Organiser's Notes.
Maoriland Worker, Rōrahi 3, Putanga 54, 22 Poutūterangi 1912, Page 4
Mō tēnei niupepa
Organiser's Notes.
By E. R. HARTLEY.
PfFi^6nncN aH ; TM oraw oi in* N.X. somnit - Purtf.
W«- air in a had patch.. Torrents of rain prevented the Waikino meet ing, and the next night- at karangahake (h<: attfiiilaiK'i' "as small for the same reason. We liail a good time, though.
Some years ago, on going to a eoiintrv place where th" last train leit at »-20, (.lie chairman opened b.v saying ho had asked the speaker to give plenty ol time for questions, there being complaints that the Socialist speakers had to get thc train and <:ut the questions short. When I was called on I said: "You shall havo plenty ol' time lor questions. We'll start right now I" IL was a. most interesting meeting. The Karangahake meeting had been announced as a, questions meeting. Kirst question: "11 there was only a Liberal and a Conservative candidate, for the district where you lived, how would you vote!-'" "1 shouldn't vote at all." "Then you'd waste your vote?" "Oh, no! If 1 voted for any man who couldn't represent mc, I should waste my vote. If 1 didn't vote., my vote would be useless. Rut 1 shouldn't waste it." 1 then poinlod out that if Liberalism is successful. Socialism canmol sueeeed, and that the greatest obstacle to. our getting to close quarters with tho capitalist class is Liberalism. Tho tirst duty of the .Socialist in politics is to sweep away the Liberals. We then" had a gentleman who was interested in a letter which a Mr. Kwington had written fo the "Herald" in reply to one of mine defending Socialism' He produced the letter, and I tore the arguments to shreds. He was very uneasy, and asked. "Will Socialism destroy Christianity:"' I asked another, ''Caii it!"' I think this is the proper form of answer to this question. If tho Christians are really afraid of Socialism destroying their religion, they aro in a parlous state, for it is evident they think Socialism is the stronger force. If Socialism is not true. 1 hope itwill not succeed. Dare Christians Bay the same of their religion ? If not, why not? After a few more questions, a lady produced a book with several passages she wished explaining. These would be comical if the readers had a knowledge of Socialism. But some of tho most foolish statements are crowded into a silly story, and apparently credulous and ignorant people- wonder if they can have any semblance of truth. If anyone will' think a few minutes the absurdity is apparent. "To-day we. the Socialist- leaders, will proclaim i'or you, 'Britain for the British.' " What an idea--Socialism by proclamation! A failure and a faro©! Of course, it is, and Socialism itself would be. if it came in any such silly fashion. That there aro some people, in the movement who seem to think something like this is a pity. I shall never forgot standing on. the platform when an eWtion result was declared and the candidate, one of the best-known and most respected men in the movement, solemnly told nearly '2000 people that he had seer's blood in his veins, and wii.h the blood working, he foretold that Socialism would be ushered in iv the year shown by the number of votes ho had polled that day. Nobody laughed, but I felt cold down my spine, thinking wdiat a clever opponent might make of such foolishness. The speech Has printed, but fortunately there were no comments, unless Wm. Le Qtioux's "Unknown To-morrow" is thc comment. 1 must have space, Mr. Editor, for a review of this book. Friday night, March 1, the Waihi miners decided to help most generously if there is trouble about the general laborers in Auckland. On the afternoon and evening of Sunday, 3rd inst., we had a rain storm which made one wonder if the days of Noah had returned. 1 arrived at "tho Miners' Hall with my boots full of water. It had run off my waterproof in streams. 'The audience was small, but nearly a dozen women were present, and a little later a father and mother came, bringing the baby. There is always something to cheer v.> even in the darkest times. I had to shout against the noise of the rain on the roof; but baby toddled round from seat to seat-, keephig mc smiling all the time. We are doing so well in Waihi that 'some of tiie religions bodies are get, ting uneasy, and the leader of the Salvation Army has l made a rather gross attack on Socialism and the Souoiali.sts. We read his letter, and on ■Tuesday, llth inst., I'm going to reply at a, special meeting. VVe are inviting njl tho heads of thc churches. 1 am also to give an address to tho minors on "The Old Unionism and the New." ; This woek we visit W-nikino. Paeros, <*nxl Kaiancah-kfl. Rhall we pnaj* for
I'm ■ weather? A biniivli of the Miners' I'Minii is to be csial)li.slied at J'aeroa, ■.'.'.•A we hope t<! gel Ohillt'iniiri inW) i'v «,(.]! th(i forward movement. The Xeivsjiiipcr i'roprietor.s' Association (limy sn.v "of New Zealaiifl") had a in<-'iiiig at- (jlreymoutli. 1 woiulor who :ts: t,hei<> to ''The M.iorilaiid Hrkei." the "S'x-ial l)en,oeiat," or "Tin* Voice of Labor": , Tlie class di•, isidii collies e iTywhcre. aw] class bias • most of all in fchoir i)nin'is. 'I'lie po<'t n'ceivf.s severe snubs This is what a le-ading newspaper lias: "AI'STKALIAN VF/.fSK. "Amongst the latest coiitribuLions to till! growinj; libraries of Australian verse are two more than ordinarily meritorious, both in letterpress ami binding." Never mind, Mr. I'o-et! If we must have your it is as well to have good pritttin<_'. and binding. A real poet wrote: "The world is still deceived with ornament."
