Grey River Argus TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1928. LABOUR’S SUCCESS ABROAD.

Grey River Argus, 6 November 1928, Page 4

Grey River Argus TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1928. LABOUR’S SUCCESS ABROAD.

The fear that the political record of Labour in New Zealand stands too high in the public estimation to give the slightest colour to any slur east upon its candidates for Westland and Buller, has prompted the anti-Labour press to look overseas for some peg upon Which to hang their hostile propaganda. It is true. that the papers in question ale shying clear of the. latest record of Labour at the ballot box, because they realise the truth of the declaration of Mr Ramsay Mac-

Donald that that record is for the ■supporters of Labour one undoubtedly of “magnificent encouragement.” In the British municipal elections, whilst the non-Labourites have lost 250 seats, Labour has gained 225 scats on the Councils, but in their captions to the naws of this wonderfully auspicious victory, the West Coast papers opposed to Labour's candidate have attempted to hide its significance, by ignoring the gains, and mentioning instead the cold consolation taken by British Tories in the fact that Communists fared very badly indeed at the polls. The truth, as remarked by Mr A. Henderson, the greatest political organiser in the British Empire, is that these victories show what may be expected in the next British Parliamentary elections, and demonstrate that the Labour Cause continues to make remarkable headway. Leaving this development entirely in the background, the local anti-Labour press instead makes the waterfront dispute in Australia the text of fantastic assertions, attributing to Labour politically what is undoubtedly the dictate of massed capital and anti-Labour politicians on the eve of the federal elections. The trouble at Port Melbourne is particularly exploited, but the fact is absolutely ignored that the Bruce-Page Nationalist Government, after importing thousands of foreign migrants, has given them the jobs of good Australians on the wharves, as non-unionists ami union-smashers, so that they might play the game of the Shipping King, and keep the watersiders in the slavery and economic uncertainty that will ensure a large surplus of labour among which to pick and choose at the sweet will of the shipowners. The very fact that the people against whom the admittedly excessive hostility of lire unionists has been directed are practically all foreigners, as remarked by the London papers, ought not to be ignored in the manner that it has been by the local papers, which are either ignorant or malignant in attributing to the Labour Party the evils of the policy of the Bruce-Page Nationalist Party, which has been in office for many years, and which has now reached the final political crime of decreeing a slave-code for the waterfront, by subjecting employment there to a licensing process which means nothing short of a slave status. Because men objected to returning three or four times daily to the wharves in quest of a job. the Federal Government proposes entirely to abolish the Waterside Workers’ federation under its martial law measure. The watersiders are Io be registered and licensed in the same manner as taxi drivers, if they refuse to register and become licensed, they will be outlawed from work on the waterfront. The Federation is entirely supplanted, and becomes at best a useless figurehead under the scheme. Apparently all awards are 1o be suspended, and employment will be offered on the owners’ terms. The proposal is without doubt the hardest blow ever aimed al unionism in Australia, and appears to be designed to deliberately cripple, first the Waterside Workers' Federation, and then probablv most of the other unions in succession. In view of all this, the suggestion that the Victorian Labour Government. ; s to blame for the workers’ resentment is utterly unjustified, and the fact that the police at the Melbourne waterfront were armed indicates that the Labour Government gave Mr Bruce no shadow of warranty for suggesting what is his fault is in anywise To be blamed upon the State Administration. Anybody who is familiar with the course of events in Australia will realise this, but the cables are utilised to mislead those who may not be familiar with the course of things on the Australian waterfront. It is at Melbourne that a host of foreigners have been allowed to oust native workers. We cannot do better than allow the famous Australian legislator, Frank Ansley, the writer of the notable books. “Bed Europe.” and “Money Powers,” and a member of the Federal Parliament, to slate lhe truth about the matter. In the Federal House, after lashing tin Cabinet for its showmanship on lhe eve of the elections, Mr Aust ey swung to lhe “dirty work” of the Nationalist agents who fomented trouble in different ports. “First, Western Australia— South Australia a few months later —then Queensland.” lie ticked them off on his fingers. “Trouble here and trouble there —your dirty work. Decent jobs found for them when the elections are over. You say their money comes from Moscow! Bah! Yes. Moscow —but your Moscow —the Employers’ Federation. There is a Communist newspaper in Sydney,” he went on. “Who put the money into it? Moscow? No. you! Who finds all this money that comes from Moscow? Who? Who else but you? Who gives good jobs to these agents? You do! These hired urgers and procurers—they arc those you pet and pander until the elections are over.” The Australian waterfront trouble has been engineered for political ends. That is why the number of “pick-ups” has been increased, why non-uni-onists have preference, and winforeigners replace natives. If the Bruce Government had paid more attention to economy, and had averted the danger of rendering the Commonwealth bankrupt. it would not now feel obliged to use such despicable tactics as it is using to retain office. If wo mistake not, its deliberate endeavour to embroil Labour will fail this month to achieve its object at the ballot box.