The Premier at Pahiatua.

Southland Times, Issue 19725, 27 January 1906, Page 2

The Premier at Pahiatua.

NO LABOUR PARLIAMENT. GRASPING LABOURITES. A STATE FLEET THREATENED. Per United Press Association. PAHIATUA, Jan- 26. At the social to Mr Russ, "M.H.R. tonight. tbe Premier, referring to the proposed labour parliament said the Government had decided to abandon it and .adversely criticised the action-of the Employers’ Association regarding it. Ho deeply regretted that these Associations ro used to meet the Labour Unions but the Associations had weakened their case and the moral effect would be that the people would have a much higher opinion of the Labour Unions, whose case would be strengthened. He deplored the attitude of certain labour representatives, in asking that their expenses to the conference should be paid by the Government, but this attitude was no indication of the feeling of the workers generally. Referring to trade monopolies the Premier said these were working silentty,*-. sccrcrtlly tuid| \ surreptitiously against the interests of the producers. This was a mat(.°r (hut would engage the attention f-r Pntliaii’eH. There was also a danger /torn shipping rings. The people were under the power of two or .three companies anil when a n"w company entered into competition with them it was either driven out or absorbed by them. ’freights from N.Z. were 23 per cent, more than from Australia, and rather than allow the country to be under the power of monoplies the Slate would have to own steaCiers and take its own freight.—(Applause.) Ho felt sure that farmers voUld support the Government in seeing that justice was done to their produce at Home-