In Our Opinion

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 43, 5 January 1912, Page 11

In Our Opinion

nPHE political situation continues to ho ■entertaining ajid ,instructive. The virtuous attitude of each side to its..-lf and its superior indignation ovn the wiekodn.-ss of its opponent J3 cynical amusement for the non-par-tisan. Both Ward Tarty and Massc;t Path , are keen for oflic-e. Success largely depends upon diplomacy. It is a contest of wits. For ourselves we are careless of the issue. The chief concern, is.that men oWled in tlm nnnip of Labor or Socialism shall enienr unsullied from (he squabble. Ncklict Ward nor Massoy is anything to them. Independence, is the hope. rrUJE attention of readers is directed to the announeeiuent in this issue relating to managerial change in ''The Worker." Now is a gnod time to forward subscriptions and to settle accounts. We need all the cash we can get. Orders for job-printing will be appreciated, as will the receipt of even the smallest advertisement. Boost "Tit.' Worker!" Make its triumphal year. » . fTU'l'j Auckland trasr.waynieu's dispute li.is been settled without recourse jio a strike, and nilh satisfaction to the men. We are glad of that. We do not desire strikes, although accused of en doiny by people who are too ijj;noraiit to study our principles. Y\o hol-.l iliat the ri-l)i, to strike oup:ht nevr to be given up. but strikes are not <>iir only weapons Industrial Uni i-HHin is said to have- but one weapon- iiit' general 'strike. That is a das' :;d!y lie. The history of the I'Vdpr.ali.r.i of Labor proves that Industrial Un. i:;is;r :. n bettor friend of th" work- , ! - l-h.'ii the Arbitration Court. an.-l Hint, i l ' ueef'ss .if il> ; -« n:--,]ri-.:.)■ $ioii is <lue f'i iiiodeiii mclho !s mid 1-he

I •■>:oi» behind a. body of united anrl donion. It is noteworthy that 'i ,:h tho W.-iliiig'.oii "Times" and ■•pi?t" .'.-oii'iMK'iO'l the. attitude of tlio -.■•ip'.v-'ors in to the :..(') iprV P;;:.)'! on Uμ* that it ];.<,] •'■irii.-ir;iv-:i frvr; t,!i:it ridiculous in■:iit::t;\i:i—l!>.> Arbitration Court. Even • >v: i'-i>vij *':;•' ■•Dominion-," while not admi , '?•:.>.; Uvv. Labor wola in the right, ■Mf->t'-.!lv r--f rained from saying it was :r. '.'[.•> A In" come over (!p> ejp-itaii-st press, due to "Tho Worker ,, and tho changed political sitt.i'io:;- I:i'(>-"i, all over tho world tho [m h hi'^-iiiiiii y to realise the fact 'Ikk L\)V o\n no longer be treated 'vith tint lofty superiority that was so •'hiiractoriitiv of tiio press in tlio past. L.i'ioi i> liow .is .human and a,s hiving reasonable* rights which cannot bo s:i?ored out of existence It is well, + "IT!.? JOHN ROBERTSON, tlio newlylfJL . Moet-ed Socialist M.P. for Ofcaki, 'vilioi in at ' The Worker" oflice a few d;.iv3 o-d'ore Christmas He emphati- < ;il!v do.ii.d pledgvd himself to >::p')ort tii» Massey Party. In reply lo :v.: ''stions put t<> him during tho elee'.i)!i. i[i> st;t-(iv] that on a rot-e of n<>i"'>:i!id'.'r.ci» Iro would treat both parties alike—lhat is, vote against. Mioni. That:, lv -wii, M-as the o::ly aUiuidc- he could <v)t;=i'M<>Mtiovi.sly f ;■,!•;.' iip. i,li-. Holx-rt-J> n. :": !ii.iy l)° ''lUed, was not officially -\i\ ; iv tlio y-jciaii.st I , arty or tho l'Vd■M:i:io; : :)\ Lahor, mit wii.s selected h\ '.ii!> Haxifiill-Ts , Union to ront-pst (hr ■«'at. H<> stated that the orsa.nisiii;; work he hnd done amongst tho flaxniill"i's w;js the chief factor in his suo- '■■•■>.■>*. Mr. Ro!)'.'rtsO!i should be rogard- •:. v i a.3 a Soi'i-ilist I'.ult'poirlpnt. and his pailiati'ciitnry career will !ie watched ■vith intojvst. The ''D.jit-.inioii" gives pu'ilifity to t!ie fact lliat Mr. Robertson's supporters hare, been boycotted ijy tlv" l.i ; ,">rals. Atet'sods such as those '■.hi Juiv.'- but one eflV"t—that is, t-o d: -sr'.'vdit and damage tiio party or; v."!n»•=«-■ !>'.■■*::ilr they a: , ,.' carriod out. IT tii.ie of wri'iii:; til ■ threatened ■Urik' l of the '\Vi'!iii;.i, l i)n iraniiViiy- :;■;.> i- of!'. That is a mailer for satall round, li- is satisfactory tv .see tltat tho men rejli-o'd (.hat the resort to a shiko is a las , ; resourceii'K to !>e upon, nor yet to ''ii- ifi'i'i'ii U]> ii'il' 1 " :ii!v eirciimstan'•i'.- V. ha'.'ViT. j".if Oiiy Coui\eil has l)jiM)dei-i"! a'l i'!r;>';j;h t Se Tii:' liio!! di'mnndivi i.l.at Inspector I'ulIcr ha wiilidr.uvn. it luving been -.iiowii that ii! cai'syii: 4 out his duties !;■> had lieu :,n j'xa.:,,(o;al:-d type of ;!iat soi-i:il ji.\-t — the petty official who c-o'ii-A to tii.' full his "little brief iiiili.omy.'" Tlio C'>>i;:ril, after decid- '■:'■_!: to remove the inepector, re-oponod thi' tiiiuif'r, and pending it* settlement, aU'-wed Inspector Fulle;- to temain at hi* post. This wa-i a sad mistake, and was rijjiHy re-'i'l.nd by the men. Aiiii'lior mistake n;sr]i- b.7 the City l r a!.h./rs, who seem to fiavp lost their reason, was thr- di<-ussiou. in open council, of a. ronfid'Uitial report made by iln* tramway in wliicli it was alleged that lralpractices were rai'rif'd <>n b.r certain conrluoiors in connection with ticket sales. The men finally withdrew their threat to strike, and aski'd that a .special incctiiia; of the Council ln> I','lfl to ,-onsid'i- die mad" Tn.iperior V'lillcr. Tins was a-iv,'d to. V»'.> trust that Hi" dispute will '»• sottl.'d aniieablv. am! Iha I" the r.'eii, Invinj; realised the \irtur.s of the priiicipi.'s of Indiisirial r r uio!iism, will join their fellow workers i:i t:;<' l''eder:i I.ioi: of I.alxir. They wotild Lben be a!i!e to enforce (heir deniavih without, a. 3t:'k>\ :n: 1 also to :;-■:• j'|.» l-tsl. c.'s.)-!!-,--, if to s.jl'.u' purpo.-st^,

TT is well that we bo reminded that platforms are only a moans to an end. That/end is tho Co-operative- Common wealth, in whirh land and capital shall be socialised ami operated for (ho good of all Ie is well, too, that we be reminded that legislative action is only a means to an end, that mere_ political machinery is useless unless used to produce better social condition!. Wo are fast approaching the day of full democratic pnwr-rs, when government by the p-oplo will be almost, scientifically perfect. What we need to keep our eye 3 upon is tho attainment of "industry of the people, by tho people, for the people." Then, and only thrai, will deport forever the fear of want and unemployment, together with wage-slavery and poverty.

QOME Socialists regard the Trust as '"-'the John the Baptist of The Cause, and loudly damn any attempt to scotch tho monster monopoly. Indeed, Mr. W. Hiighos, the Federal AttorneyGeneral, used to hold the view that the Trust was a holy and wholesome thing which ought to be left alone to flourish like a green bay tree. That may account for his delay in prosecuting the New South Wales Coal Vend, which lias been propagating scientific Socialism (for its own benefit) since 1906. Mr. Hughes, however, is paid to apply the law. which lias decided anti-trust sentiments, a<: I tiu> Coal Vend has at last been hauled over the coals. Tin's little ring of social reformers was fined £19,000 and costs totalling over £30,000, Cur combining in restraint of trade, etc. Moreover, the Vend must discontinue its secret, selfish and illegal business, oven if the Social Revolution has to wait a while. Mr. Justice- Isaacs found against tho monopolists all along the line, and said that a separate penalty for each year would be inadequate to moot tho merits, or rather demerits, of this gigantic conspiracy. Each and every one of the defendants was fined £CQQ, the full penalty, except the Associated Northern Collieries, all the members of which has been fined to the statutory limit. The hearing lasted for 73 days, and the reading of tho judgment, which was a masterly document, containing 100,000 words, occupied 10} hours