Eleventh Week— and Going Strong

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 72, 26 July 1912, Page 8

Eleventh Week — and Going Strong

Unbeatable Federation I

This "local" in the "N.Z. Times" of July 18 caught our oyo :—

"The misrepresentations of the Federation of Labor in regard to the United Labor Party's attitude towards tho Waihi and Reefton strikes arc corrected in the Labor page of to-day's issue." We .naturally turned to the Labor Page to discover those "misrepresentations." There weren't any. What we found was a reference to Tin-: Maoi'.h.anu Worker's leader of last issue, but in tho alleged reply to tho said leader wo could discover no complaint, let- alono charge of "misrepresentations." Why, then, the suggest io falsi?

There were no misrepresentations hi our leading article of last week. We don't mind being charged with misrepresentations if any attempt is made to schedule them, but to make the charge in one part of a paper and say nothing about the charge in another part of the paper—to which the reader has been referred —is the lie of suggestion in its meanest form. No, there were no misrepresentations in our leader last week. V.'c allowed the Trades Hall Council to state its case, and we h-mlb-d the case. If at the cud of the process the "case." had vanished, that wa.i not the Trades Council's fault cv-en though it was its misfortuaa. The Daily l\i'j;e, in indicating the principal information supplied by tis to Australian unionists, says it was "that Roardon, Carey, Young, Noot, Reyling are inconsistent, and that Mills has boon offensively referred to by them." The concluding portion of this sentence is admirable legeaxletnain: tho remainder is illusion..

Wo did not bother about the inconsistency of tho gentlemen named: we exposed the falsity of the Council's circular by tho Council's own professions, principles tad practices.

Oiwr quarrel with the Council is not with its. inconsistency, but with- its treachery. The- Daily Page proceeded as follows: "What the- paper in question [Wobkku] should plainly tell the Australian unionistis is that the victims of the Reefton lock-out have the sympathy,, and would have the support of tho unionists, of this country, except that they refuse to accept cash remitted U> them unless it shall be sent in such a way as to give- direct f.nd sj>prific support to- tlco Waihi blunder. " This is just what we did "plainly tell."' The Council bad said the Waihi fight was "wrong," and being "wrong" the Council could not support- it. Tho Council had also said the Reefton fight was "right" and being "right" the Council could not support it either! Wo put this quite plainly—just as wo also put quite plainly that it wasn't a question of "right" —despite- pious protestation —or of "wrong" with the Council, but a question of "giving any encouragement to the Federation of Labor."

So, that's all right, if we mutually understand that Council high-falutin' about the 'right" is so much smug cant "to save its face" (excuse our laughter).

What now occurs to us upon re-reading the foregoing excerpt from tho "Times" is why it isn't as wrong to give "sympathy" as to give "support" to a lock-out? Surely it is as "right" to give support as to give sympathy, morally estimated? Eli? One's cheaper, did you say? But you forget that we are dealing with lofty scientists of conduct. That excerpt ought to be framed. Its implications aro such boomerangs. "Except that they refuse"—who? "The victims" or "the unionists." Take it as meaning the former, and what shall wo say severe enough of a council certifying that people are VICTIMS aro in tho right, and then allowing a potty piece of red-tape to smother all their righteousness? As money must be as officially given per the Federation of Labor as per any other responsible organisation, the Trades and Labor Council hasn't money for the "right." It knows that two wrongs do not make a right, and therefore is determined to have- one "wrong" in order to justify itself. Tho "wrong" of the "right" Reefton men is that they won't surrender Wailii. Wo have told this plainly before, and again "plainly toll" it. Wo think our Australian friends will understand the cash nexus in tin's controversy, and in addition the".stinking-fish" nature of the fratricidal cries of " Waihi blunder," "strikers aro certain to bo beaten," and similar sins unpardonable during a wage-war in which the capitalist papers shriek, "The employers arc out to bring the Labor Federation's downfall a>vl will assuredly sufcood."

As to this shriek, wo think not. As to the Council, in a class war those not for their class are enemies of their class.

The Daily Pago thinks should have given a groat deal more information of the sort sampled above, and it kindly compiles the "information," but

as ,it is not true we be* to decline tlio proposal. Lot tin- lYo'ossor do liisowif dirty work. As Tommy MwirosiugH : — llo's plodded himself, sore bereft Of ways aiid- moans of ruling ill-,, To innko tho most of what arc loft., And stick to all that's rotten still- '< Also- in tin* "N.Z. Times" tho- fob lowing appeairodi—audi if if dot-stiff re- ! ye.d to everybody the rottenness of the '.so-called "union" of a few engine- • drivers, at Wailii, and the e.vtraondin:----i ai'y "work.ing 7 clasH" forces behind it,, nothing' oa*u: — "The Thames Chamber of Commercej haw. written to the Auckland' Chamber | ,of Commerce,, stating that it baa been j • approncluxli by representatives of the j [ Waiilii, Engjlio-drivers' Association, w.itll i reference to the place of that Aseocia- ,• fcion in the present Labor crisis, in Waihi. It would appear, statesi the-. I letter,, that very little outside assisfcaneov lias- boon received by tho A&sov fciatioir, £2 being the maximum. 00*i mont made bo momliors- for till*- six i weeks:off the- strike. LoeaJly,,, n.uin«r»u«t • ofrWs' of assistance- had bee» i received, but be Bin*' ni\y? actiom ' iii: the mattiT was. be ins uuwott 1 liy the Chamber of Commera*,. Chart). 1 body wanted' to. know of a«ny proper origan isatioix being- formed Ux deai' witln ' tho relief of the Association m a manner warranted by the importance of tho 'body. IT WAS' N'KCKSS'AItY Tft POINT OUT THAT THE DECISION OF THK- PRESENT DISPUTE RESTED ON THE ACTION OF THE. KN--I GINE-DIUVKRS*' ASSOCIATION. Tb«. [ Association could not maintain the posiV ' tioiv- i.b bad taken up without fumneiafi j assistance, and unless lwlj». was. foi'tibr conning th&. men; would be compelled ,t» seek work in- other pn-rfts of the Dor minion. In addition to a seriouvs, kiss, .of wages, members, of the Association, personally wore having a very bad tirae. ,at Waihi', as. THE MMN FELT THAT THEY WERE REALLY BEARING? THE BURDEN OF THE FIGHT ON THE EMPLOYERS' BEHALF. Th<* Auckland Chamber of Commerce would readily understand! that, unless outswla assistance and encouragement- were forthcoming, tho men might easily abandon their position in disgust."" The capitals aro ours. Perfidy unmasked for all to know. Now glance at this extract! from the last issue- of Sydney "Worker" and sadly wonder by what tragic misunderstanding the Trades Hall Councils here should bo hotly fighting for the sort of "union" tho Trades Hall Councils of Australia are now fighting against, as they have ever fought against them: — "AN 'INDEPENDENT' CIRCULAR- " 'Weeding out the Undesirable.* "Following is a copy of a circular isr sued by the beautiful Packer erow>(J in Melbourne to tho director of a Vkr , torian tramway company. The circular spooks for itself and the alleged unionist.? associated with it: — "Unaffiliated with the Trades Hall Council. 1 "Objective. A Square Deal for both Employer and Employee. •'INDEPENDENT WORKING-JkSN'S CLUB LABOR BUREAU. "J. T. Packer, Organising Secretary, "Club Rooms and Office, "22G Fliiidors-st., Melbourne. "Private and Confidential. "Dear Sir,—The executive officers of tho Australian Independent Workers' Federation aro keenly interested in the present position of the tramway eraployces throughout tho Commonwealth. We aro daily receiving communications, from local trainwayinen. We aro' anxious to know if, at its present juncture, we can bo of any service to you in the securing of reliable labor in tho event of any trouble accruing. We always have a largo number of men of different trades registered on our employment list. Every effort is being made to wood out tho undesirable. I will bo pleased if you think we can assist you in any way, and will have a private interview w?l.h you at your convenience. "Awaiting the favor of a reply, I remain, yours respectfully, "(Signed) JOHN T. PACKER." The two immediately preceding extracts are striking information for the Trades Councils of New Zealand and Australia respectively. Lot thorn ponder upon each other's predicament. However, this is the eleventh week of the Waihi strike. The Reefton lock-out is a bit older. Weeks ago tho strike was dubbed a "debacle," and tho lock-out a "blunder"; both are mo-ro vigorous and more optimistic than over. The Federation of Labor is justifying itself. The men on strike and tho men look-ed-out are being superbly aided by t\w minors of tho Federation and very fairly assisted by the Federation as a whole. As the weeks pass onward, outside unions are instinctively finding tl'.eniHolvoK, and inori*i?iiigly is their realisation of class-consciousness transforming litem into backers of tho Federation. As long as the strikers and lockodout keep on keeping on for principles: and humanity their helpers will tiply.

Now much is being made of the loss of'wayestottheminar.s of Waihi and of Iteeftbn—bul> is it not clean- that it's I'ho people who finally got possession of Utliose wagos : who aro losing them! And' if the "N.Z. Herald," of. Auckland,, for 'a; change-, would! reckon up the losses to |tbo niidtllb-olas.s commercial captainsi land tho country as a whole,, possihlj? \» number of people would feel madilor 'towards the "bulls and boars" roallj i responsible for both strike and lockroub .than towards the Federation of Labor. J As for such almost incredible actions. ? of tlio- Greymouth Yvaterside U'r. ion'k (q«aliity- perhaps- the least said Hie betufror. When tile foe assails it is thea |!tiha.t tihe weakling or wastrel manifests Himself. To- the* stalwart and traoi Gi-eymou-thians- we caar< offer eoiifiratulwjfcions aiwl cheer- Their triumphs is my l«vibable.

j What a few affiliations of the Labor j Federation have got to learn in blood. • and firo is; that combination and solid;ari%- impose, duties; as* well ac- advancej rights'—and: that. feo> be- helped carries., wjtihi it the- obligation- 06 helping-.

; Butt as we were- about to say, tho ■-fiii«si. feature o£ working-class organis- : ation oxliibited. for tliese many yea.i» m feb'ijsi Dominion- isi the mighty class-, itotwalty of thei Fedei'aitriojiist-s. to their own, One- cannot rend' the splendid ' levy totals h<om the. Wes*. Coast- expo* ciatHly without, being thrilled to tho. jeom It. is Ikotboriiood. It is resist'fless.

When we> havo Avon- a>t Rtwftoro and! i W'aiilii we- sdnall foe strengthened toe I aebtiovomoiife of roa4 greatness— I acfcievemcnis for emancipation;. Here.'.' ! amid; now. New Zealand shall be ours. ! Tliii is the- hour of trial, the test oi i fitness.

Conceding- the fact of there baling l within- the Federation some poo-r fooltoi wJkose- ignorance is exnilara-ting ma- . teriiai for capitalists' use, and within tko Federation some wretclied captives snared into, blackle-ggery,. and within it sonno- arbitral ionists whose arbitration ;at this stage results in thorn marsh-alt-tnig. as bosses.' tools, and within it some misled and some mean—conceding, thia- outcome of every- giant struggle, known in history, it -remains impregnable rock of truth that 95 per cent, of the members of 'the Federation are solid for the cause and principles the Federation has accepted, taught and defended. This is vi itself! ' a victory.

"The' beginning of the end" is tho*headline the newspapers gave to t-ha Greymouth "W'atersiders' recantation upon the- enthusiastic pledges of a few »hoirt months ago—they were then in "trouble," and the Federation came to the* rescue —but the crass stupidity ol thus recording 100 votc3 and losing sight of thousands of other voters —giving, giving, giving tenaciously aaid defiantly—is enough to make a cat laugh. Meow! Poor flunkey press.

"Tho beginning of the end" is tho amazement of the. masters, its press and its unions, at the financial help and inspiring applause cumulatively pouring in fon' Waihi and Rooftou.

Its glory shall never die.