HALF-WAY MEN.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 17

HALF-WAY MEN.

Dear "Worker," —The, above is the title given to a small article in the "Cosmopolitan" for February last, by R. W. Ivauffman. In my opinion, it is singularly appropriate at this particular time in New Zealand, for we have plenty of evidence that there are in this country a lot of half-way men in politics, industrial unionism, sioealled Christianity, and every other "social reform on the cards of various political platforms, industrial unions, and sects. I will take first the political field. Have we got a whole man in the so-called Labor movement standing for Parliament? I have not found him yet. There may be one knocking around in some of the mining, centres, but here in Wellington they ;come under the 'heading of half-way nien. There is only one; name, for such, mon. In the field ef iiidu atrial unioniai», we have far

more half-way men than whole men. A few weoks back there was a vote taken on the Wellington wharf laborers re joining the Federation of Labor. We find that .out of the.: 1000 or more financial members of the union only a Tittle over 700 voted. Now, the mcii who did not exercise their A'ote on a question of this sort are no men at all, as they are perfectly aware that by taking an active interest in their own affairs they are doing far more good for themselves than all the politicians/ secretaries of unions, and other officials put together. Those who voted against joining fche Federation come under the heading of half-way men, as they are neither one thing nor the other.

In conclusion, if we are to have whole men in charge of our parliaments, unions, social bodies, etc., where are we going to find them ? Are we to look for our representatives in parliament from the N.Z. Labor Party, who are only half-way men at best, or are we going to prove ourselves whole men in the near future;, and select whole men for the position? Are we going to be made half-way men by adopting a half-way man's policy—namely, "Mills unity scheme," or are we going to prove ourselves whole men by getting into the N.Z.. Federation of Labor, which has a few at least whole men in its ranks? The Federation policy is a whole policy, riot a half-way one, and is the policy 'that every whole workingma nought to adopt. My advice to the whole of the workers in Wellington is to o-et into the Federation as soon as possible, thereby proving themselves whole .men in the first place and, another thing, when you are there, take an active interest in your own affairs, thereby bettering your oavii conditions by -your own efforts, not leaning on some M.P. or union secretary and going to them with your demands for them to tinker with and at the finish betray you. Finally, in the words of Mr. Kauffman: "The day of Laodiceans is past. 'Because tliou art lukewarm, and neither cold ; nor hot,' said the Voice that spoke on the Isle of Patmos. /I .will spue thee out of my mouth. There are whole men whose mere bodies are in shameful service, but these halfmen are the servile souls; they are not worth the trouble and expense of damnation. —Yours, etc., , Well- W. H. DOUGLAS.