ALLIANCE OF LABOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 July 1924, Page 6

ALLIANCE OF LABOUR.

SHOWING ITS HEAL CHARACTER. (Contributed by the Welfare League.) There are still a number of jjeople in New Zealand who think the Alliance of Labour is just a federation of trade unions, established for trade union purposes. That its aims are far more revolutionary and dangerous is shown by a reading of its constitution. Its objects are set out as:

(1) The organisation of the wageworkers of New Zealand on the lines of class and industry. (2) The collective ownership of the means of production and distribution and control of all industries bv the workers who operate them in the interests of the community.

Recently the vice-president, Mr L. Glover, in a speech at Palmerston North, set out more in detail the character of this Alliance. He dealt with the railway strike, and said: “The A.S.R.S. executive was asked to hand the dispute over, and thev refused to do so.” That is interesting, because it proves that the Alliance seeks to control the affairs of affiliated unions or societies. Mr H. E. Combs secretary of the N.Z. Post and Telegraph Association, took in hand to show the members of his association that there was no danger in their affiliating with the Alliance, as the 'association'would be free to manage its own affairs, and could not be entangled in an outside strike or other industrial trouble It is now evident that Mr Combs was wrong. The A.S.R.S. executive has definitely settled that.

A further reoort of Mr Glover’s speech says; “Pie traced the unit from the workshop or factory through the industrial department on to the National Industrial Council, which was the central body. It was there, Mr Glover said, all disputes such as the railway dispute should be handed over and finally dealt with by the representatives of every organisation. He said that had the raihvaymen followed this course the result would have been entirely different. Never before in the history of New Zealand were the industrial and political bodies so closely linked together as at the nresent time The objective of the Alliance of Labour and the Labour Party were the same. Further, that the Alliance of Labour now held control of Labour’s weekly paper, the N.Z. Worker, and a working understanding had been entered into whereby the Labour Party had a certain amount of space allotted to it.” The notable points m these remarks are:

(1) According to the Alliance “all such disputes such as the railway disputes should be handed over and finally dealt with by the representatives of every organisation. ” 'That means the trade union should relinquish control of its own affairs, which is certainly not the principle of trade unionism.

(2) “The objective of the Alliance of Labour and the Labour Party were the same.” This shows that the Alliance is a political body and uses industrial organisation solely for a political object, which is revolutionary in charactercontrol of all industries by the workers who operate them—the Soviet ideal. (3) The Alliance holds control of the Labour paper, and allots certain space to the Labour Party. Altogether we have presented in this Alliance an organisation base’d on the syndicalism principle of class dominance in industry and poltics. In what respects its principle differs from the Communist doctrine of Soviet Russia we fail to understand, though it may have other methods in view for effecting the change it seeks, than those adopted bv Lenin.

What is here disclosed is that in New Zealand we have joint association of political and industrial Socialists—probably largely the same persons—who use language which appears to justify the inf.eience that thee are prepared to use either direct or political action as may suit their interests. Such language, if the inference ,is justifiable, is equivalent to telling the electors that they are out to boss the country; and if they cannot win bv a majority of votes they will seek'to effect their purpose by direct action. ?J S c l . p,e '? sing to fuid th:lt the A.S.R.S., the Post and Telegraph. Association, and many workers’ 'unions are not favourable to the methods of direct action. There is great political J ibgrtv in New Zealand, but any attempt to combine direct action with it must he fought at every point as an attempt that is most dangerous towards .T democratic constitution of our Dominion.