THE World of Labour

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 963, 13 March 1917, Page 2

THE World of Labour

LABOUR CANDIDATES. » CITY COUNCIL ELECTION. Probably by the lime Ibis article appears, the platform and list of candidates adopted by the Christchurch Labour Representation Committee, for the approaching Municipal elections will have been published. At the moment of writing there is still some little uncertainty regarding both, but the position is sufficiently definite to warrant some references. To begin with it is practically certain that the party will run Teh; or eleven candidates for the council, including several of the existing Labour councillors and a number of new men—and women. It will be regretted that Cr James McCuHough, who succeeded to the representation of Sydenham in the Labour interest upon the death of Mr A. D. Hart in 1912, is for private and business reasons not going to be a candidate on this occasion. Mr McCullough's popularity in Sydenham is shown by the fact that on two occasions he headed the poll, and his loyalty to the Labour Party has been beyond doubt, while the fact that his usefulness on the council has been recognised by his colleagues is indicated by his having been appointed chairman of the By-laws and Finance Committee. Mr McCullough will carry the good wishes of his party into retirement and there will be a general wish that the difficulties in the way of his being a candidate at this election will have disappeared by the time another election comes round. Mr E. J. Howard. There arc some very capable men nmong the new candidates. Mr E. J. Howard, secretary of the General Labourers' Union, will need no introductory eulogium, as he is one of the best-known Labourites in the Dominion, his abilities as a public speaker being frequently called into requisition, both in, Christchurch and in other centres! Before coming to New Zealand 'Mr Hbward was prominent in the counsels of the South Australian Labour Party, and since his arrival here has been president of the General Labourers' Union, president of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, president of the New Zealand Socialist Party, a frequent delegate at National conferences and conventions, and a well-known contributor to the "Maoriland Worker," while his capacity for practical administration has been demonstrated in his work as secretary of the Labourers' Union, 'including the conduct of its cases jbefore the Conciliation Council and Arbitration Court. • Mr H. Worrall. Mr H. Worrall is known as a capable and cautious-thinking man, .who never expresses himself upon a subject until he has given it mature consideration. He is now president of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council and president of the General Labourers' Union. Mr C. Webber. Mr C. Webber is probably one of the best instructed men on labour questions that there is either in or out of New Zealand. Before becoming a Labour advocate, he served as a soldier with a British Regiment (the Lancers) in India. Returning to England on his discharge he look up the study of social and political questions, and blossomed out as a Labour leader, 11. M. Hyndman, the distinguished Socialist writer and propagandist, regarding him as one of the most promising of the younger Labour men in England, and those who have heard Mr Webber on the plat form in Christchurch will- feel inclined tc endorse that opinion. He is the type of man who is bound to make good and attract attention in whatever he undertakes. Mr Manning. Mr Manning, another of the new candidates, is not very well known outside his union and the Trades and Labour Council. Nevertheless, he is well worthy of the honour done him in being selected as a Labour candidate. He is a student of economics, a clear thinker, a good speaker, and possessed of great enthusiasm; is president of the Christchurch Grocers' Assistants' Union, and its representative upon the Trades anil Labour Council. A Bold Departure. The committee has made a bold departure in selecting a couple of ladies among its candidates, namely Mrs Wells and Mrs Page. Both of these ladies are well known in the city, as capable and vigorous workers in the cause of social reform, particularly in matters affecting women and children. If there is any idea in the public mind that women who lake an interest in social mallei's necessarily manifest masculine demeanour, the two ladies selected may be trusted to absolutely dispel that silly idea and prove, on the contrary, ilia! such work intensifies the best of the womanly qualities. The workers of the city will have no reason to be ashamed of the Labour learn, both men and women, who have been selected to carry their banner, and assert their views ill the coming municipal campaign.

A Column for Workers

Conducted by D. G. SULLIVAN

The Mayoralty. A very interesting development is Ihe movement in favour of inducing Mr James McCombs, M.P., to be the Labour candidate for the Mayoralty. It had been Mr McCombs's intention not to be a candidate for the City Council at all at this election, but the insistent demand of Labour people will probably induce him to revise that decision and accept nomination for candidate as Mayor. The great ability of Mr McCombs is a fact that, lo my mind, is beyond question, and I have never met a man in public life or private life who displays the same capacity for probing fads to their depths as Labour's prospective candidate for the Mayoralty. The average man is content to gather a few salient facts concerning the problems in hand, taking Ihe rest for granted. But this does not satisfy Mr McCombs; nothing less than a knowledge of all the facts will satisfy him. If Mr McCombs is a candidate, the city can look forward to a lively municipal campaign, and in the present state of public feeling concerning those national issues that will be raised during the campaign he may be regarded as having a good fighting chance of winning. The New South Wales Elections. Australia, with its Severn Parliaments, has frequent elections. Never in its interesting political history, however, has it seen such bitterness as is being shown in the campaigns connected with the New South Wales elections and the Federal campaign. The poll in New Soujh Wales will take place a fortnight hence. The ex-Labour Premier (Mr W. A. Holman) delivered his policy speech early in the campaign, and in it there was abundant evidence of his desire to win the approval of organised labour. In more than one respect he made a bold bid to split the solidarity vote, without which the official Labour party has no chance of success. Mr David Storey (the; new leader of the Labour party) has also delivered the policy speech of the party. He outlined its programme 'in a manner which will strongly .appeal to the masses. He repudiated any sympathy or connection with the I.W.W. Everybody who knows anything about either Australian or New Zealand Labour politics knows that the I.W.W. school has been an uncompromising opponent of anything and everything in the shape of a Labour .party. Nobody knows that better than Mr Holman, as in his day he has had to meet and slay similar bogeys. The Australian Worker illustrates Mr Holman's attempt to make political capital out of the I.W.W. allegation this way:— "Holman in past days was supposed to be a politician who had still certain scruples, certain leanings towards honesty of political word and act. If that supposition was correct the evil communication of his reCent days have worked a. rapid change. No.man in Australia knows better than Holman how wide apart from Ihe Labour organisation has been the small and insignificant organisation of the I.W.W. Yet today, because it suits his devious renegade game, he professes to identify the two as one." Tile rise and progress of Labour in the New South Wales Parliament is interesting. The election story in figures reads thus: —

Twenty-one Labour stalwarts will face the electors a fortnight hence, where, prior to last election, there were 40. Twenty-two of the old Labour Party follow Mr Holman. A full list of official Labour candidates will face the electors, and the issue is in the lap of the gods. The Future of Mr Hughes. "Mr W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, by consent of his life-long political foes, is to-day a desperate politician," says the Hon. J. T. Paid, in a southern paper. Few men have had so varied a career extending from poverty to comparative affluence. And no man has had his unique experience in so short a period. Less than 12 months ago he was at the head of the greatest Labour Party the world has seen. He had Ihe confidence of Hie great organisations behind the Labour Party. He left for England. Hebecame the feted of the traditional enemies of Labour. He won the approval of the Norlhcliii'e press. He came back lo Australia and launched Ihe conscription policy. The rest is well known. He lost his commanding position at the head of the Lahour battalion. To remain Prime Minister he must now say, 'Yes, Mr Cook.' All his political life he has tried lo persuade the people of Australia lhal Mr Cook and the men behind him were Australia's enemies. :Je lhal as it may, Ihey are now Mr Hughes's friends. To-day, the public enemies are, according lo Mr Hughes, his life-long political associates- Ihe organisations which made iis political foi tune. In denunciallion of Ihe ofii< ial Labour Parly Mr Hughes declares in frenzied and extravagant tones: —'They care nothing for Ihe Empire; Ihey care for nothing bill its downfall.' Speaking of a similar statement by Mr Hughes ihe 'Australian Worker' says:—'W.

|M. Hughes says lhal he was expelled from the Labour movement because Ihe pul country before parly. Bill he i refrains from mentioning that be pul }W. M. Hughes before both. Presumably his innate modesty is responsible for Ihe omission.' Kecent political happenings have shown lhal Mr Hughes is very anxious for I bis political future."

Assembly's Labour Year. St length. Members 1891 .. . Ml 3G 18U1 .. . 125 27 1895 .. . J 25 IS 1898 .. . 125 111 1S01 .. . 125 24 1004 .. . 90 25 1007 .. . 90 IS2 1910 .. . 90 40 i'.)i:: .. . 90 4!)