WORLD OF WORK

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 8

WORLD OF WORK

PITHY POINTS FOR PROLETARIAN PLUGS

BY

It is stated very freely among snivel servants m Wellington that certain departmental heads have made it very clear that they will not tolerate anyone m the employment of the State holding views concerning the war other than those m harmony with the policy of the Government. It is stated that one influential Ministerial head is intolerant even of the mildest ebulliment of pacifist sentiments on the .part of anyone of his subordinates. As a result, it is hard to get the real opinions of many of these men on the most important question of the day. Speak to them about the war or the possibility of an early peace, and. they either burst into a tirade of blatant braggart jingoism without either rhyme or ' reason. < or they lie low and understudy Brer Babbit. It is a deplorable condition of affairs when men have to suppress their views and stultify their Intelligence because their, opinions do not hannonls* with those set m authority ' over them, that is If they do not want to. damn their future chances' of advancement Suppression of free thought, and the free expression of views held -by others may enable certain elevated individuals to keep hold of the reins of authority during troublous times such as we are experiencing these days, but it disgraces the community and .detracts from the general efficiency of its members, which m the end rebels against such restrictions and ends by suppressing the suppressor. This is no bow drawn at a venture. It is the teaching of all history, and contains the writing on

the wall for tnoro than one "big-wig" who at present Is ruling those under him with a heavy hand. Nuf sed. 'Jack Head, the energetic secretary of the Stationary Engine Drivers' Union, la to be congratulated over the win he has secured for the Walhl Engine Drivers In the Arbitration Court at Auckland. The Walhi Engine Drivers, It will be remembered, were the* 1 cause of the big Walhl strike of half-a-dozen years ago, which arose out of their withdrawal from the Miners' Union and forming an Independent organisation of their particular craft. Since then they have been "on their own." so-to-speak, and, although for a time they basked In the smiles of the proprietary, owing to the use made of them during those troublous tiroes, the members soon found that Bmlles, though' pleasant m themselves, butter no parsnips. Soon one after another among the members began to express themselves as anything but satisfied with their conditions of employment, and, after much talk, it was decided at last to state a c&se for the court. For reasons all too obvious to those who understand conditions m Walhl, it was decided to ask an outj=ido party to handle the case before the court for tho men, and although the Union had kept itself isolated even from tho members of Us own particular craft organised m other parts of tho Dominion and federated. It, nevertheless, was decided to ask the Nailonal Secretary, J. Hond, of Wellington, to conduct the ense on the Union's behalf. This Mr. Read undertook lo do, and whun the case came before the Arbitration Court at Auckland last month, so well had ho arranged his "reasons why" the men ought to bo granted an increase m wages that he camo oft with flying colors, despite tho galaxy of learned tutont paraded on b»-?hsilf of tho employer*, and. also, despite the fact that the Wftihl miners had been rt'fusod any increase except tn the lower-paid men, who j?ot increments* of sixpence and ihrccponco a day respectively. The Engine Drlw:» «t Walhl. uj> to the trrantlnf? of this new award, were really th«> poorest paid of the craft In the Do.

minion. The increases gained average close on one shilling a day all round, which, as these men work seven days a week, means an increase of seven shillings a week. Mr. Read put up a strong plea on behalf of an annual holiday for the engine drivers on full l>ay,^ pointing out that the men were continuously employed "without one day's break, m many cases, from year's end to year's end. The court, while unable, or unwilling, to grant a four-teen-day annual holiday, nevertheless, unanimously agreed to granting a holiday of one full week (seven days) on full pay, after forty weeks of continuous labor. It is not surprising that after his very successful efforts on their behalf, the Waihi Engine Drivers' Union has decided to affiliate with the national organisation, of which Mr. John Read is general secretary. . ' '■'..■ ..■■.■■ ,;■ '■.'.■■.;■ .■./• ; ;■-■- ■;■■•-■■■ - . ■■ • : No' doubt the present Wax Regulations m, the Old Dart and m the fringes of Empire, such as Australia and New Zealand, are somewhat oppressive to those members of the Labor movement "who have beeh^-used to giving free expression, to their opinions on all; public and industrial questions. And what makes them eyen harder to bear is the fact that it is just at such a time as the present that Labor's guides need to have all their eyes skinned to^ watch put' for the tricks and try-ons ot the plute push who exploit the plugs under the guise of patriotism. There is so much open .abuse prevalent amongst us that it is almost impossible to denounce thY same In fitting language without bringing . oneself within the arms of the said War Regulations, which, were they intelligently and tactfully administered, would leave very little to be complained of under the circumstances. But even as they are, they are much less oppressive than similar measures In other countries. It was a recognition of this fact that led th» "Appeal to Reason" (Gerard, U.S.A.), to declare: ■ '■''.' ■ /•..., It is perhaps no exaggeration to say that there is more freedom of speech m wax-ridden Great Britain than m peaceful America. In proof of this statement It cites the case of an Australian Socialist pacifist, who was fined £5 for posting an anti-recruiting bill — "Workmen, follow your masters*'— with the punishment meted out to a pacifist at Dayton, Ohio, for. publishing practically the same circular m opposition to the' UJS. Campaign. The "Appeal to Reason" tells us that: Baker was yanked off to gaol and held under £ 600 bail. He was struck In the face and pushed down a flight of steps by Sergeant Chester Doyle of Company E of the Third Regiment, 0.N.G., the sergeant being backed up by Captain Wesley G.Wulzen, commanding the company. When Baker swore out warrants for their arrest, these two defied the police to arrest them, and were supported m their defiance by the colonel, Root. L.. Hubler, commanding the Third Regiment, and they have not yet been surrendered to the* civil authorities. And 'Murka isn't at war — with the Huns. Britain's War Regulations may be irksome, but there is some excuse for them^and bad as they are they are preferable to what Uncle Sham's are without the same necessity for th«ir existence.

HONESTAS