More Industrial Or= ganisation Wanted

Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 178, 1 July 1914, Page 4

More Industrial Or= ganisation Wanted

Because with an imperfectly organised army, attacked wheau unready, we wero unable to withstand the assault of a highly-developed foe, backed up by all the powers of the State, civic and otherwise, there aro found those among the workers who decry the need of a closely-knit industrial organisation of Labour. Instead of the late trouble giving to anybody that impression, it should haveiconvinced them that, if our fcroes were properly organised, with each umit ready to play _ man's part, its influence and power would be enormous. Industrially organised, Labour can do marvellous things. Without industrial combination, it can accomplish practically nothing. The ballot box act is necessary, but emancipation cam-not be won by marking bits of paper. The struggle at the polls usually crops up once every three years j the struggle at tho job is on every day. Three years is a long interval to wait to put up a fight. How about creating a movement rjbat can, on the job, every day of tha week, fight tho fight of Labour, in addition to tbe ballot-box stunt every 1095 days? Indeed, to make ami effective voting machine it is also necessary to build a machine that will fight industrially too. Nothing will stimulate action on the part of the politician more quickly than the existence of a well-equipped industrial movement. In the mad struggle for seats, don't forget that there is another strugglegoi r ._ on the job struggle l —and that the army engaged in the fight is growing steadily larger and that those opposed to it are becoming more and more 1 itter. The writer does not believe that /by industrial action alone emancipation can be won. "To organise to a pitch wherein every oppressed to'ler would, at the time of a crisis, stand erect and refuse to betray his' mates, or refuse to function in any way for tho Master Class, is to expect too much To receive the absolute unanimous support of every worker at the polls is a'so beyond expectation, but by an 'ntei'igent exercise of both these methods of attack on the part of those who do understand, and who are without hinges on their knees in the-presence of the boss, much lasting good) can be accomplished.

Let us build up politically a movement that will mako itself felt from tho Far North to the Farthest South, but at the same time let us beair in mind that we must plod on and on till every worker is industrially organised and is linked-up with this mates in one Federation to'function nationally for the common good. '

After this appears in print, we flrtll be only a w«ek off the approaching conference. It is to be hoped that those unions which have decided to be represented will notify the Secretary, Box 108, of the fact. The delay, and general unpleasantness caused 1 by tho unnecessary withholding of decisions can easily be avoided. Will union secretaries note and act accordingly?