PREMIER ON THE STUMP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13634, 13 April 1908, Page 5

PREMIER ON THE STUMP.

. - " SPEECH AT KAITANGATA, ■ ARBITRATION AND STRIKES., ■\ \ _ . v Per : Press Association. 'KAITANGATA, April 12. -The Prime Minister, ai£ the invitatiori of the Coal Miners' Union, djMiv<dredft political address in Kaitangata last night. Referring to finance, he said that for the year just closed the rere- 1 nue of the Dominion, was nearly nan© millions sterling; it would be at leas* £8,800,000. He dealt at soiiie length with the v arbitration and conciliation system. The whole trouble under tne. arbitration system was that $ brought" every man who was working if or a I«ring under 'an award to a dead level* For that reason, he considered the law, Required amending and improving. The sooner the' 'people' discussed the matter with, their representatives atjjld among thdmselves, the sooner would i£he cqttn> try^'iirfiy^^at an improved System of r arbitration and conciliation $r decide. I -Soldo away with it altogether.. They .could npt -have a law on the^-£tt»tute Book to prevent strikes and, bw^b by. ;side with it havq, strikes-sgoine; on, ' notwithstanding the law. vßft^thefpretrouble on the West Coast the Up- [ verftmc^tlSa^nbt interfered since; tfie 4 decision of the Arbitration Cpurt£ and did not intend to interfere. The $ sabject was one that should not. bajosed sdctibn-of it»bn>in«W *nr Solitical reasons, and the Government id J not want to get support by u toob' baling". a matter that was of the deep* est'leoncern to the men. The, GoFemutfdift was prepared to improve "the system.' of arbitration and conciliation. though ;so long as. the law stood as it was at present it must be obeyed,, and if \ither side disrespected it, no one need^step in and ask the Government tc he}p. The Government would -not do it, because it .would be a dishonourable thing to do. ' Dfr J.\ Mosley moved, "That thu" meeting expresses its thanks to Sir 1 J. G, Ward. for his address, and its conr tinued confidence in him and m thf» Goverßimerit he represents." The Motion, was carried without dissent. • Orf Monday the Prime Minister visit* Lawrence.