The New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1914. THE GAGE OF BATTLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1914. THE GAGE OF BATTLE

Several of tho strongest and mostj self-reliant trades unions in this coun-> try have adopted as their watchword this most excellent motto: “United we stand, divided we fall.” But how ifar is trades unionism profiting by tho wisdom of the text ? Though the 'cause of tho democracy is faced hy a 'common danger greater than any in our previous history, and though the, legislative achievements of tho past twenty years are imperilled by tho existing supremacy of the party of wealth and class privilege, the pitiful spectacle Is presented to us of a La-1 hour house that, being, divided, against] itself, cannot stand. United, the’ way to achievement by constitutional methods is clear and open, because; 'the power id in the hands of the people’ so long as they make common' cause one with another. But divided, there' is no prospect for them but the humiliating one of defeat. If there is disunion in’ the ranks of the party atj tho nresent time, and if an effective' political force is content to 1 split it-, self up into impotent sections, each, warring against the other instead of 1 combining for mutual advantage, it is the interests of tho masses of. the! people that must necessarily suffer., Under these circumstances, tho democracy must be prepared to submit their necks for a further period of three years to tho yoke their own disunion has imposed upon them. While they are quarrelling between themselves, and pursuing will-o’-the-wisps of their own creation, the party of land monopoly is preparing itself systematically and thoroughly for the struggle that wall give them the administrative and legislative control of [this country for 'another term of years. /It may he that the working classes are. not aware how quietly and (determinedly the'squatters, who are the controlling power in' New Zealand to-day, are organising for the declared purpose of not only protecting their own interests, but also of defeating ’the progressive constitutional aspira* tions of the people. Let us, for the purposes of general information, reproduce the text of a circular that has .iust been issued to the great sheep* farmers and other territorial magnates! of Hawke’s Bay;

HAWKE’S-BAY SHEEP OWNERS’ UNION. President, P. Pattullo, Esq., Newatead. Vice-Presidents. T. E- Crosse, Eeq.,i HaiEtings. Vice-Prfridenta, W. Shrimptan, Bsq.„ Matapiro. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Messrs G. E. Beamish, Hastings. J A. McFarhuie. Maraekakaho. B. Chambers. Te Mata. ■ Arch McLean. Groeaihill. T. M. Chambers. Tauroa. • W. Richmond. EastingsI'. L. Gordon, Clave. H. M., Sanders, Kopniai. Browning Street, Napier, 31st January, 19XA

Dear Sir. I am instructed by the Executive Coni'., mitteo to approach you with the object’ of securing you as a member of tibia Union-

The present industrial crisis has brought home to all employers of labour,l no matter whether as primary producers, manufacturers, or distributors, the absolute necessity of organisation, for mutual support. This Union which at the pre-i sent time is non-political (except in the CASE OP LEGISLATION AFFECTING LABOUE) was formed for the sole object of dealing with all labour matters affecting, sheopmv tiers and has successfully taken! in hand disputes relating to shearing, mustering. and farm. labourers. Tha ever increasing strength and power ofl the Labour Unions makes a similar combination on the part of Employers of Labour an absolute necessity, unless they are prepared to allow the Dominion to be controlled by the Labour organisations. which with their avowed purpose of LARGELY INCREASING THE LAND TAX, and by obtaining preposterous awards or striking, will press heavily on the farming community. There is but one remedy, and that is complete organisation The recent elections have shown what tho Labour Party in New South Walts ha.s accomplished in this direction, and unless similar organisation is carried out by the employers in New Zealand they will find, when it is too late, that the Labour Party here has attained its ENDS THROUGH THE DALLOT BOX instead of by strike. The magnificent assistance Tendered by the. farmers in coming to the aid of town employers in the recent strike has provided an object lesson that will not soon be forgotten by the Labour Unions, and it now only remains to force the lesson, home by sliowing eo stiong a front, both numerically and financially, that the Unions will hesitate before engaging again in a similar attack. An application for Membership form is enclosed herewith., which we trust yon will fill up and return together with the subscription without delay. On behalf of the Committee I am. yours faithfully. S. E. Wright. Secretary. There is no vagueness or uncertainty about this document. It is a declaration of class war. The squatters know what they want. There is no division or jealousy in their ranks. They are prepared to band themselves together, and liberally subscribe their money, but for what purpose? To defeat thla legislative aspirations of the people, to establish an effectual bar to legislative progress, and to maintain the political supremacy they have established for

themselves. There is no secret whatever about the matter. The circular is brutal in its fraukne.se. If this were merely an association of sheopfarmsrs for mutual assistance, and if its proposals were to create an organisation and establish a fund for mutual support in strike periods, it would he unreasonable to take exception to tho movement. This, however, is ,not by any means the motive of the scheme. Though the assurance is given that the union at the present time is non-politi-cal, there is no attempt to disguise tho fact that it is political enough to aim at blocking the increase of the land tax, and that it is intent upon preventing tho Labour party from attaining its cuds through the ballot-box. If Labour is not to seek its rights at tho ballot-box, where can it expect to find them ? Three months ego, the squatter party were loudly declaiming against the lawless endeavours of the workers to obtain what they regarded as their rights by the methods of tho strike. At that time, the argument was freely employed 1 that the ballot-box was open to tho strikers, and that they should rely upon it and not the strike. But this illuminating circular is calculated to impress upon the minds of tho workers tho disquieting fact that at tho ballotbox they may expect to meet a powerful hostile force, well supplied with funds, which will be strongly and loyally bound together by the ties of selfinterest. What is the Labour party, whether in town or country, going to do about it ? Is it content to enter upon this battle in small and ineffective factions, each one at enmity with tho other, or is it prepared to sink all other considerations and unite for its own immense advantage under a common leader? The squatters themselves, in The arrogance of power, have insolently (thrown down tho gauntlet. We know ! that the way to closer settlement and land reform in this country is through a substantial graduated laud tax. The (squatters, hy means of their union, are (determined to prevent this. _Wo know 'that the rights of the people" can only be iron at tile ballot-box. Tho squatters confess that they are subscribing this money to prevent the working classes attaining their ends through the ballot-box. The question for the people to determine now is whether, by methods of disunion, victory shall be yielded to the squatters.