New and Views

Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 178, 1 July 1914, Page 1

New and Views

The Trade Stamp. Germans led the world in trade by their well-known stamp, "Made in Germany," which has become a household word.' Slow-going England never thought of it, and consequently got left behind. * * * An agitation is being raised for local manufactures to bear the stamp "Made in N.Z." To this we would "add anmade." * * * New Zealand's future has been prophesied as a dairying and a manufacturing country. The magnificent water supply and hydraulic power available in the Dominion should certainly give this country a unique advantage among manufacturing centres in the world. ■5? * * The time is now ripe and opportune /or the people of the Dominion to stand by their own productions, and thereby #pur N.Z. forward to the happy position she may take among manufacturers, given the requisite push. This \s the sort of patriotism that counts. Free from any jingoism or claptrap, it fe the sort that Social Democrats can approve. Irreligious, Immoral, Unjust. He spoke as a firm believer in the Bible, and yet denounced the proposal Of the Bible-in-Schools League as irre-

ligious, immoral and unjust.—Pastor Meyers. * * * Women and Comradeship. After Women's economic position ia set right, and tho debts are paid, then the rights of comradeship between the sexes will start. If women wero only educated on these points, they would get converted in hundreds. —E.J.F. * * * Welcome, Brother. Rev. P. J. Wainwright, Baptist minister of Gisborne, preached a strong sermon on Sunday week bearing on the analogy between Christ's teaching and modern Socialism, to which he declared it to be in no way antagonistic. Christians were too inclined' to accept society as it was, instead of striving to mould it according to our highest ideal's, and it was hero that Christians would be found differing from Socialists. As a matter of fact, the Gospels will not bear the interpretation that this world ia of no account, and that all we have to do is to prepare for a future, heaven. The teaching of Jesus plainly had to do with an earthly Kingdom of God. * * * Tlie Preacher appealed' to Christians not to condemn Socialism until they had studied what it really was. The service closed with prayers for the unity of all who were striving.for the betterment of mankind. * # * A Workers' Question. The Bible-in-Schools question concerns the workers most of all.—Pastor Meyers. * # r> Britain and the Women. Opposition to the enfranchisement of women comes from men devoted to the chattel idea of womanhood. It is the debased! chattel idea of wifehood that has degraded the minds of millions of good women, so that they tiave come to narrow their whole idea of virtue down to the close observance of that mere physical chastity which the law enjoins on married! women and smiling,ly..expects of married man. Virtue means muoh more than that: it connotes resolute honesty, comradeliness, generosity, sympathy, tolerance, good temper, honourable scruple, patience, independence, self-respect; from which it would appear that thousands of chaste women are anything but virtuous. But they are what men have made them. They have so long been classed with other items of the household baggage that they have got most things out of perspective and lost all sense of their proper dignity and elevation—The "Triad." * * # Present System. The one intolerable sort of slavery, over which the f-ory Gods weep, is the slavery of the strong to the weak; of the great and noble-minded to the small and mean; tho slavery of wisdom to folly.—Carlyle. * * * The Poor Dependent. The trouble to-day is not merely that women have no vote Mn Great Britain, but also that the great majority of women have no pay. The average mother is merely a slave of pressing domestic necessities. Man has no duty to keep free from economic considerations any woman who is not a child-bearer, or any woman at any time when she is not actually engaged in bearing or rearing children. But any woman who bears or rears children, any woman who is tied for life to the unending drudgery of housework, has.full right to adequate pay for the work she does. .In the vast majority of cases she has no pay at all; she has a regular or occasional dole from the man whose children she boars and whose house she manages. The man who cannot a_ord to keep a domestic servant can afford to keep a wife, because the wifs will be a cheap drudge subjugated to his will, and interest.—The "Triad." * * * It is a matter for regret that members of the audience do not always regard friendly outsiders who come to speak on our platforms from the point of view of fairplay. They seem to set out with the intention of trying to trip them up on irrelevant matters. To say the least, this is bad taste, as well as unconstitutional. * * # Llnking-up 1,350,000 Workers. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain, whoso national strike of two years ago was a comparative failure owing to the fact that they were unable to stop supplies of coal from reaching the market after the pits closed, is now desirous to come to an understand-

ing with the railwaymen and transport workers, so that in future strikes the. transit of all coal shall be prevented. The membership of the three groups affected by the scheme is as follows: — Miners' Federation, 800,000; Transport Workers' Federation, 250,000; NationalUnion of Railwaymen, 1,350,000. Thus out of defeat "comes renewed strength. New Zealand, take heart I The promise of the future will be born of our late strike. Obit—Daniel De Leon. By the death of Daniel De Leon, which took place in New York last month, the American Socialist Party has losx one of its foremost propagandists, and the whole humanitarian world will mourn. De Leon was one of those who, born in capitalist circles,- had everything of environment and tradition against him, and yet,took up the cause of the "common" people out of the pure goodness of his heart. * * * De Leou was a "Socialist by conviction," and that is ever the best sort of convert. He was in turn lawyer, editor and university lecturer, arid being a man of rare breadth of mind and openness of sympathy, he detected and detested tho parochialism of hi 3 class. When a strike broke out in New York and the brutalities, illegalities, and outrages were indulged in by the mas-ter-class that we have ourselves witnessed here, De Leon, resolved to wash his hands of his colleagues forever. He refused the lucrative professorship that was to have been his, and cast in his lot with the Knights of Labour, eventually becoming editor of the "Weekly People." * * •* When in 1905 the Industrial Workers of the World was founded, De Leon was a leading delegate at the convention. He was on the constitution committee, and helped to draw up the preamble to the constitution of the organisation. The preamble declared for the political os well as the economic unity of the just as our own United Federation of Labour does here. But when at the fourth convention of the I.W.W. in 1908, the political clause was struck out of the preamble, Do Leon and others who upheld the dual organisation, withdrew and founded tlie Socialist Labour Party.

He took a firm stand on the necessity of equal political action, and showed that its rejection by a movement that had for its aim the overthrow of the State, brought itself under the conspiracy law 6, thereby playing into the bauds of the agents —provocateurs of the capitalist cla&s, who would foment disorder and crime to give the authorities a handle to crush the movement. Events which have come to pass both in the United States and elsewhere have proved the correctness, of De Leon's contention. *' * # Whose Blessing so far? ' The N.Z. Alliance Convention opened with "prayer for God's blessing on the Who might be pleased to prosper their consultations." The workers of the Dominion would like to know how much Divine Charity inspired Mr. Massey in framing his Coercion Conciliation Bill, the Police Offences Act, audi all the other offensive acts against tlie workers concocted in the Government hatchery? It would 6eem to the workers as if tho Devil answered tho call from his own, rather than tho Lord. The wielders of the Mailed Fist, the brutal force of the State, the outrageous traversty of justice and barefaced defiance of law whenever it is on.the side of the oppressed, cannot by any stretch of imagination be made to square with the gentle Carpenter of Nazareth, whose followers were fishermen, who died for the poor and not for the rich, and whose entire message was "Peace and Goodwill." ■X * * Once upon the cross, a Being Who was called tbe Son of Light, By the might of gold was murdered, For He taught the "Law of Right"; Taught th-: laws of Justice, Mercy, And a brotherhood of Love,' And that Truth alone would free them, Lead them to a Heaven above. —''Miner's Magazine. * * * Natural Parentage. The land is the mother —Labour is the father —from their union springs the fair child —wealth; or, rather, would so spring but that the landlord, like a lual-practising accoucheur, stands by the mother's couf-h, and makes away with the child. —"Liberator."

What is a Centleman? The official definition of the term "gentleman" is "a person of no occupation." Thus extremes meet, for the lowest and tbe highest—the vagabond and the prince—are both "gentlemen." The definition still holds good in law, conclusive evidence that we are living under a full-bloodod aristocracy yet, despite these so-called "democratic" parts. Any election can bo upset on the grounds of a would-be snob candidate <lescribF'ng himself as a "gentleman" when he is in reality a worker. To be a "gentleman" a man's living must be wholly provided by the labour of others • his substance must indeed be pure and simple "unearned increment" • usury and rapine. * • » * A "gentleman" could always be a coldier, because stealing your neighbour's goods and country, in order to enrich your king, was (and is) a "gentlemanly occupation." It is not work, except in the sporting sense. To come under the ban of "common" (or ungentlemanly) work must be in the nature of useful toil, i.e., production. •* * # • Thus the highest social reward under our squint-eyed constitution, the goal to which all suobocracy turns, in whose attainment more foul deeds are committed, ' more blood spilt, more vile intrigue and misery brought about—the "gentleman"—is in truth the greatest robber, most ignoble and accurst of God. "Verily, the world is mad." * * * Writer remembers an Auckland exEnglishman getting quite indignant with his new typist who, endeavouring to ingratiate (herself, addressed a letter to him as "Esquire." He gave her a proper lecture on etiquette, saying: 'The term means 'a gentleman,' and Bradshaw's Guide to the Peerage lays it down that no ono in receipt of less than £500 a year can lay claim to the title. As my income does not amount to that, I cannot consider myself 'a gentleman,' and would not accept a spurious title I" * # . * Value of Bible-in-Schools. Child (reading .Esop's fables): "Can asses talk?" Teacher: "No, certainly not," (goes on to explain difference in formation of ase's larynx and tbe human) larynx, making speech impossible). Child (in Scripture lesson on Balaam's ass) • "Teacher, you said a6ses couldn't talk?" Teacher (forced to prevaricate): "You see, itisop's ass couldn't talk Greek, but this ono could talk Hebrew 1" — Pastor Meyers. * * XWhy? Tlio president of the Alliance said they btood for "clean, sober, beautiful cities, free from poverty, insanity, and crime." Then why don't they embrace the Social Domocrfttio £i_tfon_, ttt« w*dy

scientific basis for such an objective, by striking right at the cause instead of tinkering with effect? * # # The Sectarian Fiend. Wm. Rogers, tho Puritan fugitive from sectarian vengeance, found more hospitality by the fire of an Indian wigwam than among the civilised whites.— Paßtor Meyers. * « * N.S.W. and the Cockles. "I was in Sydney when the Butchers' strike was on, and it was an eye-opener in management. Anyone could foretell that the men wero going to win, and they won on both counts —hours .and wages. When tho bosses opened the shops, '.lie slaughtermen 'went out' automatically : when they started slaughtering, the freezers 'went out,' and so on. It was like a disappearing electrio sign, one light popping out after another. The boat I returned to Auckland by, had to take hor double meat supply and bring it back to Auckland. The result was, tons of it went bad, and had to be thrown overboard. As the stewardess said, the waste would have kept a whole lot of poor families for years. * # * While I was in Sydney, the Farmers' Union' sent word saying they had a thousand mounted men ready to come and break.tho strike, open the shops, do slaughtering or anything else required. Tho reply they got from the Labour Government (unofficial) was: "If you do any such thing, we'll turn the military on you! You're not going to upset this country like you upset New Zealand, and involve us in a genoral strike I'"—M.L.G. * » * The Right to Strike. Dealing with the question of the strike, Mr. Fisher said there was a line of demarcation between the Government and the Opposition. The Government said if a man chose to exercise the right to strike-he it, also if a man exercise hia right .not to work yhe might do x so without being interfered with. But, they said, and here 4 was the lino of demarcation, if a man said ho was going to work no man had a right to say he should not./ * ,* * What beautiful, plausible sophistry! Tho "Right to Strike" under a £600 penalty! Tho "right not to work" when his place is taken by another! Tho right to rebel when the rebel is shotl Tho right for skunks to work when their working means stealing the other fellow's job, and defeating his claim for justice and redress! * * ' * Honoring N.Z. The Mayor of Wellington, speaking at the Alliance Convention, said rhis country had been "greatly honored by tho visit of Sir lan Hamilton, in his righteous mission of interesting young men in the welfare of their country by ensuring peace and happiness!" Tho Japs may have a say in that yet, as well as the strikers and conscription lad 3 and their parents who . hold contrary opinions. ■X * #• Read Between the Lines. The capitalistic Mayor of Wellington ran up against his council recently in regard to a tender for a new steam roller. The engineer wanted a local-made engine and the Mayor wanted an "English one, and got very heated in his advocacy of same. , Councillor Hindmarsh said the Mayor could talk as he liked about engineering knowledge, and he suffered nothing at all. But if tho'engineer made a mistake he would certainly expose himself to the animus of the Mayor. The council should back the engineer up. The engineer had to work those machines and wia_ responsible. He preferred to follow the engineer as against any "Engineer Mr. Mayor Luko." * * * Mr. Luke championed the tender of Messrs. J. J. Niven and Co., pointing out that they were a firm of undoubted reputation. The engineer had no right to insult the other firms tho way he had. Councillor Hindmarsh: "You'ro not here to champion Niven and Co." Councillor Fletcher: "Tho engineer 'has a right to his opinion." Several of the other councillors also expressed surprise at the Mayor's remarks. Finally, it was decided to refer the tender back for reconsideration, to allow Niven and Company to supply details of the English roller which they offered-in their tender, and the Mayor, in reply, said he regretted that ono councillor had reflected upon his (tho Mayor's) capacity for seeing or not seeing a thing. tt * # No Conscience Clause. There is no conscience clause "for teachers under tho Bible-in-Schools scheme.—Pastor Meyers. * * * Political Rowdyism. Says tho "Labour Call," Melbourne: In theso days of political rowdyism and intolerance, bred by a too broad franchise (see Tory ;-_*•_), it Ia wfrwiiag to noall

how thoy ran tilings under tho good-old squatter regime of 42 years ago. Here's an extract from tho Rockhampton "Bulletin's" report, April, 1872, of an election meeting:— "Mr. Palmer: 'You aro a damned set of Rockhampton rowdies. I don't care a curse for the lot of you. . . Booh I You'ro afraid of mc. . . . You're a d d set of wretches: By.God, you are! (Tumult.) Bah, you brutes. Come up here, you d d beasts. What tho h 1 do I care for you?" . . At a later stage of tho proceedings:— "You'ro a d d set of fools. Sit down, you . What the h 1 do I care for the lot of you ? You aro the ugliest • lot of blackguards I over looked at.": Mr. Palmer then junrped from the platform on to the reporters', table, and threw himself headfirst *n the crowd. He was lifted on the' shoulders of the people and carried to the end of the hall where he was dropped on the floor full length. . A rush was made towards him, and he was dragged away and prevailed on to leave the hall. Palmer was at that time Premier of Queensland, and was a fair •< example in his virtue's and his vices, of a type of politician to whom the Tory press continually look lovingly back as it sighs, "Ah! Thorn was the days!" Refinement and culture were, of course, tho hall-mark ofjtho lead-, ing men of the ante-Democratic era." Might we bo permitted! to point out that this gentle politician and all of his tribe were of the same kidney as Fisher, Herdman and others who now shriek aloud with frenzy, and call upon the "specials" and regulars to "put 'em out" if one so much- as smiles at their gatherings I—P.H.H. * * * Stealing the S.O'.P. Platform. . Tlie Public Health Committee of the Wellington City. Council has recommended that £15,000 bo placed on the loan schedule to pro vide* for a* municipal milk depot. (But the Mayor says he docs not believe in municipal trading.)' * * * Speed Him UP! There was to be an important electoral meeting, and a carpenter had been making repairs in the platform. Y>Tien the hou. candidate arrived he found a plentiful supply, of tacks lying about. He sought out the caretaker in great, indignation. ' "See, here, my friend/ said F.M.B. "My meeting would be ruined if I stepped on some of thoso tacks during my speech!" "Well, sir," replied the servant, "I reckon there would be only one point you wouldn't linger on I" * * # Eoonomio Basis. Mr. Leonard Isitt, at the Alliance Convention, dealt with *the Liquor Traffio in as forcible a manner as a Social Democrat. He said the brewers posed as pure patriots, if and so long as their pockets were at stake. They would have tho public believe the country would go to the dogs if the drink revenue was stopped. £4,000,000 a year is spent on drink in this Dominion and it was obvious that if this was not spont on drink it would be spent on other things, not lost, as the- brewers maintained. * * * Fish of one and Flesh of Another. "Canon Garland had boasted that certain teachers were opening school with prayers and Bible lessons in defiance of the Education Act. Well, alt he could say was that other lawbreakers should be in jail beside Holland.— Pastor Meyers. " •X- # # A Civic League. has been started in Auckland, with the following stated "objectives:" "To establish a non-party organisation among women in Auckland with a view to arousing their interest in civic matters, the promotion of good citizenship, the betterment. of the community, and the improvement and beautifying the city, and in all) matters of current and general interest by means of lectures, meetings, etc., and by other means approved by the executive." ,/•* * # Of course this is one of those noncommittal, non-essential, indefinite, inoffensive organisations that the soul of civilised inefficiency loves. Nevertheless, while deploring the necessity for civilised hypocrisy, which makes plain speaking impertinence, and subjugation of character strictly enforceable^ —most of all, the ignorance of essentials that makes these things the rule—we welcome the League as the best that can be done under the cir-. cumstances. * * * Maybe, the League will get some of its members to think. We "keep believing," and hope, if it can only do that, something may bo done. Anything that will lead women out of tho vapid, wasteful, unthinking, wan"ton wiles of "Sassiety" will in itself be an achievement. * * * That accomplished, if the thinkingbox can bo set going and kept going, it matt ftttmblt Wort lo__ aa th*

Socialist gospel. As they try end fail, try and fail, over all the well-worn platjtudes, sophistries and palliatives that conservatism insists on exploring for itself against tho tried and trusty experiences of all tho wisest of the world, they must at last (if they are sincere) embrace the dread wordRevolution 1 * * # What a Labour Mayor Can Do. "While I was in Adelaide in Febrri< ary first, tlie first Labour Mayor, one. Simpson (a well-to-do tinsmith) was elected. He had only been in office a fortnight when General lan Hamilton announced his arrival, and in the customary usage of 6uch august personages, expected a civio reception. So cocksure was ho that ho even forwarded along his list of warlike distinctinctions and achievements for the use of the Mayor in proposing the anticipated toast. * * * The new Labour. Mayor, however, happened to be a member of the Peace Society, and the idea of welcoming a war-dog went clean against his conscience. Ho placed tho matter before the Council, together with the list of "points" sent in. for him to speak to, which ho characterised as "absolutely nauseating." So impressed were tho Council by our friend's eloquence that they decided there should be no civic recognition of war business in Adelaide. • * * * Great was the wrath of snobocraoy in Australia's Garden City when they heard that the new Labour Mayor had dared to flout this aristocratic person age. • Tho local papers positively trembled with indignation at the effrontery of this "tinsmith." "The Register," wrung its hands and wept, pointing out the unparalleled impertinence of "Labour," men, and its readers shook their heads and said, "I told jrou so." (But the reception wasn't held.) * * * Meantime, the fame of this deespread to Melbourne, and undoubtedly marred our hero's visit there. Certainly,/ a reception. was held (in a lukewarm sort of fashion)," "but on parade tho great General by some means or other made his entry unnoticed and. alone. No trumpet's blaro, no military salute greeted him, as he, sat his charger 6ilent and ignored, while all tho men suddenly wheeled right about, presenting their backs, quite accidentally, don't you know."—M.L.G. * # * Dunedin Conference. Ro tho refutation by Mr. Stevs Boreham of tho report concerning himself which appeared in these pages of June 3, the secretary of the Dunedin Branch of tho S.D.P. sends" a full copy of tho minutes of hia branch, subsequent to • the conferenoe. On June 18, in accordance with notice of motion, Mr. Steve Boreham waa expelled from membership of t_» Party. * * * A Correction. Our contributor, A. DA. H., in re* ference to tho "Progressive Man" article, writes that it was not Mr. Massey but the late Premier. Richard Seddon who, while professing to be progressive and a strong advocate of women's franchise, descended to oaths when the Bill passed the Upper House.