BACK TO A STATE OF SLAVERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13435, 13 March 1907, Page 4

BACK TO A STATE OF SLAVERY

Sir,—For tfm sake of industrial peace, I, trust that the labour leaders throughout th* colony will uw their influence to induce th» men on strike to pay their fines, and uphold the majesty of the law. Here wo are in New Zealand with equal political ■ voting jjower—one-man-oue-voti— a fair Opportunity for a gamble for "spare values" ut • either town or country. Any smart, lionet man can improve his position in this young country while we are opening up. undeveloped land. Seeing that somebody must do the work of the world, we are doing our best to prevent "'westing/.' and to lift up the masses to a plane of comparative comfort. We have all practically agreed that the Arbitration Court baft been the mean* of doing good, and in my opinion there is no evidence to prove that the men were ■suffering Wrongs that could- not wait to be settled by the 'Court. I..We set up this legal machinery to arbitrate between the men and their employers. It was created in the interests of the workers, and should be supported by them. I will venture to predict that if the fines are not paid there will arise new difficulties, which must end the life of the Arbitration Court. Personally I do not believe in it, and would not go past conciliation, and a general support of the principles of unionism. We need not talk of " going back to slavery." as wo are each and all of us subject by out very natures to our present social system of competitive slavery, from which noJegislatioa can relieve us. When each and all of OS can shake off selfishness, and love our follows as ourselves, and live the life that war lived by Christ, we shall need no Arbitration Court, as each and all will strike foi the benefit of all. We are at present slaves to our evil natures, and held in bondage by out system of private ownership of land, and this world's goods, and no human laws, or prisons, can put us into greater bondage than we are. Still, WO enjoy conditions exactly its we have developed our natures. Let US hope that the men will subdue thei. selfishness, and obey the law by cheerfully paying their fines. ' A. SANFOttu. ~r