SOCIALIST IDEALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13726, 16 April 1908, Page 5

SOCIALIST IDEALS.

TOM MANN IN WELLINGTON. LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA. [BY TELECJRAPIf.-OW.V CORRESPONDENT.] Welli n'UtOn, Wednesday. After six years, Mr. Tom Mann is back in New Zealand. He landed from Australia this morning, and at once began feeling the city's industrial pulse. Talking to a Post representative to-day, Mr. Mann told the story of his fortunes since he first came to the Antipodes. Melbourne was principally Ids world, and his voice has been freely exercised there. His mission now is to preach socialism at the Easter conference of comrades, who will muster 30 to 50 strong in Wellington. "Magnificent," said Mr. Mann, when, asked about the progress of socialism in Melbourne. "I am doing nothing but advocating socialism all the time. We are not merely declaring for socialist ideals, but calling ourselves socialists. All labour movements must become socialistic. We have nine meetings on Saturday nights, meetings on Sunday mornings, and afternoons and Sunday teas. We had a cooperative grocery going very successfully for about eight months, and a bakery is to be started. In spite of Arbitration Acts .aid Wages Boards, many workmen in Melbourne are not gettinig more than 6s a day, and intermittent work at that. These Acts have not been successful as yet. Among a considerable section there is a feeling of .revulsion against these Acts, and a disposition to fall back on industrial organisation, which will ultimately lead unions into a tolkl phalanx, and put a stop to sectional disputes and bring about a realisation of socialist ideals." "In Melbourne," remarked Mr. Mann, " the building trade is very slack. Others are normal, but that does not mean that they are too o d. There are 4000 to 6000 men out of work. The Government has made provision for about 1000 during the past fortnight, but Mr. Bent has said that there are now move applications for -work than before the relief works started"' Mr. Mann's explanation of this state of affairs was that Melbourne was busy for a time in street development. Building was brisk and then came a lull. The same comment applied to Sydney, where rimes were as dull almost as in Melbourne.'