THE REFORM PARTY AND THE WORKERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 248, 23 November 1914, Page 6

THE REFORM PARTY AND THE WORKERS.

To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —"What has the Reform Party done for the workers?" is a question persistently asked by a certain section of the electors in most constituencies. I answer as a worker that if the. Reform Party never did anything beyond placing the secret ballot on the Statute Book, it deserves the support of every conscientious worker by thus making it possible for a man to say whether or not he desires to go on strike. Those who '' know the ropes'' are well aware that many men , have gone on strike simply because they feared the "njoral suasion" and the "peaceful picketing" of their revolutionary mates, and to these well-dispositioned workers the secret ballot is a priceless advantage. Why was the secret ballot opposed by the leaders of the men? Simply because it gave to the men, individually, a power wliich the Labour bosses wished to retain in their own hands, to be used as they desired and when they desired. Lovely democracy! / Arrant hypocrisy! Thanks! to Mr 4 Massey, however, this power, has been taken from these autocratic bosses and placed in the hands of the ■ men 1 themselves," and not all the shouting of leatherlunged agitators will .prevent many a. house-owning worker likfe myself * from voting for the Reform Party in .gratitude of one good thing Massey has done for the workers.—l am, 6tc., HOUSEHOLDER.