The Independent Polltical Labor League.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11635, 12 August 1905, Page 2

The Independent Polltical Labor League.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Commenting' on the address I delivered recently in your town on the subject of the I.P.L.L. you say, among other things : "It is we repeat ungenerous, unfair, and untrue to say that the Government is opposed to Labour legislation/ and you make it appear that it was I who inado such a declaration. This I deny. A reference to the very full" report of the meeting which appeared in your own columns will show your error. The nearest aj>proach to such tf statement therein i 3 contained in these words : " ''Referring to the present Government, Mr Rigg said it was hopelessly divided on such questions as Labour, land, and liquor," and here I am misreported ; for I did . not say the Government was divided,- but that the Liberal Party in Parliament was so divided. I stand by my statement that there has been no Minister for Labour, except .in name, since the Hon. W. P. Reeves left New Zealand, and if necessary I can prove it. It is, however, well known to members that Labour Bills, as a rule, have been placed before Parliament by the Premier in an undigested and very imperfect state, and the Labour' Bills Committees of both Houses have had to make workable measures of them. The League .has no quarrel with Mr Seddon, nor have I; and therefore I do not deem it necessary to draw up a bill of indictment against him. On the contrary, I admit frankly that the people of this colony as -a whole owe a great deal to Mr Seddon; and I repeat what I said when speaking in your town recently, that in the Old Age Pensions Act he has built for himself a monument that will endure. But I cannot help thinking that, considering the great — the almost absolute^— power he has possessed in recent years, the Premier has not done as much for the workers of the colony as he might have done. You mention a number, of Labour Acts in refutation of my statement that, with the exception of a few Amending. Bills, nothing has been done for Labour during the past four years, and, if I may say so without offence, I think you are very unfortunate in your selection. Only two of the Labour measures you refer to were t introduced by Mr Seddon, and not one } during the past four years. It is true, as you state, that New Zealand is quoted as a country of advanced ideas, hut that refutation is, I submit, built up on the policy of 1890 to 1900. There was, v no doubt, a time when we might claim with pride that in some respects we led the world; but can that be said of this colony to-day? I think not. Australia is a long way 'ahead of us in many respects, and

the Imperial Parliament has now given us -a lead by making the finding of work for the unemployed a question of practical politics. Your hope that there may yet be a combination between the League and the Liberal and Labour Federation cannot be fulfilled. The Federation returns to Parliament only those who will support the Premier and his Government irrespective of their views in regard to vital democratic principles. The League supports measures in preference to men. Their objects arc also irreconcilable. The Federation, seeks to perpetuate conditions which we believe have been more to the advantage of the Liberals than, of Labour. The League sesks to alter those conditions by creating an independent Labour Party and initiating for the workers a policy of self-reliance. It may be that our Labour Party in Parliament will be a tower of strength to the Premier for some time to come — that will depend upon him. The ultimate object of the League is that the workers shall govern themselves.— l am, etc.,

JOHN RIGG.

Wellington, August 8.