THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 14607, 1 July 1911, Page 2

THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

[By J.P.A.] Brief contributions on matters with reference to the Labor movement are invited. A TOUCHY COMRADE. After my notes were in the printer’s hands last week the following letter was handed me from. Mr Frank Freeman, Socialist organiser, who has been doing good work for his party in this City for some weeks past: You have a column in Saturday’s ‘Star’ headed “The Labor Movement.” Cannot its title be changed to “ The Arbitration Act Defence Movement ” ? This would be more in keeping with the opinions expressed therein. Further, there would be little or no doubt as to whether its outpourings were then those of an avowed enemy or a blind friend to „ the Labor movement. The position at Waihi is troubling J.F.A. Does he already feel the New Zealand Federation of Labor are out to win at Waihi, and the believers in the old and now well-nigh useless trades unionism receive another shock? This shock may even reach to the drowsy Dunedin trades unionists. Contrast the petty pin-pricking of the writer of the “ Labor Movement column to the manly stand made by the Federation of Labor during the ' late shearers’ dispute. More so when the federation did not believe in the tactics of the shearers. It would have been more to the honor of J.F.A. if he had recognised the fact that the Federation are fighting the opponents of Labor just now. Such a message as the shearers received—“ Your fight is our fight”— would have shown the true spirit of Labor and a Labor M.P. Instead of which, at the very moment when the struggle is the fiercest, there is expressed indirect congratulations of a hoped-for split in Labor at Waihi. It shall not be forgotten when the Waihi smoke has njlod away. A protest must be made against the last two sentences .in the first paragraph of “Labor Movement.” The threatenings of the formation of an atavistic union in Waihi have nothing to do with the federation acting upon the principle of the strike being the last resort. Before the Waihi dispute, and always, it will bo the last weapon to use. The cheap sneer of discovering the federation in the “ guise of a peacemaker ” is evidence of the sublime ignorance of the writer upon industrial unionism, or another instance of the clear side teaching of its _ opponents. Industrial unionism recognises that a dispute won moans an improved position for the overthrow of capitalism ; a dispute lost means more educational effort to be carried on amongst the workers. Thus, wliatevor happens at Waihi, there will be no alteration in the work of the New Zealand Federation of Labor. —Why This Tirade?—

Mr Freeman misunderalands tho object of this column if he is of opinion that it is for the purpose of vindicating the actions of unionists or employers, socialists or capitalists. What 1 do is to give a true index of the Labor movement throughout the world. This is what was done in the case of Waihi so that my friend's statement that it would have been more to my honor if I, had recognised the fact that the federation were fighting the opponents of Labor, and that a message such as “ Your fight is onr fight ” would have shown the true spirit of Labor, has no bearing. Mr Freeman suggests that. I am in a state of sublime ignorance upon industrial unionism. I like that; it sounds nice. Shall 1 admit, then, that 1 know just about as much of industrial unionism as Mr Freeman knows about Fades urinn ism, and cry quits? But that is not what is troubling my porrespmidc.it. I he fact ia that while the ~yas of the indwuial interests of New Zealand won; on Waihi, expecting a big strike, and five days bof- re Mr Freeman wrote, I was troubled because I felt that his federation were out for a win at Waihi, and that “ the snuggle was at its fiercest.” I was able to tell the readers of the ‘ Star ’ that there would be no strike, and to give reasons why the fight could not bo fierce. I am told chat my note “shall not be forgotten when the Waihi smoke has rolled away.” Why, it had rolled away before the words were penned by him. But why does Air Freeman speak of this fierce fight that, they were going to win, and which would give trades unionism another shock, as “smoke”? Surely because he knows that there was no body and no fire in it. After the men. had had a conference with the companies, and the latter had adopted an uncompromising attitude, 1 find the federation saying: “We are anxious to diet a peaceful settlement” ; “We never at any conference issued an uhimalum to the ernployers ” ; “ We are prepared to discuss the position with them fiom A to Z round the table in a friendly conference” ; “Yes, we will seek another conference.” That is Mr Freeman’s fierce fight. Well, I "call it next to throwing up the sponge. In any case, it was courting defeat, and as soon as I read it I wrote my note “ There will be no strike at Waihi.” And 1 was right, and my friend did not like it. I. leave the reference to the “drowsy Dunedin trades unionists ” for the consideration of those to whom it alludes. But Mr Freeman will find tho Dunedin worker as wide awake as most, and more intelligent than many. He may not bo easily led on every' impulse, but he is faithful to his convictions. ******* LABOR AT INVERCARGILL. The Selection Committee of the Invercargill Labor party have approached a number of gentlemen, with a view to allowing their names to go forward as Labor candidates for that seat. Only one, however, has consented-^-viz., Air H. J. Farrant —whose nomination has been endorsed. As to his prospects of unseating the present member, “ Worker,” in the Labor column of the ‘ Southland Times,’ says; “Tho return of this candidate depends to the greatest, extent on the unorganised workers, who, reputedly at any rate, are supposed to be not as ‘sound on the goose’ as their organised brethren. But here we have the loading nnionkls of Southland at loggerheads over a question which vitally affects the future welfare of the. trades union movement, and that being so, what hope is there of the rank and file coming to an agreement? Viewing these happenings logically, and coolly, calmly, and collectedly, it_ would seem that to expect solidarity in the Labor movement in Invercargill at the present time, one might as well expect the moon to turn into green cheese.” «.«**** » MILLAR OR MUNRO—WHICH? Dunedin must have Mu tiro out against Millar. Jim is a clean fighter, a hard hitter, and the Scotch dearness all burnt out by the New Zealand climate. Employer ;t«s he now is, you find the workers seeking his help in the trades union world. Many of them know the successful fight be and his partner put up against the flour and bread ring in Dunedin. The local Labor party are playing at the game of resurrection. Three years ago Aiunro was amongst them. To-day he looks from a clearer and loftier height. Dunedin has opportunity with such a candidate to make poor old Millar more testy than Moriarty made him at Wellington the other week. The socialist never loses at. an election votes or no votes. Ho just g.v-. s the other fellow qualms of conscience, or what is left of his conscience, and shines as a light to lighten the Gentiles.— ‘ Maoriland Worker.’ *•***■»»* In a recent issue of the ‘ Bedfordshire Mercury ’ some extraordinary particulars were given of the conditions under which Coronation finery was made by peasant lacemakers. It said: All the female members of a family arc often engaged in the laceraaldng, even the children of four and five years of age. By working ceat-eleseiy as long as a summer day gives light, a very clever lacemaker may possibly earn a shilling a day. “ If I work very hard,” said one-woman to the reporter, “hardly stopping for anything at all, I can perhaps make tenpennyworth of lace. T should have to be very fact and work from sense© to dark to earn a dulling.” The I

Queen has recently ordered five pieces of Bedfordshire lace and two lace collars, and some of these sweated peasants axe now engaged in making veils for peeresses to wear at the Coronation. * * » A branch of the Auckland Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Union has been established in Gisborne. * * * Last January a trade union was formed By the employees in the Potone Woollen Mills, membership of which was made available to the mill workers of both sexes. Steady progress has been made by the union since its inception ; it has now nearly 150 members. It is the intention of the organisation to have the working conditions at the mills regulated by an award. To »that end a committee has for some time past been engaged in preparing a list of demands for presentation to the employers. Improved conditions d! labor are asked for, for both weekly and piecework hands, a very extensive and technical “log" has been framed, and higher rates cf ray claimed. The employers are to be asked for a conference to discuss the demands. * * * The Amalgamated Society of Engineers in Sydney have sent in a wage claim to the Wages Board, asking for the following rates :—“ For fitters, turners, blacksmiths (including men using, smithing machines, such as drop hammers, Oliver hammers, swaging machines, etc.), brassfinishens, planers, Blotters, borers, millers, shapers, and tool grinders, the rates to be not less than Is 9d an hour; for pattern-makers, coppersmiths, diesinkers, angle-iron smith*, 1 millwrights, and press toolmakers, not less than Is lOd an honr; drillers and other ma< hint sis, Ls 4d.” The moulders, boilermakers, and ironworkers’ assistants are not included in the claim. * * * Tho Auckland Waterside Union, with a view of increasing the attendance of their members at the fortnightly meetings, have decided to try the experiment of meeting in the daytime, and in future will meet on alternate Wednesday mornings, at 9.30. Wednesday is usually an off day on the wharves, and it is expected that there will be larger attendances at the meetings. * * * The German Metalworkers’ Union, with a membership of 500.000, is said to be tho greatest labor organisation in the world. Since its foundation the union has spent £760,000 in fighting employe re, and £900,000 on members out of employment. The credit balance at date is £400,600. *