The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 1919. LABOUR’S EXPONENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11931, 29 October 1919, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 1919. LABOUR’S EXPONENT.

WE compliment Mr F. P. Brady, the accredited Labour candidate for Rangitikei seat, on the manner of his opening speech, in which he clearly set out the political opinions of his party. We do not agree with his statements, nor with his deductions, hut these are influenced by the curious reasoning of these with whom he is associated. At the same time lie displayed cleverness in adapting facts to suit his arguments, and thus showed at least one of the characteristics of the average politician. His chief topic was reproach of the Ministers that have been in office for alleged sins of omission or commission. We may remark, however, that destructive criticism is always the easiest. Even a child can destroy, but only the expert can successfully administer, while the construction of sound policy demands a master mind. Apparently’ Mr Brady, like most of those who take prominent part in Labour affairs, is under the impression that 'there is only one class of labour—that which depends on the work of its hands, or which is in the employ of other men. It is not realised that the other men are also workers, indeed, some of them work harder and for longer hours than some who rail at them. We suggest that it is even within the hounds of possibility that some employers find it increasingly kard to get together the fund out of which they pay wages. We agree with Mr denunciation of cljass legislation, of which, indeed, we have had far too much of late years, because our politicians have been inclined to try to placate Jand gain the favour of a somewhat noisy and turbulent class, but we do not see how matters in this connection are likely to he improved if we suffer government to fall into the hands of a class which has shown antagonism to the interests of all other classes, and particularly to those of the class on' whom the national prosperity almost entirely depends. Altogether Mr Brady’s speech supplies strong reasons why it would be unsafe to entrust control of the destinies of this country to the Labour Party with the Immature but extreme views it at present holds, and the strong desire it manifests to despoil the other classes, all of whom have an equal right to live.

WE have'Mr Brady’s assurance that during the war he was occupied in growing wise, and we also believe that wisdom is better than riches. We may pointy out, however, that if he has become wise, he has still a very hazy idea ’of economics. He displayed this frequently during the course of his speech, and strikingly in his claim that as the cost of living increases so should the amount of pensions be increased. When lie studies the subject more deeply he may realise that every increase of pensions or wages means still further increased the cost of®iiving. It is quite right that the aged indigent or the unfortunate should receive pensions, and that those pensions should bo on a scale sufficiently high to enable the recijnents to live in comfort. But as every direct and indirect taxpayer has to find the money for the pensions, these should ; be most strictly confined to those in actual need of them, and under no circumstances should they be'paid to those who have relatives who ought to maintain them. We remind Mr Brady that the pension money comes out of the general fund, and that when this is used, the wage-earners as well as the other classes have to make up any deficiency. Mr Brady also apparently desired us to infer that the statement that no one has a right to dictate how civil servants should spend their spare time, is an argument for the removal of their disabilities. But if Mr Brady had a business in which ’the employees de--1 voted their spare time to disturbing its working or injuring its machinery, he would probably see- the necessity for prevention.

WE would advise Mr Brady to drop that hank of wool which he is using to pull over the eyes of the electors. It may induce them to make awkward

inquiries as to what is causing the increase in the cost of living, and they may trace it to the Labour Trust. ‘.They may he induced to ask why the cost of work done is twice or three times what it wasia few years ago, seeing that it not only does not involve more exertion, but that really less is being made since the application of the “go-slow” policy has become almost general. There are many errors and exaggerations in Mr Brady’s address to which we do not refer at present, though we cannot refrain from pointing out to him in conclusion, that he, no doubt very supplied strong argument for keeping Mr Massey in office as Premier. Por he went to great trouble to show that Mr Massey had put into practice most of the reforms and improvements suggested by the Labour Party. Mr Brady’s complaint was that their policy had bee u stolen, but if the ends they aimed at have been or are being effected, why complain of the means?