LABOUR AND CAPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 12, 14 January 1919, Page 6

LABOUR AND CAPITAL.

COMMON-SENSE ADVICE. FROM ENGLISH RAILWAY LEADER. THE BOLSHEVIK MENACE. In many public speeches inside and outside ParTiaroent, delivered over three yearn, I have expressed the opinion that there, is no difTerenrv between Capital and Labour nowadays that to bp incapable of adjustment, wrote Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P.. recently. Rut that desira/ble 6ta.te of n.fl"a.irK obviously presiin•poKcs a recognition o f both duties and oblifnUions on the part of each side. Sonic of the recent strikes have been due to what I do not hesitate to call criminal blundering on the part of the (rovernment. Witness the recent policemen's dispute. Others have revealed an enti-re want of policy and method by the authorities. What'has Wen thp. coume of evpnta? Xepotiations have taken place, (hen a rupt.ure has occurred, a strike has followed, and immediately the workers have obtained all they asked. Either they were entitled to their demands before they struck, or they ror-iam-lj* Verp not entitled to them after the strike. Yon cannot govern the country unices you art- firm, and you have no riplit to ho firm beforf you are just. These continuous capitulations to brute force have resulted in the workers feeling that the only to y to eectire. justice is to Ktrik.-. This "is fatal to the policy of those, who. like myself, believe in differem-iv; being settled across a table. Such methods destroy conciliation and play rijrbt into the hands of the people who believe in Bolshevism. BOLSHEVISM I.V ISRITAIX.

It would )«> a mistake to assume that there are no Bolsheviki in this country, ii« it would he e, ( ually a mistake to assort that they are very numerous. The danger lies in the f.iet that they are not limited to any one industry o"r district, but tin the contrary, are spread over the membership of practically all the unions in the country. What from their point of view is more important and from ourn more da nitrous, j<, the. fart that they are invariably the people who never mi«s an opportunity to attend the branch meetinp-s of the union, and are evpr ready to take part in all the nntrotiation* whenever a crisis occurs. The result Li that they are able to wield an influence utterly disproportionate to tU.-.r numerical strength. The apathy and indifference of the larjic majority of workinc men are n-sponnible for this state of alTuirs. which is so contranto their U-xt interests. It cajj only tm altored by the overwhelming majority <•( trade unionists asserting their richtii instead of allowing a minority to predominate.

AN APPEAL TO TIIK WORST I'ASSIONS. In talking of Holsheviki an<l their policy, it i* only fair that they should In- distinguished from those who, whilst entirely opposed to what is called a capitalistic society, neverthelerw recog-nu-e and lielieve in law and order.

The Holshcviki. on the other hand, are prepared to use any and every lever lo overthrow society, and Labour difficulties pivc them the moet fruitful field for their activities. Their propaganda is invariably an appeal to the worst passion* of tlie people. In fact, it is always an appeal to prejudice as against intelligence and a of fair play. This! obviously creates a feeling that is forreijrn to the. best interests of any cc/nntry. You cannot buHd on passion and prejuiii'f , . The fact has been tragically proved in the cane of Russia. Her revolution pulled down her ruling clasH. but pulled herself down a\->. And ehe lioe still, inert, dismembered, una-ble to rise out of the alma-t meaningless welteT all nJbout her. We can learn from her example. This country being dependent for i's± cTtHtencf on imported from abroad, any system such aa IVilshevism. which would ehake our credit throughout the world, would mean starvation in a very short time. who glftSly talk about the blessings of Bolpheviirm in power forect that there is no nation which would suffer more than ourselves from any mu-h disruption.

TIIK F ITU RE OK LABOUR, My chief ground, however, for opposing Bolshevism is that I believe, apart from the other objection 1 have urged, in the growing poiver and influence of Ijibotir. in my jndirment, is (rninpr to -rule this country before very long. Oiir ■policy, therrfnrc, as a Labour movement must deal -with principles and not pereons, nrust bo based wpon the high moral standard of equity and jintice to all. Indeed, our appeal mik?t ho something more than a material consideration. It must l>e a morai consideration. We must recognise that the community as a -whole is greater t'nan any one section. It is because 1 believe that to he the only sound line upon which can travel: becanse 1 believe that Bolshevism challenges such a policy; because 1 believe it to too a mean ami se.lfish appeal which, if it succeeded, coul<i only result in devastation and niin to the nation -that I. at leant, do not intend cither to submit to its methods, help its propaganda. o r do anything that is calculated to give it a footing in this country. Holfthevwrn is not for the country. Tt it for self. It is not for righteousness. His fur injnsti.'c. It i.*, therefore., biwl, anil mv.4 Iw; {ourliL