THE Waihi Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1905

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1238, 31 January 1905, Page 2

THE Waihi Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1905

Here shall the Tress the People's Bight maintain Utiawod by inAueoeo and trnbribad by gain ; Hero patriot Truth ho precepts dia*> Pledged to Religion Liberty, and Law

It is now certain that a section of the Eabour party has cut itself adrift from the Liberal and Labour Federation, and is goiug "on own." It has adopted the name of "The Political Labour League," and ostensibly means to form a corner in the country's Parliament. Just' now its propaganda is very active in Wellington, and if it can keep the pace goiug it may have a large voice in the general elections for the city seats at the end of the jeaA Two meetings under the League's auspices were held at Newtown one night recently. Some of the utterances at the meeting seem to indicate that the new-born Labour League is not troubled with any sense of gratitude. One of the speakers said that V self interesi wad the ruling passion." Mr Seddon will probably strongly- endorse that sentiment. Mo section of the community have received such large benefits at .his hands as the trades union people. None have been more constantly in his thoughtsHe has laboured unceasingly to pa&s legislation in their interests and for their special benefit—and this is the reward. " Self interest is the ruling passion." Mr R. McKenzie, one of the speakers, said the Farmers' Union had put out a policy in defiance of the Labour Party, and that there was no doubt there had been a great deal of legislation iti the interests of the farming community. Surely the Political Labour League do not think that the Farmers' Union have been guilty of presumption in " putting out a policy" without asking the permission of people who are not farmers. Up till this time we have been under the impression that the farming community huve not had enough legisla* tipb passed in their interest, and that noil-farmers were getiing a high

degree of attention. Another speaker said that the object of the Labour League was to form an independent party in Parliament. No false sentiments seem to attach it to the present Liberal party or Government. Past benefits are 3oon for* gotten The new party is going to " seek allies in all directions," and everything will be grist that comes to its mill. Bat the speakers might 'surely have spared the feelings of the Hon. Mr tfigg—who was present at the meeting—instead of saying that«' the working class is not represented in Parliament." Do Messrs Bolt, Rigg, Pinkerton, and Jenkinson count for ndthing in. the Upper House ? Are there no representatives of the working class in the Jjower House? What of J. A. Millar ? Has the Labour Party ever had a better, abler, or more consistent representative in Parliament What about Mr Tanner, of Christchurcli, and Messrs. Ell and Arnold of Dunedin ? Are they mere cyphers ? However, the self-styled Labour League has resolved to form an independent political party of its own, and " paddle its own canoe." It remains to be seen whether i Labour will dance to its piping. ,