MR. ROBERTS REPLIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 117, 14 November 1930, Page 8

MR. ROBERTS REPLIES

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In your issue of 12th November there appears a letter under the pen name of W. H. Smith, Watcrsider. The letter deals with the Alliance of Labour and unemployment, and its themo is such that it reminds me of tho tramcar that passes our door —we can expect the same noise per time-table, and, while I have no desire to enter tho lists with Mr. W. H. Smith, I would advise him that it would be to his interests and tho interests of the readers of "The Post" if he were to confine himself to facts. First, ho states that there are only five, organisations in the Alliance of Labour. In reply, I beg to inform him that there are nine of the largest national organisations in New Zealand affiliated, and more than one hundred local unions, many of these local unions having a membership ranging from one thousand upwards. Further, he asks me to show the difference between the method of election of workers' representatives on the Unemployment Board and the method of election adopted in selecting a Labour representative for the Geneva Conference. In reply, I would first advise him not to rush into print about questions of which he apparently knows nothing, for tho request the Alliance of Labour made' to' the Acting-Prime Minister and tho Minister of Labour on Tuesday last was that the same method of election be adopted in selecting the Unemployment Board representatives as was adopted in selecting the Labour delegate for the Geneva Conference. The selection of the representative of the workers for the Geneva Conference was carried out in the same manner as the election of the workers' representative on the Arbitration Court; in other words, certain candidates were nominated and these nominations were submitted to the unions; each union was allowed a voting strength according to its membership, and tho person who received the greatest number of votes was declared elected and duly appointed by the Minister of Labour. That is exactly the procedure that the Alliance of Labour desires in connection with the election of two representatives on the Unemployment Board. His third inaccuracy is that the Alliance of Labour does not believe in political action; as a matter of fact, I think that all the affiliations to the Alliance of Labour are also affiliated with the New. Zealand Labour Party, which is sufficient refutation of the absurd charge made by Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith's fourth inaccuracy is that the Alliance of Labour goes cap in hand to the Government seeking publicity. Well, I would ask the "Evening Post" to inquire of its reporters who were present at many deputations, and, their evidence will be sufficient to prove that there is very little of the cap in hand and begging policy about the men who represent the Alliance of Labour or about the organisation itself. , Indeed, Mr. W. H. Smith appears to be simply parroting the phrase pf many political Labour men who use this statement, alas too frequently, in their political campaigns. Now, as to Mr. Smith's reference to unemployment, I quite agree with him that there are hundreds of waterside workers at the present time who are earning only a very poor wage, but I Havo to point out to him that neither the Minister of Labour nor those who are seeking positions on the Unemployment Board cared a rap about the waterside workers because when the Bill first appeared not- one reference was mado to casual workers at all, and it was only the Alliance of Labour and its affiliations that asked the Minister to include in the Bill somp reference to casual workers. The Bill does not even now make definite provisions to assist our friend Mr. Smith and other men who deserve assistance through very casual employment. It is for that and several other reasons that tho Alliance of Labour considers that the waterside workers and their fellowworkers organised in trade unions throughout the Dominion should be allowed the opportunity to select men who will place the position of the casual worker and every worker who needs assistance before the board and insist on justice being given to tho unfortunate unemployed workers throughout New Zealand.—l am, etc., JAS. ROBERTS, Secretary, N.Z. Alliance of Labour. 13th November.