SYNDICALISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1912, Page 5

SYNDICALISM

[TO THE EDITOR.]

Sir,-—Your leader on Syndicalism was opportune. No one seemed to clearly understand what was meant by the word so often seen in the cables. Those dynamiters, the MaoNamaras and the Miners’ Federation of America, Ben Tillet, Beer-waterer Tom Mann, the I.W.W. and Semple’s Federation aim at the same thing. It won-’t succeed. The wrong people have got hold of it. Why the unions don’t put some of their funds into shares of the various companies employing labor instead of aiming at what . can never bo beats everything. The money wasted by the various unions I have been connected with would have bought shares in Westport Coal, Waihi, Progress, Union Company, etc., and instead of striking, or threatening to, like the Grey Wateraiders did, they could have sent some “reputable gentleman” to represent at the annual meeting in Dunedin. In fact the -workers could have a say in the management of all these companies if they only-liked. Some of the balancesheets issued by some unions would make a Chicago word, politician blush. The secretary gets his cut first. Then he gets- another under the heading of “organising,” then travelling expenses, then a bike, repairs to bike and then comes that grand-old stand by “miscellaneous expenses.” Now, the Bed Flag Bag. gets, a cut. You must pay for the “Worker” though they don’t compel you to.read it and that’s something to be thankful for. Most secretaries, after their -cut comes out of the funds, see to it there is nothing left for anybody''else and let anybody be ; too inquisitive about where the money gees and then he will hear something. I am, etc., ■ -FAIR DEAL.”