INDEPENDENT LABOUR TARTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 37

INDEPENDENT LABOUR TARTY.

Though some people are apt at lime! 1 to lake a wrong \iow of the activity of thoughu of sections of the community, I think it will, upon reflection, he conceded that i£ is infinitely better to have an educated people living in a couutry such as this is, j with institutions among the freest in the ! world, taking an active, interest ;n the. i public affairs of the country to whiqh they ijelong. Tf, fov example, it were possibleto have througbout the great. Russian Kmpirc 'r:-"-trtei.tiel!j of th- standard of education that i« <-iire?.il c\er this liulo colony of mir«. it k not too much to say* that Hio chaos, tho less of life., and the , appalling condition that exits' in that country v, ou'd bo impossible — (applause); — j and if, i= f!ie cause that leads to this happy | position ii> oi-r roiritry which brings into I lifft varying eondiiion<? of political movement, and 1 for oi.<> ha\o noioi* juvjumetl to ial.o any ■c\ I .cjj{ on t.i tli j orO.ts oE iho-- ui'oi "•*(_.! in urai a^ a p-paran* Labour pji'ty. TJi^v have ;ui oq;isil right; With any other s^ct'eu rf tU-p coisununity in tliis vespoct to do i 1 - thuy think proper; hut I lu'l sure thai the move 1^ aio ready to hear tho opinions, ul t!io--c who do not agree uuit sucli a cu'iis. Is rendered necessary by cither the po^i'. ion we aie now in i ( or tho condition of the -workers in our • colony.— (Applause.) We are admittedly,

it least in some respects, ahead of our Australian neighbours in legislative reform, and it is one of the singular anomalies — though we find it in many walks of life — that what has long sine© been achieved legislatively in this country the Labour party of Australia is still working to bring into existence. In my judgment there should be no such thing in this country ts setting class against class or town against country. It has not been so in the past, jnd it should be' avoided now. — (Applause.) 'the efforts of the leaders of the various jeetions should be to direct the strong political parties to work for the general good of all; and as good results for the colony have been so far achieved, those concerned should carefully weigh the position, and not allow minor considerations to do away with what is best for the country, as a whole. For my own part, what I conceive to be of the greatest importance is to have a r-ountry with widespread pros- - perity permeating it by directing our affairs so as to ensure, as far as human beings can, that this prosperity which now exists should continue. We are maintaining a bosition which gives large, and will in th© future- give much larger, employment. We ure-doing 60 at a good level rate of -wages, *nd our efforts should be to- work on in >h$ same dissption. If we can only keep Dur country going on -on these lines the Avenues of employment will be greater. The money paid away for employment will increase from year to year, and its circulation amongst all people must enhance the general value of the country.— (Applause.) Anyone -who attempts to deny or shut his ©yes to the legitimate requirements of labour would be standing in the light of the best interests of the country. What ,we all require to avoid is extremes, as 'experience. has taught us in years gone by, and will do so in the future, that where In anything extreme courses are pursued there is an inevitable reaction, and in that reaction great injury and Buffering is ' brought about, in which all classes of the 'community are more or less affected. However, I for one have the utmost confidence that the common sense— which is the greatest asset that any man in any walk of Uf« may possess— will, as has always been iho ease in the past, prevail.— (Applause.)