

tion of wages; tho white man was able, and willing to do the work, and tho mineowners w-ero able to pay the white man for doing it. At iho same time they should eneourago tho natives to sottlo upon the land, which belonged to them.