RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14306, 18 March 1912, Page 8

RAILWAY SERVANTS.

FEDERATION OF LABOUR QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir,—lt is to be regretted that bofore writing the sub-leader in your issue of to-day, you did not take the trouble to make yourself fully acquainted with the true facts of tbo case. In the article in question, you would lead your readers to bolievo that +,he recout Conference of railway delegates endorsed the policy of tho organisation known as the Federation of Labour. As one of the delegates to tho Conference, I am in a position to state that this is incorrect. What was done was to commend what ts known as tho "Mills Unity Scheme" to the members of our Union. This is a proposed organisation apart altogether from the Federation of Labour. Professor Mills, the author of this scheme, has repeatedly condemned syndicalism and tlie strike, as being out-of-date methods of warfare. In dealing with tho present labour troublo in Auckland tho "New Zealand Times," of March sth, reports Professor Mills as saying:—"The insanity of syndicalism, tho absurdity of tho strike as the sole, or even tho principal weapon, in industrial warfare, must bo abandoned by those who would spoak for Labour." You must, therefore, recognise that tho organisation which tho Railway Conference commended, has nothing whatever to do with "the body which has identified itself with syndicalism," or, "the body which regards the universal strike as tho irresistible weapon to compel a compliance with all demands;" and further, tho organisation does not include among its leaders "the author ot' that striking precept of the new evangel of syndicalism, 'To hell with all agreements.' " I agree with you when you say that a strike on the railway would bring untold misery to thousands of innocent persons throughout the Dominion, and as ono who at least can claim to know something of tho feeling rf railwaymen on this subject, both yourself and tho public generally can rest, assured that there is not the remotest possibility of such an event taking place. There are other bodies of workers in tho Dominion, however, which are not in such a settled state. Railway men should have an interest in the industrial problem generally, for if a strike takes placo in any of tho largo industries, such as coalmining, shipring, etc., it is bound to affect the working of the railways. 1 would direct your attention to tho cablegrams in your issuo of this morning, where we are informed that as tho result of the coal strike in England "tho dislocation of other trades is increasing, and 120,000 railwaymon will be out of work at the end of tho week." Ono i would like to know how your theory of j "continuity of employment" fits in with this. The moral of the whole thing is for the workers to support a scheme of organisation, which makes for the removal of social injustices by constitui tional moans, and in doing this mini- | miso tho possibility of strikes and the ! disastrous consequences which follow them. Trusting you will give publicity to this explanation, and thankiug you in anticipation—Yours, etc., ft. HAMPTON. Christchurch, March TCth. [We havo referred to this letter in onr lending columns. —Ed., 'The Press."]