CLAIMS OF OFFICIAL LABOUR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10360, 2 September 1922, Page 3

CLAIMS OF OFFICIAL LABOUR.

SPEECH OF MEMBER FOR

TEMUKA.

"Since I came into this House," aaid 'Mr Burnett, the member for Teuiuka, who continued the Budlget debate on Wednesday afternoon, "no j section of members, has given me greater interest than that of the Official Labour Party. I see before •ne a party in a state of evolution — a party that I am sure within the next lev,' years will be torn to pieces politically by the very class, thiat sent them into power. It is the fate of political parties to begin at the bottom and to go through a);l stages of political evolution. But what amuses me is the claim of the Official ."Labour Party that they are the only representatives of workers in this House. A Labour member: Hear, Aear! that's true. Mr Burnett: That's not true, l>ei cause when I look around this HoutWJ J see the benches filled with all classes of workers. I myself have' :or years worked from 12 to 16 hours a day for ten months of the year at all classes of work, from saving flieep in two feet of snow to fencing and mustering, and all sorts of agricultural and pastoral work. I can safely say that the Official Labour Party is not by any means represenI tative of the workers of this country. 1 (Hear, hear.) We are all workers, ; either with our brains or our, hands. It has been said often that the representatives of -the workeuß and others should get together in Parliament with a view to discussing ways t:nd means, so that we m r ight get jway from the vicious cleavage that is dividing this country ijito two groat camps, and keeping back its development. If we cannot get together and solve this great problem, then we have mistaken our calling. 1 came into the House not to indulge in party tactics. Although '( am from the hack country, where we may 'not have ;i college or the latest style* I think we have in a greater degree thai7 the* town dwellers the facul ly ;jf knowing a man when we see onO, and of recognising ability when wi? meet it. We have confidence iu only oin man on the political horizon today—the man who has Bteored this country through the aftermath conditions left by the war—and that man is the present Prime Minister. (Applause.)