POLITICAL.
Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 153, 7 January 1914, Page 2
About this newspaper
POLITICAL.
Since the finish of th© great strike in Auckland, where for some time there was-such a magnificent spirit of solidarity manifested, fresh 'work has been undertaken. The action of the Massey Government in pouring armed strike-breaker 3 and speciah into the town has awakened A SPIRIT OF BITTERNESS and resentment which will find no satisfaction until the Massey Go.ernmei-i is driven from office and the Reform Party put down and out as a political force, never again to polute the political life of Now Zealand. On Sunday, December 21, a meeting was called in the Trades Hall to discuss the running of GENUINE LABOUR REPRESENTATIVES ..' in the Auckland constituencies. There were about three hundred, persons present at ■this initial meeting. A provisional council was formed to cover the work of the Auckland district, whilst committee, were appointed for each electorate. The requisition forms aro being circulated and thousands of names are being appended of persons desirous of seeing the different seats contested. There- are over one hundred people busy with tho requisition forms. STORM CENTRES. Until the requisition forms have been returned it is impossible to say how many seats will be contested, but all the city divisions, viz., Auckland East, Auckland "West, Auckland Central (where M. J Savage polled well before), Parnell, Grey Lynn (where John Payne "will have united support), are certain j whilst W-utemata, Eden, Manukau, and some of the other surrounding divisions are viewed as probable battlefields. The provisional central committee, through Messrs. Saavge and Moxoni, are to approach all unions for their adhesion and support. THE OUTLOOK. On interviewing Mr. Savage, I found that he was enthusiastic and very optimistic with regard to the political outlook. After discussing the facts previously stated, which our friends, Miss M. L. Glvde, secretary of Auckland S.D.P., and Mr. Wesley Richards, secretary, Auckland General Labourers' Union, had put forward. Mr. Savage proceeded, with the results of his experience as an old campaigner, to set out what he considered to be Borne of tho most important points to bo looked at.
Mr. Savage.hoped that the SD.P. as a party would conco.ntn*te upon tho different- city divisions throughout tho Dominion and . .VOID WASTE OF MONEY AND EFFORT by a diffusion of energy. He was strongly ot the opinion that concentration and intensification were needed to bring the forthcoming political fight to a successful issue from the workingclass jxjint of vi.w. He was particularly concerned that systematic work should be undertaken in each division to be contested. He considered that the committees in each electorate should allocate certain persons to different blocks of streets for a systematic canvass; that n thorough distribution of PROPAGANDIST LITERATURE is required. He suggested that the dghting plitforrn of the S.D.P., together with tho Party's position on many immediate questions, should be printed in leaflet form and distributed from time to time, as well as many; meetings as it is possible to run in the interim before the election.'' Mr. Savage pointed out -the n.a.-sity for the S.D.P. committees to PURGE THE ROLLS, and gave as an illustration his own experience in Central. Auckland, where some 1100 dead men amd absentees were scored off by his workers; naturally also the importance of seeing thai i our own people were on the rolls was duly emphasised. v _he Auckland people will soon be holding the selection ballots after the requisition forms have been returned, and they know just which divisions will be contested. Everybody in Auckland was enthusiastic as to their future political activity, and confidently look forward to emulating Grey and Lyttelton in ' WIPING OUT THE BLUDGEON PARTY. Unionists are unanimous in the opinion that solidarity in the strike had got to mean solidarity at the. ballot box, and before long they will be selecting their standard-bearers for the forthcoming contests. The huge meetings which have been held during the strike have offered unparr.lleled opportunities for propaganda, and these have been taken advantage of to the fullest ex•tent. .••■ ... ....•-.. .'. .-.-
