TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 19

TAPANUI.

July 14.— A meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society took place in the rooms last Monday night, when the subject of " Capital nnd Labour" wa» discussed. A large number of buth s'xes put in an appearance, and before Mie tirno for malting a start the place was crammed full. The Uev. W. K. Birks was in the chair. The usual preliminaries having been gone through, Mr Whelan, representing labour, took the field. He pave himself plenty of sailing room, and it was wonderful what he got over 5u the time allotted to open the debate. Making a start with Adam in the Garden of Eden, onward ho want, reviewing th> Feudal system and the Roman period, until he arrived at the present period. He contended that capital was the accumulation of labour, and that all inventions and machinery, although actually .done by fJie working man, (Qtided to take from the labourer and enrich the capitalist, and as labour was

' the only capital at the beginning, it was still in advance of capital. Mr M'Farlane followed in behalf of capital, but the Hue* taken by him were so adverse to that of his opponent that it looked more like an essay on each side than an opening of a debate. He, however, contended that oapl al was in advance of labour, and tbat the present time showed the tyrannical measures that labour adopted. He said that capital was in no way subservient to labour, that it could wait while the other could not, and that the aim of capital was to increase itielf. It did not consist in money only, but he considered that any person in possession of anything became a capitalist, Mr K. Potts followed on as the seconder of labour. He thought that Borne mistake had taken place, as he had no idea that he was to aot in this capacity. He understood that a general invariably tent his best tried men to the front, but on this occasion it appeared that the recruits had been sent in their plaoe. He was unprepared to say anything on the subject. Mr Whitefield then rose as seconder of capital. He did so, not because he was the possesior of capital, as labour was the only capital he could blow about. But it was not possessions they we>e to disouss, but whether capital or labour ocoupied the premier position. He said that in no cisc had labour proved victorious over capital, where fair measures weie resorted to". He gave several instances wherein capital had gained theday,andin alluding to the recent Shag Point affair, he said that it was only the resultof tyranny. Mr Burrell spoke in favour of capital, stating that it was always preferable to labour, while he thought that strikes, although generally causing misery at the time, tended to put the working class on a better footing. Mr Heokooher was in favour of labour. Mr Ferguson took a neutral position. He thought that self aggrandisement was the cause of many of the disputes ; and in speaking of tyranny, it was more displayed by capital than by labour. Mr Harlook was of opinion that Mr Whelaa had taken too broad a view, while Mr M'Farlane was altogether too narrow. He waß certainly in favour of labour. Mr Gillies spoke in favour of labour. He did not see why capital should be placed in front of labour. He spoke stroagly in favour of co-opera-tion. Mr Whelan, in reply, stated that he was glad he had taken a historical view of the subject and not a political one. He thought that his opponent's address was more like a lecture on temperance than anything else. He finished just as he bad started— strongly in favour of labour, as nothing bad been said to alter his opinions in any form. Mr M'Farlane was allowed to have a few words In reply. He appealed to those present to act upon their own convictions, and not to be led away by the pitiful story his opponent had related. The chairman, in Bumming up, said that without a doubt the sympathy of the meeting waß with labour. No doubt there were weak points on both sides, and the better way, he thought, would b9 to let them alone. His own opinion on the matter was that the Gospel of Christ was the only remedy for the existing differences. A vote wai then taken, when labour h^d a large majority. At the next meeting of the society Mr Heckler will read an essay on " Lies and Iflara.' 1 The Rev. Mr Birks then closed the meeting w,lth the benediction. 'Telephone — The worls of effecting telephonic communication with the Waikoikoi is making rapid progress, and when finished a great want will be supplied. Accident.— What might have been a serious matter occurred to John Edgar, jun , of Burnfoot, at. the ploughing match held at Heriot last Wednesday. Through the fractlousneßS of one of the horses he got kicked on the thigh, and he will be laid up for some time from the effects of the accident. I Literature.- Our local poet, Mr D. Ferguson, has been busily engaged for some time in constructing the Book of Job into metre I believe he has got it completed. It is to be hoped that when he sets it bbfore the public bugcebss miy attend hla labours.