WHERE LABOUR RULES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 75, 23 December 1918, Page 6

WHERE LABOUR RULES

CHAOS IN QUEENSLAND

DRIFT TO BOLSHEVISM

LESSONS FOR NEW ZEALAND

The chaotic state of affairs in Queensland, where a Labour Government is in power, and the ominous and all too evident drift in the direction of something even worse, is recounted by Mr. W. J. Poison, of Fordell, Wanganui, in tire Wangamii "Chronicle" of Saturday last. Mr. Poison has just, returned (o New Zealand after a lengthy visit to Australia. "The first thing that struck me about the Labour conditions in Queensland, and about the Government, was that the ideal seemed to be the advancement, of Labour without the advancement of tho country as a whole," said Mr. Polson. "Of course, they have a pretty extreme Labour Government in power, which is now ■ seeking to abolish the Upper House and extend the franchise to persons 18 years of age. Already they hnve their State cattle stations, State shops, State hotels, Stat?; coal mines, State sugar mills, and State ore mines, yet, as the result of my observation*, it is disastrous to the State and the prop e. The latter seem to have lost faith m the State, and Labour, at the instigation of the extreme section, is undoubtedly exploiting the State. The result, is a fear for the legitimate investment ot capital. > Freehold land, which if. the ultimate desire of every New Zealand farmer, is at a discount in Queensland. No tenure, to judge by the opinions of many pastoralists, with whom, I discussed the matter, ie so unpopular, because the freehold is at the mercy; of the State. Leaseholds, particularly those where improvements are not absolutely necessary, are eagerly sought after. The reason is obvious, and is admitted—farmers can get out when the State makes it too hot for them.

Bolshevik Drift, "Labour appears to be led by the extreme clement, and the moj-o Bolshevik a candidate is, the surer he can. be of a political following," added Mr. Poison. "This is resulting in a growing distrust between employer and employee, and, if it is not checked, will lead to civil war in Queensland. It seems paradoxical that where Labour has absolute control, unrest should be the greatest, strikes the most prevalent, and a social upheaval so imminent. That trouble is brewing I heard nobody deny, and thus the paradox resolves itself into no paradox at all, with what one can sec and hear on a visit to Queensland. The attempi to extend the franchise to children is an indication of Labour's desire to capture the votes of tho unthinking, i

"Yes," replied Mr. Poison, in answer to a question, "one can give ii,any illustrations of the existent state of affairs. While I w.-w in the Barcoo district, fires ware prevalent, and fire-fighters were-bc-ine paid ss. an hour. In one case, while a homestead was threatened, they struck for 7s. Cd. an hour. 1 was told by those interested of tho efforts to create trouble in the shearing sheds by utter disregard of awards, and the appointment of Australian Workers' Union delegates—often an I.W.W. agitator in disguise—to foment trouble, instead of jairrying. out the policy that the Australian Workers' Union officially subscribes to by the adherence to the awards of the Court. An official of one of the big meat works devoted to the canning of meat gave another instance. They had a staff of butchers and boners, sufficient of the latter being employed to keep the butchers going. Presently the boners began to get behind in the work, leadin? to disorganisation. The manager called them together, and they insisted that tho only way to catch up with the work wns to start at -1 o'clock in the mornins:. When this systej* was adopted the men invariably finished by, lunch; that is, they could do in seven hours what they formerly declared they could not do in eight hours.- The secret was double-time between 1 and 8 in the morning. They refused to revert to the old system. I was told by another freezing works- official the story pf their employees' picnic. .When the day came the coopers assembled as usual at the works, declnring they were not butchers and that they desired to work. They wero offered a day's pay in order to preserve pe:\eej but when pay-day came they wanted double time for the holiday. . Employers' Difficulties. "Small strikes are continually occurring at isolated freezing works," said Mr. Pojson. "Sometimes the employers give way 'to avoid trouble, with the result that the precedent is taken advantage of at other works. There was an instance of a sugar planter, who was paying the cane cutters 2-s's. per. day of eight hours. It was an enormous wage, considering the amount cut. The men asked for further concessions, and in desperation the employer refused. The men then struck. By hook, and crook lie managed to get his crop cut, 'but the truckers refused to give him the trucks to bring the crop on the tram lines to tho railway. Ho "held out until he found that his crop was likely to be destroyed and himself ruined. Then 'he caved in. The union held a meeting, fined- him ,£IOO, and when it was paid into their funds they lifted the cane.

"I was in the north of Queensland, at Hughenden, when serious trouble occurred," proceeded Mr. Poison. "Here the loyalists drove the I.WAV. leaders out of the town. The cause of the trouble was a retrospective award, a common thing in Queensland, which had been given in connection with the hotels, the object being that the maids should be paid retrospective holiday time. The hotelkeopers were legally- advised that the award was bad, and they refused to pay. The hotels were declared 'black,' and I.W.W. leaders from all over the country came to Hughenden to spur on the workers to-boycott the hotels, and after they had outraged all decency- by disloyal utterances, they were driven out by tho loyalists, Immediately, .Ministers of tho Crown, accompanied by posses of police, arrived at Hughenden, and the world witnessed the extraordinary spectacle of I.W.W. leaders protected, shoulder to shoulder, by cordons of police, uttering the most appalling sentiment's, not only about Labour, but also about Great Britain, tho flag, and tho Empire at large, while loyalists who attempted to intervene were promptly arrested. Carters at Townsville declined to handle inland goods for Hughenden, in order to help the boycott, and when the merchants dismissed them tho railway-men declined to handle goods brought to the railway station by the new carters. Then a deadlock arose. The merchants of Townsville stood firm, . although threatened with legislative action by a Minister of the Crown sent there. They refused to be , intimidated. The Crown evidently considered its case was weak, and went no further, the workers eventually gave way, and traffic was resumed. "Go Slow" Policy. "One of the worst features in connection with their Labour troubles is the 'go-slow' policy," continued Jlr. Poison. "At the freezing works the union secretary indicates the ritniber of men the manager must place on the floor of each machine, and the results are that tho benefits of modern machinery are nullified. A manager of a sugar-mill in North Queensland told me that a. gang of eight. Japanese were, ca.rr.ving on work that sixteen whites declared they were unable to do. In Brisbane there was a strike because the price of beer was raised to ibiu'pencc a pint, and the whole city was involved. Could anything savour morn of comic opera than a meeting of labour unions, with a Minister of the. Crown in the chair, protesting against the increased price of the workers' beer? The result was, the Stsile bur.s reduced thu price, and compelled the rest to return (o threepence a pint.

"The more intelligent Labour men de-pn-uiilc the tri'iul of affairs," said Mr. I'o'iSOH, in conclusion. "But 11io.it. appsirs In l> ,, no middle course. Largo land holdings are only capable of being worked by men with large capital, able to stand Iliree or fnnr years' drought. Closer settlement, as we understand it in New Zeal'ind, is almost impracticable without large Government expenditure. The extreme section of Labour believe thai the State is subservient to the individual, without patriotism or creed, except 'As much for myself as I

can.' The Queensland Government reflects tlw opinions of its supporters, which perhaps I can Iwt shown l>y iinotlier illustration. There are several State stations. Large numbers of eattlo wero sent to the freezing works in (ho ordinary way, the .stipulation being Unit the Imperial Govcrnnient should give tlw recognised prico of -J-|tl. per 11). In spito of this fact, the Queensland Government, under (he Chattels Act, is .comnmmloering largo quantities of pastornlist.s' beef at 3cl. per 11)., in order to supply its own shops. Von hear nil sorts of stories of positions found for Labour supporters, and a case is on record of a defeated Labour Parliamentary candidate, being appointed an inspector of school lavatories at a salary of .CTIO per year. Ono gathered Hint not even the Judicial Bench is freo from Government influence, and it is openly admitted that Iho Labour agitator can practically say and dq as he likes without fear of any serious penalty. One Crown Minister, in an anti-cnu.-'criplioii speech, said 'Britain is n land of cant, humbug, and hypocrisy. T'h: , re is no patriotism to the Slate. Another sign is (ho shocking con dition of the roads in Queensland, which are merely worn tracks across the country. Bstween Ipswich and Brisbane— the two largest towns—there is a. track across flat country which would be a disgrace to the backbiocks of the Kinf, Country. In my opinion the greate.it impeachment of Labour control, as it exists in Queensland, is the fact that it lives for the hour, not for the future; and in its anxiety to exploit capital it is frightening it out. of the country, bankrupting the State and ite future. The wiser heads seo this, but arc unable to stein the current. They realise that the policy of pin-pricking the employers, making two men do one man's work, reducing individual effort to the minimum, and defying order and authority, while gratifying to the extremists, is neither helping the realisation of Labour's legitimate ideas or adding to the dignity and enlightenment of Labour's cause."