LABOUR-WHAT IT MEANS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 25 May 1925, Page 15

LABOUR-WHAT IT MEANS

A COMPARISON

MR. M'LAREN REPLIES TO MR

PARLANE.

TO THB EDITOR.

Sir, —I-n my opinion Labour is neither Syndicalism nor Bolshevism. It is not Socialism or Anarchism. Rightly interpreted it is not a political sect, class or creed at all, but a principle of social, life. The proper definition of the word "labour" is service, and the man who gives service to society is a worker upholding the principle of Labour whether he be a banker or a bootblack. A great deal of the fallacious thinking of our time is due to the misuse of the word labour, so as to restrict its application and meaning to a class, a party or a particular school of sociological thought. In the name of Labour we have Individualism, Socialism, Syndicalism, Communism, Anarchism, Pacifism', Militarism, and various other "isms" preached, until thinking people wonder "what in thunder is Labour?" A party is not necessarily Labour because it calls itself such.

In my opinion the present self-named 'New Zealand Labour Party" is not Labour in any true sense, bnt a hybrid political combination founded on conflicting social doctrines, some of wbich 'are strongly destructive and anti-Labour in principle.

With these preliminary remarks I turn to Mr. Parlane's letter. It was unnec-' essary for him to recite the fact that I was repeatedly elected to public offices as a Labour Party candidate, that is well known. When he argues, however, that "there is no material difference in principles. ' policy, or methods of the 'Labour Party' to-day and those of the movement of 'my' time" ho is totally wrong. The party I belonged to was nationalist and civic in character. The, present Bed party he is associated with .is syndicalist as regards industry: internationalist on a class basis, and classconsciously hide-bound instead of broadly civic in its outlook. . Though I held many public positions T have never heard anyone assert that I over used my public office for mere •party or class ends. In the days'when 'I aa"t with Councillors Hindmarsh -and fregear in the Wellington City Council we would never have thought of trailing -thp party coat on the floor of th» chamber, nor forever screaming about "class," as has been done of recent times. I am-opposed to the present syndicalist party, misnamed "Labour," and its twin-brother, of the I.W.W. school, the Alliance; of Labour, because I am convinced that the principles and designs of these organisations are in character distinctly' anti-Labour, in the* sense that if successful they will, jnstead of serving the people, do great injury to the mass of our population and to New .Zealand as a nation.

Regarding municipal affairs, I admit frankly that, at one timee I thought party was necessary in civic business, although when I was first elected to the City Council I had no organisation behind me of any kind. A fairly long experience and the fuller thought which experience evokes, now shows mo that my previous conception was wrong. I had changed my opinions on this question long before the Civic League carae into existence. Your correspondent was of course right when" he wrote: "The mere fact of Mr. M'Laren saying that such and such is Syndicalism or Bolshevism is no proof that it is so." I hay« no wish that anyone should accept ray mere dictum, therefore, I will present the evidence on which my assertion is based. The following are official pronouncements of the party under discission: —

<f (1) Municipal platforms:—Dunedm : "Adequate representation of municipal employees upon all committees administering trading departments." Wellington: "Representation of Tramwaymen's Union on the Management Committee of the tramways, and of other city employees on the management committees of the various city services." (2) Parliamentary platform:—"Whera national ownership of an industry is effected, all labour for such industry, and at least half the Board of Control in each case shall be appointed by tha union or-unions affected."

(3) "Alliance'" objective :—"The collective ownership of the means of production and . distribution and control of all industries by the workers, who operate them in the interests of the community." The essence of syndicalism is control 'of the industry by the workers engaged in it. I submit that the doctrine of above clauses is distinctly and definitely syndicalist. The Alliance advocates excuse tuis doctrine by a specious dwelling on the words "in the interests of the community." The Anarchist who throws bombs professes tbjj^-he does so "in the interest of the community." • In the municipal plank the party seeks a share of control; in the second step majority of control, and in the last full control. It is syndicalism moving towards communism. As this, litter is of sufficient length, I will leave the rest of my subject for a further occasion, if opportunity offers.—l am, etc., IV MTiAKEN.