Tho Liberal and the Labour – Parties.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11643, 22 August 1905, Page 7

Tho Liberal and the Labour - Parties.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In your leading article on the Labour Party organisation. You say that Labour in this colony had by combination with the Liberal Party placed itself in the most exalted position occupied by the workers in any part of the ■world. I say that is not correct, for it was by the brains of the Labour Party, who proposed and debated those Labour measures, that they are now on the Statute Book, and many more, and laid their views before the Ministers, many Liberal memhers in' the House at the present time voting against the Labour measures. The workers have allowed themselves to be duped by those Liberal candidates who voted against the~ interests of those who put them in the- House. Certainly Labour measureG have been passed, but Avill they bear com-

parison with what is required to prevent the -workers of this colony from drifting iuto that dreadful state which exists in England. Their duty is to delay no longerbut place in Parliament representatives of their own class, who know what it is to toil; one who knows how hard it is for the worker to obtain all the necessaries of life, or, in other words, the liberty to live,. And let me say there is nothing new in the proposal of Labour representation in Parliament. As a proof I will repeat a resolution passed twenty years ago, in 1885/ at the Trades and Labour Congress : '"That the time had arrived when all democratic and Labour organisation should amalgamate and form one body for the purpose of placing in Parliament representatives from the working class, as in their opinion the workers would not be represented until they did so." And what was wanted was an organisation that would edugate people up to the belief that political dishonesty was a crime. Now the Party' is formed to carry out a proposal made twenty years ago, with a platform of their own. The success of the Labour Party in Australia referred to by Mr ltigg and other leaders is only to show the "workers the power they have whes. properly organised. You say it must be evident that outside the Liberal Party the workers will have to iigiit for years before they can hope u> attain anything like power. The answer is — the time is up. The Independent Farty is formed, and will fight until their point is gained. It may not be generally known, but it is just as well that you should know, that a short time ago the executive of the Liberal and Labour Federation proposed to remove the word Labour from the name of the Association, and it was only allowed to remain on the advice of the Premier. Mr Field, the secretary of the Employers' Association, has said here, as in many other places, that when a labour measure is before the Houses of Parliament the terms Liberal and Conservative are thrown to one side, and both unite" to spoil or block the measure. The Employers' Association is composed of the Liberal as well as the Conservative, and how can any worker who gives it five minutes' reflection think that the Liberal employer is going to legislate for the benefit of the worker. I cannot see that, as their interests are opposite. -Now a word about the Arbitration Act. Mr Reeves gets the credit for putting together and passing this Act, and quite right, too. But here is another proposition of twenty years ago at the Trades and Labour Congress: That steps should be taken to bring about the settling of labour disputes by arbitration, the arbitration being bound by Act of Parliament. Sir, I could give lots of dates of proposed reforms which have been debated and laid before Ministers, some of which liavo been placed on the Statute Book, and others that have not been taken up yet. And now, sir, x hope I have satis. fied you that the workers had the brains to formulate the measure for Parliament to place on the Statute Book, and can now find the men in their own ranks to truly represent them in Parliament. — I am, etc.,

T. G. LOVE.

[Qur correspondent evidently thinks that thet'Solons responsible for our progressive legislation are to be found only in the ranks of Labour. We must confess to a feeling of surprise to hear from Mr Love^. that the Trades and Labour Congress ■'or New Zealand initiated the legislation, as we were under the impression that similar measures had been discussed by progressive bodies in the Old World for decades before. By Mr Love's peculiar reasoning, no thanks must be given to those who carry out reforms; it is only those who talk about them that are entitled lo credit. When one remembers the strenuous opposition raised against the Ballance and Scddon Governments during their efforts to legislate for the workers, and the persistency with which the Liberals espoused the cause' of Labour, it is, to say the least, ungracious on the part of Mr Love to now belittle the efforts made on their behalf. "Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend." — Ed W.H.]