INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 144, 20 June 1910, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM.

CONTROL BY WORKERS. (From "Special Correspondent) ' — ErZ^J^ ,^ Ma.y ; l3. a-half rears, spent in ■Australisrsnd New Zealand,;; Mr. Tom llann. xe»rned;zTPL:London .this week. He was met - at the Victoria Docks by Mr. Ben Tillett and other representatives of the Dockers' Union; Mr. H. Oγibell, representing the Labour party; and representatives of the Independent" Labour party and the Social Democratic party, who gave him a very cordial reception. "'1 am goiiig to advocate that kind at unionism known as Industrial Unionism," said Mr. Mann. "Whilst, of course, I am a Socialist, and shall continue to advocate Socialism, 1 ehall urge the elimination of the cause of sectionalism dn industrial organisation, in order that they may be welded together in one compact mass, with a view to concerted action. I have been over the whole of New Zealand and each of the Australian colonies, including Tasmania, and this has enabled mc to gauge the value of &uch attempts at reliable legislation as lave been resorted to by the Australasian Governments." Mr. JMann instanced in this connection compulsory arbitration and conciliation, and the various methods resorted to to establish ■wages boards, etc.

■'What I hope to preach throughout ihe length and breadth of the country," lie further explained, "is the one policy !by whica the workers can secure the absolute control of tJhe means of production. Every industry must be organised as a whole.

"For instance, all tse workers in the mining industry throughout the world —

coal, gold, lead, silver, diamond—must ibe banded together as one man. The same must be done with all the branches of ship construction and every other specific industry.

' "Then the capitalist can be obliterated. •People sometimes sayTTto~me,"~ , But ~you want the millennium! I reply, ""Why mot.? It' is exactly what I do want.'

"I have come to the conclusion that this ideal state of things cannot be obtained by Act of Parliament as that ■is at present understood. Before the workers can have political power they must have economic power.

"That is how -the —capitalists—the enemies, as a—class, of -t-he- workers— secured their present predominance. They secured the control of the means of production, and the workers- must wrest it ifrom them."