ASKING NO FAVOURS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1929, Page 28 (Supplement)

ASKING NO FAVOURS

MR. J. H. THOMAS IN CANADA IMPASSIONED SPEECH TO LABOUR. HOW TO HELP GREAT BRITAIN. Vancouver, Sept. 4. After an exhaustive tour of Canada, during which he had persistently declined to be interviewed, pleading he had come to the Douiinioli on a campaign of observation, the Rt. Hon. J. H. 'Thomas, Lord Privy Seal and Minister of Unemployment in the Labour Government of Great Britain, consented to express his views before the assembled delegates of the Canadian Trades and Labour congress held at St. John, New Brunswick. “Some people think I came here to solve the British unemployment problem bv dumping labour into Canada,” he said. “They don't know me. I realise as well as’you do that your country cannot be exploited and I endorse your policy absolutely. I’ll tell you now, that of all the proposals I have made, there is not one that will cost you dollars. I ask no favours. All my proposals are to ask that those of you who need it be given a chance to hold up their heads. “It is easy for politicians to come here and tell you how good you are. From constant repetition you begin to believe you are the only pebbles om the beach. But I would like to point out that for every pound you spend with us, you spend five pounds with other people, I want you to substitute work for charity and give my young people, who are walking the streets from day to day in .search of employment, a chance to live. I do not ask you to buy anything from us that you can produce yourselves, but I do plead for a chance for those who are in sore straits in the Old Country.” ‘TOR THE WHOLE EMPIRE-,” ** . • The British Minister, in one of the most fiery and impassioned speeches ever heard in’ Canada, stated definitely and absolutely that he had no intention of dumping British labour in Canada. “I believe I can find work for some of our people onrthe grounds I have outlined,” he said. “I ask for nothing except on an economic basis.” For some time Mr. Thomas has held conversations with Government officials in Canada, and it is well known that he discussed matters pertaining to the unemployment situation in Great Britain. There had been some speculation as to whether or not this means that eventually there would be a migration of British unemployed to the Dominion, but this speech definitely laid these questions. “The Labour Government realises that it is a government, not only for one- country, but for the whole British Empire/’ he said. “It is far from its wishes .to solve our , own problem bv giving you people in Canada a still harder problem to face. HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING. “From year to year the process of evolution goes on. Men and women say: ‘I am going to give my son or daughter a better chance than I had,’” Mr. Thomas said. “That’s why generations to come will demand a higher standard of living. Ignore those who point out the short cut for you to follow. It results only in revolution, war, pains and strife that result in absolutely nothing. The greater your power, the greater your responsibilities. But power becomes a danger when it is prostituted. What is our ideal?.: We are saying to the world: ‘Follow us and help to put into practice the gospel of peace. “Who could have., lived through the terrible years of the war without hoping and praying for peace?” he asked. “The working class of all countries may be misled for a time, but they finally ask of their leaders: ‘Have you delivered the goods?’ and that ends that. When you start preparing for war in time of peace, you usually get what you are looking for. That is why Premier' MacDonald is .on record as standing for reduction of armaments. “FINER DAY. IS COMING.” “The British Commonwealth of Nations is something more than a It is not only the foundation,, but also the bulwark "of the nation. The Commonwealth is as safe in the , keeping the Labour Government as it ever has been. We measure greatness by the standard o'f comfort and the cottages of the workers,” he said, amid wild applause. “We lost in the war one million. Employed in industry to-day are 800,000 more. On what is called the ‘live register’ are one million and aquarter unemployed. Our birth rate is faster than our death rate. Since 1918 we • have spent • £800,000,000 in unemployment insurance. We spent-£109,000,-O 00" in relief work in the same period. But we are not down and out. We will come out of the furnace harder and better for it all. It is not in our blood to be discouraged. A finer day is coming for us. “I wan you to substitute work tor chartty. When you have young people walking the streets day after day you realise- they are losing that moral fibre and spirit "of independence which is so vital to our nation. I ask for nothing except on an economic basis. . I do not ask you to buy anything you can produce yourself, but I do ask that you buy things from us in preference to anyone else, and thus give my people a chance to live. No body of men coming to this country will be so jealous of their independence as those who will come from the Old Country. “I am proud to be in Canada for my ninth visit,- because my blood is.yours,” he concluded, “and if I can go back to my shores with the knowledge that _1 have left a country which will take its riohtful position in the world, I shall be° satisfied. If I am able to restore the spirit in my people, I shall look back with pride and veneration on this meeting.”