POLITICAL SOCIALISM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11369, 31 August 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL SOCIALISM.

TROUBLESOME TIMES PREDICTED.

(Special to Herald.) XAPIjER, this day. At the annual meeting of the Employers' Association a circular was read i'rom the Employers' Federation, urging the necessity of steps being\ taken to oppose the growing tendency in the direction of political Socialism. Mr C. H- Edwards said that as the question involved a political consideration he did not think it should be considered by tlie Association. He moved that the circular be simply received. Mr W. Kinross Wnite } in seconding the motion, said the Association had been started on non-political lines, and in his opinion should be eo continued. The motion, on being put, was carried tinanimously. Returning thanks for his election to the presidency of the Employers' Association, Mr. H. G. Warren said : "I feel, and you feel, that we have to look forward to very troublesome times for the next year or two. The present Government are doing all they can to put matters right, but they had a hard, battle to ■fight, -themselves. The Socialistic element in this Dominion is getting too strong, and the Labor Unions are growingi more powerful every day,, so that it appears to me almost impossible for employers to cope with tlie trouble in front of them. The Arbitration Act wae very good when it was started, but at the preeent moment I suppose it may be looked upon as- practically .useless. The proposed amendment •to the Act is' a step in the right direction, and if it can be passed will improve matters very coneid^rably, but even that will not stop the unions inaugurating strikes. I think \that both employers and employees are greatly. beliolden to the Hon. J. A. Mil-j lar and- 'Sir Joseph.. Ward for doing their best to improve labor matters in this Dominion, and if they cany out what thev propose employens should be more than thankful."