IN ANSWER TO C.H. PARKER, R. ROGERS AND H. KNIGHT.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 178, 1 July 1914, Page 6

IN ANSWER TO C.H. PARKER, R. ROGERS AND H. KNIGHT.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l also believe that surplus bboui —the unemployed—is tho most effective weapon used by our masters, the capitalists, to keep us iv subjecton. I also think less has been dono-by tho workers than should bavo beon done lo reduce or abolish that ..surplus. Unionism generally has done come little good iv tho past to improvo the conditions of. the workers, but unionism has fa Hen far short of solving the problem. Unionism has-.not even made good- the position of its members. There is no union rule that makes any provision for mom hers out of work; the members are not even classified,- which would give all. a- more equal chance of a.job.. The first man taken on at a.-job ebould be tiie first man to be put off; this rule would give every member a chance of his -sharo of work.

. But even these things will not reduce the surplus labour; neither, will those already working, by working less time, reduce it to any appreciable, extent. Anyway, the:workers have not the power io rcduco their hours, because directly they did so, their masters, the capitalists, could put thorn out of their jobs and fill thorn with that very surplus (as per Waihi strike aud 1913 waterside strike.) Tho speakers, or organisers for Labour havo done a lot of talking and preaching of solidarity, but even the speakers, or teachers havo not always themselves' properly .understood tho position, hence. they havo not boon able- tq teaph- tho, rank and file how! to-proceed tp, abolish the surplus labour (or unemployed).' There, is ro6ui for them to make a fuller study.and find tho road to Altruia, as R. Rogers puts it. The rank and filohavc to get the two legs "co-operative production and distribution" to be able to walk to Altruria. Thero is nothing definito to bo gained by co-operativo distribution alone; that only intensifies * the surplus and leaves the master class- or capitalists in just as sccuro a position for exploitation as at present. Why should the workers let tho master class pull their legs any more? Lot tho loaders and the rank and filo open their eyes and minds aud see the nccssity (which stares them in. the face) for fitting on the two legs "cooperative production and distribution," and march straight away for Altruria or the Co-operativo Commonwealth..

Looking over an article by .H. Knight, in speaking of Helensburgh to Tort Kcmbla, as. resembling-a human bee hive, ho shows tho great difference in .tho system of human.bees, to tbe system of the wild bees. Tho wild bees work socially, and.faithfully gathering wealth (honey), -while the flowers aro in bloom, carefully storing it away, in warehouses (cells) s , for .their social uso.in Winter. They .gather enough wealth (honey) • during summer to la,st them through.tho winter, when none can be gathered. .All. their wealth is socially produced and socially used. They, havo drones amongst them, but whein. times gethard, tho wild working bees in thoir organised way throw the drones out. Tho human bees differ from the wild bees, in that thoy .work .all .the year round, and work individually, ... not having the organised system .of.the wild bees j., they have r.o'power 'to throw ; the 'drones out,, but' instead'ibey allow the drones to take full possession and control of all the wealth they produce. Instead of the human bee working for himself and class ho sells himself to the drones for "wages" under -what conditions the drones like to make. Now, to nbolish tho surplus labour or unemployment, as per C. H. Parker, or' to get to Altruria as per R. Rogers, or to imitate tlie wild bees. as per H. Knight, the Workers' "must, first unite,' then. co-operatively .pro-, ,'dtice and .distribute all necessaries.., eliminating all waste such as. rent, profit and interest, and keep up the. .co-operativo,effort till in a short,time. a,ll .. surplus labour or unemployment,, could be abolished. When all necess-' aries arc produced aud distributed, all sorts of conditions under which the, ,workei's live could be improved, also, caring for thoso in need, of care, and arranging' amusement and recreation for all. By then the workers will have' got the two ,legs necessary., and will be iiblq'to walk right'on to Altruria. Thoy will then have.learnt tlie lesson of the wild bees,, and will turn the drones-'.out to shift lor tbemselvos. , /'There .'are only two' ways to reach 'the Co-operative .Commonwealth. One 'is to wait till wo can capture Parliament; then gradually force on co-op-eration by politics. Tho other "way is by co-operative production and distribution which will''at'tho. same time capture Parliament. Tho last way is the quickest, the surest, aud easiest. It really amounts to the workers doing for themselves what they want done and aro ablo to do, instead of as at present waiting for somcono else to do it for them-r Yours for the; Cooperative Commonwealth,... H. ROGERS.