ENEMY OF WALSH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 September 1925, Page 5

ENEMY OF WALSH.

lIAVELOGK WILSON, FIGHTER AND THINKER.

THE; MAN TO-DAY. (By F.H.A. in the Sydney Sun.) Havelock Wilson, 0'.8.E. What .sort of .a man is lief lb is said ho may come to Australia. His >sihadorw span®! the gap between the old country and the new, hanging silent, hurt, powerful and impressive over the fateful meetings gi deep-sea seamen in each port of Australia. For he is the man, who speaking for British seamen in far-flung ports of the Empire, accepted- the wage reduction. It is his action which has supplied the primary motive for. the present waterfront revolt, though its swift bursting into flame lias been due largely to other forces, antagonistic and eager. Ait opposing ends of the dispute stand Havelock Wilson and Walsh,' bitter enemies in a feud, largely personal, .which has remained at fever heat over "many year®. A swift 'and sweeping extension of the revolt will he a fine victory for Walsh and a keen 'blow at his powerful rival. Joseph Havelock Wilson is a big figure in Labour circles .ait Home. One ot the most moderate of the leader®, he has naturally .a licet of enemies, who. seize on every pretext to allege that lie is playing the cards of the capitalists. - With insight and vision he has engineered "many settlements which have represented wage reductions, bat at the same time have shown his keen appreciation of economic realities. A.lmusiti solely through his efforts has the National Seamen and Firemen’is Union, of which he is president of post-war industrial strife and bickering. A powerful and professed opponent of extremism and Red tyranny, a two--handed fighter, a courageous thinker and talker, a man of international outlook, lie stands to-day, triumphing alike over physical infirmities and the bludgeonings of hi® enemies. In the office of th© Union in Westminster Bridge Road, London, he is an autocrat, almost a little Napoleon. Reigning alone, his personality niaintains him oil an eminence of reverence and power. His sway over his executive is undisputed. He is the big man —and they know it. He is not an easy person to interview. hut when you pass the barriers and the barrage of questioning, you find him seated in a comfortable chair, ready with a keen and alert mind to know your business, satisfy it, and — see you go. For years he -lias been unable to walk without discomfort. His officers wait outside, ready to hasten in, when he bangs the cigarette ash tray —he scorns a hell—with quick, impatient knocks.

A heavy, swarthy face, thick moustache, and hair brushed up on each side from his forehead, he looks a self-advanced, successful Labour leader. READY TO FIGHT. But his eyes attract attention; keen, penetrating, agents of a quick, alert mind behind. Short ancl snappy in speech, impatient of interruptions or suggestions, a facile glow of thought, he gives the impression of a man with a self-appointed mission, sure of himself, and ready to fight. Walsh is anathema to him. A few years ago a breakaway union was formed in London, anil Wilson was sure he saw the hand of Walsh behind it. A long distance, but none th e iess vitriolic, fight on paper —in letters and in union journals—ensued. The British leader firmly believes that Walsh is always plotting, scheming, watching to sabotage him and bis influence, and to reign in his stead. It is war to th© knife lietween them, and now has come Walsh’s big opportunity. He may be eager to adjust what he considers the grievances of the British seamen; he is eager to tak© the field against his enemy. Havelock Wilson left the sea to agitate for better conditions for seamen. He has Liberal tendencies, is a member of the National. Liberal Club, has aroused the ire of the wild element by attending Royal receptions, and has served in Parliament as representative for Middlesbrough and South Shields, the latter from 1918-22 He is 66 years of age and still a terrier for fight.