Grey River Argus and Blackball News WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1922. PRACTICAL UNIONISM.

Grey River Argus, 31 May 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1922. PRACTICAL UNIONISM.

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Although there is good sense, there also is a misconception, in the article under the above heading appearing in another column. It is commendable in urging a revival of practical interest among workers of all trades in unionism, but to decry theory as such invalidates even the plea for interest. The position in the industrial world to-day is utterly chaotic and it is never your practical man, but the unpractical man, who is required to evolve a new line of action when the old ones fail of a solution! The writer rightly emphasises the analogy between the rise of unionism and Christianity, as the gospel of the rights of labour had like the other gospel to overcome untold persecution, and still imposes duties upon its beneficiaries, such as mutual service and brotherhood, in place of distrust, opposition, or recrimination. It is also true that of late years interest in the New Zealand labour movement has been confined less strictly than it used to be to the old trades unionism, but that is not necessarily an ultimate loss, since changing conditions demand the perception of new policies. Thus neither the dignity nor the protection of labour has yet been anywhere adequately attained by the old unionism, which, being sectional, has revealed itself to modern workers as in that respect suicidal! We except the lawyers and doctors, but we arc thinking of the masses as a whole. It is round this point of united action, as a matter of fact, that the theories of to-day chiefly centre. Theory, as such, cannot be ruled out, else who shall stand? Not even the practical man. If the uplifting influence of unionism lead to new ideas, shall they be ignored? Rightly, however, docs the writer de-

nand of the theorists a reason for the ’aiih that is in them, and so it is also ip to him! A n explanation of the working of practical unionism would be ‘imely. The veteran is not necessarily the best teacher if his mind crystallise so that his gaze turn more fondly to the past than to the future! Moreover, intellect nal progress proceeds upon a battle of wits, and no progress without the mind Jdaze tin* t rail. At the same time, there are certain fundamental principles of action, not even peculiar to the Labour movement but to all human endeavour for the welfare of the race, that need, as the writer mentioned remarks, to be inculcated in the rising generation of workers, who must be taught that they have io help themselves. Good leaders :re essential, but, a confidence born of knowledge in their followers is equally so. In all great movements there is a rhythm of thought and action, and when the new generation dors take action, there may be a great deal more doing than when action was taken by the generation now passing. All observers agree that a great social and industrial change is on the eve of being born, and its conception is the process now going on. It will require indeed the thoroughly practical ami united action of The organised working class when the time for its incidence arrives. It therefore behoves all workers to hearken to every call tor a revived interest, in the historical and authentic organs of their class, of which the various unions and federations are among the chief. It is high time that dissensions were banished, because there is undoubtedly common ground whereon all workers can co-op-erate, in the spheres of organisation and education both industrial and political. A inorbund unionism ver taiiilv would undermine the whole nio.emeiit, and the men who can infuse new life into this matrix of modern labour organisation must take a foremost place among the leaders ami helpers of their class. We must crawl, indeed, ere we walk, and it would Im* a fatal mistake in .scaling the social edifice to kick from under the ladder of unionism which has raised us anywise at all. We should, therefore, welcome further discussion on the question of how best to attain a general revival in practical unionism.