LABOUR-AND LABOUR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 95, 22 April 1912, Page 6

LABOUR-AND LABOUR.

No doubt the Socialist " N«w Zealand Federation of Labour" ha* gained something from a name which professes to be all-embracing. The value of «uch a name waa perceived by the Political Labour Party two years ago, just after the rival body had clipped in ahead and had invested itself with the coveted garniture of high«sounding syllable*. At one time it was rumoured that the syndicalists' claim to that name •be disputed, but the "Reds" still rejoice in that title which the heads of the parent body, the Miners' Federation, were wise enough to seize. However, time ha* brought a new name — the "United Labour Party"— to the " Evolutionarieu," and they 6eem content to allow the "Revolutionaries" to •enjoy any advantage to be derived from "Federation of Labour." The aim* and objects of tho Unity Party have already been set out and explained in The Post, and it is now reported that the president (the Hon. J. T. Paul) is doing successful organising work among the workers in the Auckland district. We have remarked that the new party hopes to keep "open house" for anybody describable a? a worker, in the broadest sense of "work," including professional men who draw fees directly from the public instead of wages or salaries indirectly from the public by the medium of a private employer, In thus house such men are invited to fraternise with ultra-Socialist?, for whom the door has been expressly left open, in accordance with the terms of the ambitious "Unity Bchemo." This consideration 'has naturally pleased the Reds, whose satisfaction with tne Socialist section of the scheme is expressed in the Federation's official organ, the Maoriland Worker. "Th« United Labour Party has adopted an \ objective of admirable properties and ample proportions," the Worker remarks, "and to the extent that the objective declares tor the Socialist plan and aim we like it and extol it. . . How far the U.L.P. will operate in the name, spirit, and i principles of International Socialism remains to be seen. As for the objectionable featuree of the Unity scheme, they lie largely in the absorption of Liberalism and in middle-class predilections and baits. Of which more anon." The apostles ot "class consciousness" are a little suspicious of the United Labour Party's attempt to enlist "middle-class sympathy. In the meantime the Federation's organiser (Mr. Semple) i« in Australia ■endeavouring to fix up a working understanding between his brethren here and miners' unions of the Commonwealth. A cable message on Saturday stated that the Ulawarra Colliery Employees' Association, after listening to an address by Mr. Semplf, resolved to recommend the lodges "to affiliate with the New Zealand workers." ,Tkia reference to a possible affiliation must be concerned not with "New Zealand Workers" but with the New Zealand Federation of Labour, which is opposed to statutory conciliation and arbitration. The -mind of the Federation has been frequently .exposed in these columns, by reference to statement* in the Federation's own official organ, and the latest issue can be quoted to indicate the syndicalist aspirations • of the Federation. Discussing the United Labour Party's preference for the arbitration method, with the peculiai reservation of th© "right to strike," the Worker comments : " How the somewhat belated, admi^ton that uhe trlght to strike cannot be surrendered tallies with the retention of arbitration puzzles us sxceedingly, for you cannot have both strike and arbitration, and anyway you do not require arbitration if you have sound organisation.'' The Federation has scornfully rejected arbitration, and frankly declares for an assertion of " right' 1 by reason of the might of organisation. The United Labour Party may hope that it can draw the Federationists from the red flag of " Revolutionary Socialism" to the > pink banner of "Evolutionary Socialism," but the ntateinenta of the Federation spokesmen do not encourage any such belief. The " Evolutionaries " run a risk of losing strength and dignity by an alliance with men who are in a frenzy of " classconsciousness." The electors will judge the Labour party by the company that it keeps.