FEDERATION OF LABOUR ORGANISATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 174, 25 July 1890, Page 3

FEDERATION OF LABOUR ORGANISATIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sik,— May I crave your indulgence for sufficient space in your valuable columns for a few lines in reply to several of your contributors of late, and with your permission will commence endorsing that very direct, sensible and pithy defence of the most powerful labour organisation in the Southern Hemisphere, via., the Maritime Council, as contained in your issue of the Bth inst., in which paper we see a Coastal Seamen's Union was also formed, to which body Mr G. Dean tenders the advice to federate with the Knights of Labour, as the Seamen's Union and Wharf Labourers , Unidii are no earthly ufie to them in attaining their ends. Perhaps you will pardon me for respectfully reminding Mr Dean that the teamen's Union have given one wholesome lesson, &n& pracbieai illustration of their plubk and power in this reipect, in their unfortunate dispute with a vety i powtuful coasting steamship company some

three years since. But, for Mr G. Dean's information, 1 may state that the New Zealand Coastal Seamen's Union do not look to the Seamen* or Wharf Labourers' Union for support directly, bat to the Maritime ■ Council, with which they intend to federate. 1 will next allude to Mr H. W. Farnall 5 * contribution in your issue of the 10th inst., wherein he attempts in a weak and dreamy manner to reply to Mr Thomas Kirkup's letter of the Bbh inst. Whether Mr Farnall has been Buffering from a severe attack of Indigestion, suffering recovery from previous recreation, or is really afflicted with a softening of the brain, lamat a loss to decide. But under whichever calamity Mr Farnall may be suffering, I feel morally certain all genuine Unionists fervently aed devoutly pray for his speedy restoration, in order that be may wave his magic wand over his young sod—the ideal state of perfect industrial happiness; and, further, that he may not be deprived of candidature for political honours at the forthcoming election. It is really sad to see a gentleman who claims to have devoted twenty-five of the best years of his life to the noble cause of social and industrial reforms, suffering from a temporary aberration of intellect, and yet how nabural it is for those who are thus afflicted to be suddenly possessed of sufficient cunning to endeavour to recognise their fellows here as the patients and themselves as the physician. But hoping your correspondent may soon recover his wonted health and strength of mind, we will pass on to your issue of the 11th inst., wherein "Main Strength and Stupidity " reveals a most important discovery. He tells us what this mysterious power, the Maritime Council, consists of. But from the entire absence of fact through-' out his epistle, and hiß silly self-contradic-tidns.leads one to believe that he must have an elastic conscience, and be able to draw upon hie imagination In a manner worthy of Baron Maunchason. Little things please little minds, and if the indulgence of untruthful assertions re the (I) who formed the Maritime Council, and their cock and bull stories resembling the theory of the thousand cats on one roof, which practice reduced to our cat and another, by all means let them be pleased; but, whatever the author's physical condition.may be, his production points to the conclusion that mentally he is more honestly entitled to the latter portion of his norn de plume than the former. Stupidity is a curse, equalled only by obstinacy, particularly when evinced by thoee who profess to know a thing or two. A little learning is a mosb dangerous thing; but "Stupidity," pardon me, I should have said " Main Strength and Stupidity," admits his ignorance on this ques tion, and wisely so I think, for, while writing this, I have before me the lasb half-yearly report of his supremely silly (I) the Maritime Council, which report, I think, should convince the moet sceptical of the fact that they are aiming in a genuine spirit, and on a broad basis, at assisting and protecting all labour organisations, who are federated with them or the Trade and Labour Council, of which certain adverse critics profess ignorance, while surely it behoves those denouncing any public body first to obtain the facts concerning the same. Your contributor and his great friend's negligence in this important particular demands our reminding them that " where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise," and argues an entire want of brain strength and a fullydeveloped stupidity. Again, your issue of the 12th inst. contains a contribution from " Unity," the whole tenor of which so much resembles the previous contributions from " Main Strength and Stupidity " and Mr H. W. Farnall that reading between the lines one is .almost inclined to believe the author of the three to be one and the same individual. Bub I dofi't think either Mr Miller or Mr Kirkup have any occasion to feel particularly crushed by their rtdwtio ad absurdum, as they bare no desire to become the uncrowned kings of labour, and nat having devoted twenty-five year* of their lives to social and industrial reforms, they have no desire to become the " great I am " —the political leaders and lordy* lordy of the industrial classes; and are" quite satisfied in all humility to do what good they can in their own sphere, without assumption leave the little god of ideal political and co-operative reforms to the would-be uncrowned kings of labour, and are satisfied to occupy the positions and profess the principles they can with impunity maintain. There are other contributors on this subject I consider ift unnecessary to reply to, and having already trespassed too far on your liberality, will now suffice it to say that Mr W. L. Itees has hit the nail on the head, though ib is evident he is nob aware that Mr Farnall is responsible for a deal of this unfortunate misunderstanding between so many desirable labour organisations, and as Mr F. says, ib is a free country, and surely we have a right to think and speak for ourselves and federate with the body considered to be the best, most powerful for and calculated to render the most immediate assistance in the event of assistance being required; and why should an organisation so young an the Knights are in the colony, usurp the position of the Trades and Labour Councils which for many years have so successfully carried the unions to a satisfactory issue? Herein consists the trouble and misunderstanding. Let them appoint delegates to represent them qn the Council, and all will go on smoothly and well, and if needs be in future, let Mr Farnall show that the Knights are 1 the moat powerful and most desirable body to affiliate with, and wo, as unionists, shall be only too glad to embrace the Opportunity and attach ourselves thereto. I —l am, etc., . • F. R. Bust, Secretary Auckland Federated Butchers' Union.