THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 14

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

NEWS AND NOTES

Br the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C.

Items of in formation and brief comments on questions coming under this heading are ajtrays welcome. Books, pamphlets, etc., »ent to the editor of this column will also be noticed.

MEETINGS FOR TIIE WEEK. The following unions wilt meet during the week at the '.trades hall: — •To-nisht (Satur(ky)-Typogmpliiciil (board). Monthly,—U rocers. Tuesday.—Metalworkers. AVcdiiesdxy.—Socialist Society. Thursday.—Trades and Labour Council (special meeting); Couchworkers. Fiiduy.—Engineers, Moulders, Brassfinishers. Sattirady.—i'.ngine-drivers. IS SOCIALISM ROBBERY? The Hon. J. P. Wilson, Übuiir member in tho South Australian Legislative Council, Kiyis jl, is not, and cites New Zealand in support, of his contention., In a recent, address on the above subject he devoted a good deal of time to tho Dominion. "Have we a country where Socialistic principles of government are in practical evidence':' he asked. "Yes; we have such a country in New Zealand, a land where .State enterprise, is in evidence lo a greater degree than in any oUhcr country in tho civiifised world. Then it is a fair' question to ask: 'Is this a country of paupers?' as it should lie if our opponents are right. Or, 'I s it a prosperous wuriivy':' as it, should » e if Socialism is right." The lecturer then made, some comparisons and drew a conclusion complimentary to ourselves: —

Tho United Kingdom has a population of 41,000,000. The savings of the people as represented by the deposits in the Savings Bank are £14,000,000. Divide this sum amongst the whole of the population and each person would receive £5 2s lfkl.

New Zealand's population in 1906 was 890,000. The savings of the people as represented bv the Savings Bank deposits are. £11,000,000. Divide this sura in equal proportions amongst the wliolo of the population and each person would revive £12 75.2 d. This is my reply to those opponents of Socialism who are constantly declaring to the working classes "that Socialism will rob tiliem of their savings." As New Zealand is the most Socklblically governed country on this earth-if the statements of our opponents are truo —then New Zealand should be a land of paupers. Is it? Let us see. I have

already referred to tho savings of tJic people as represented by the deposits in the Savings Bank of that countrv, and compared with Conservative England New Zealand shows well to the front. Our opponents contend that Socialism is robbery, that the people (if it prevails) will be robbed of their savings. New Zealand gives to this falsehood a clear

and distinct reply. Tho figures previously quoted (and they are in every particular true) should be proof sufficient that Socialism does not rob the people of their wvings, but in every reasonable manner .possible encourages the peoplo to practise thrift. THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD. After last week's Labour notes were in the hands of the editor this note enmo to hand: — lam after (lie truth. Sometimes ii seems to have got such a long start I shall never bo able to catch up on it. I feel you will help mo to get some information about the I/W.W. Would you, through your column in the Otago Daily Times, give mo the salient features of the new movement. By doing so you will oblige others-as well as, fraternally yours, Social Student.

lam pleased to bo of service. Comparatively speaking, the Industrial Workers of the World is a new organisation. In essence it is American. It spells industrial war; it wishes to sound'the death knell of tho present system; in effect, it would destroy much cf our Labour organisation. With the exception of a branch in Wellington, it has at present no hold in the Dominion, In the Commonwealth it has little influence. Its future can only be told by reliable prophets. What my correspondent means by the "salient features" I take to be its declaration of principles and its aims. Its declaration of principles ia contained in the preamble. There is no ambiguity about it. It is put in those words:—

The working class and tho employing class have nothing in common. Tiiere can bo no peace as long as hunger and want are found among millions of working- people and the few \vlio make up the employing class have all tho good things of life. Between these two classes a struggle must go on until all tho toilers come together on the political as well as on the industrial field, and tako and hold that wliich they produce by their labour though, an economic organisation of the working class, without affiliation with any political party. The rapid gathering of wealth and tho centring of the management of industries into fewer and fewer hands make trade unions unable to cope with the ever-growing power of tho employing class, beeauso the trade unions foster a state of things which allows one set of workers to be pitted against another set of workers in the samo industry, thereby helping to defeat one another in wage' wars. The trade unions aid tho employing class to mislead the workers into a belief that the working class has interests in common with its employers. These sad conditions can be changed and ilw interests of the working class uphold only by an organisation formed in such a way that all its members in any one industry, or in all industries, if necessary, cease work whenever a strike or lock-out is on in any department thereof, thus making an injur}' to one an injury to all. Therefore, without endorsing or desiring endorsement of auy political party, we unite under the following constitution. The constitution provides for organisation in departments, which in turn are subdivided into industrial unions of olosely allied industries. Tho subdivisions —Industrial and National Industrial Unions—shall, have complete autonomy in their respective internal affairs, provided that the General Executive Board shall liave power to control these industrial unions in matters concerning tho interests of the general welfare. The departments tire designated as follows: — 1. Mining industry. 2. '.Transportation industry. 3. Metal', and machinery industry. 4. Glns3 na'd pottery industry. 5. Food stuffs industry. G. Brewery, wine, and distilling industry. 7. Floricultural, stock, and general farming industry. S. Building industry. 9. Textile industry. 10. Leather industry. 11. Wood-working industry. 12. Public, service industry. IS. Miscellaneous manufacturing industry. Prom this "Social Student" will gather that the I.W.W. impeaches much of our trade union movement and proposes radical changes. At the recent Labour Congress in New South Wales a motion to adopt the preamble and constitution of .the I.W.W. was defeated by 55 votes to 23, and was received with "three cheers for the Labour party."

MB TOM MANN AND GERMAN SOCIALISM. Another correspondent writes:— I heard Mr Tom Mann lecture in Mm Alhauibra Theatre on Sunday evening, hi, reply lo . a questioner, Mr Matin slated that the official declaration of the Herman Social Deniccralic parly waa lo the effect that religion was a private matter. Did Mr Mann state the position correct Iv? Further, can yon ray what is the official attitude of the German Socialist ;;ar(y towards marriage and tho home? I would be. glad if you could answer my questions on Saturday next. —Will) best wishes, yours faithfully, J. 11. \V. Tn reply, I can only saj that Mr Tom Mann stated tho position of German Socialists (as a. party) towards religion absolutely correctly. The official pronouncement is—l am quoting from "Modern ■Socialism," edited by It. C. K. Elisor:— ' 6. Declaration that religion is a nvivalo matter. Abolition of all contributions fiom public funds lo ecclesiastical and religious objects. Ecclesiastical and religious communities are to \x treated as private nssociatiens. which manage their own affairs quite independently. Separation of the Churches and the Stale. (a) Suppression of (he grant for public worship. (b) Philosophic or religious associations to be civil persons at law. In reply to the other' question, I cannot do bettor than give ",). H. \V." the official declaration as contained in the German Social Democratio programme:— 5. Abolition of all laws which ate prejudicial to women, ..in their relations to men in public or pnivate law. 6. No charges to be made for medical . attendar.ee, including midwifery arid medicine. 7. Revision of sections in the Civil Code concerning marriage and tho paternal authority. (a) Civil equality of the sexes and of children, whether natural or legitimate. (b) Revision of the divorce laws, maintaining tho husband's liability to support the wife or the children. (c) Inquiry into paternity to be legalised. (d) Protective measures in favour of children.materially or morally abandoned. I have quoted everything that bears directly or indirectly on the question. If my correspondent wishes to go fully into the future relationship' of the sexes as the German Socialists see it, lie could read, '' Woman: Her Past, Present, and Future," by August Bebel, leader of the Gorman Social Democrats in the Reichstag. But he must remember that in this volume it is Bebcl who is speaking—not tho party. JOTTINGS. Duncdin Bootmakers' Union has donated £10 10s to the appeal fund of tho Canterbury Farm Labourers' Union. It also decided to protest against farm labourers being denied the benefits of the Arbitration Act. Auckland Trades Council and Political Labour League recently met to discuss and adopt the labour platform for the coming elections in the northern province. The May Day issue of the London Clarion (edited by Mr R. Blatchford) reached a circulation of 93,000 copies. Mr Philip Snowdon, M.P., writing in tho International on "The British Labour Party: Its Position and Prospects," defines its position "us a non-Socialist party, yet animated by Socialism, and doing in Parliament Socialist work as well as any party of definite Socialists could do." Mr Snowdon is a declared Socialist.

Auckland Builders and Contractors' Union arc considering a proposal to appoint an organising secretary, who will devote his whole time lo the office, with a view of enforcing tho preference clause and enrolling members.. ■

The South Australian Government has acquired 2500 acres of land in New South Wales for coal mining purposes.

The Melbourne Postal' Employees' Association has registered under tho Federal Arbitration Act.

_ I should not be surprised if in my lifetime I saw a Labour—a Socialist—Government sitting on tho Treasury Bench.—Winston Churchill.

Mr George H .Lightfoot, the new president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, has been connected with the trade union movement in Wellington since his arrival from England three years ago. Ho is a delegate from and permanent secretary to tho Carpenters' Union.

A now Parliamentary Committee, consisting of 16 delegates, has been set up by tho Wellington Trades Council. Its duties will bo to consider the various bills brought down affecting workers during the coming session, and to advise the assembled council on their merit's.

The postponement of the Commonwealth Labour Conference at Brisbano from June 1 to July 6 has proved very awkward for State Labour members, particularly in Victoria and Tasmania.

■ Commonwealth Federated Butchers has decreed: "That in the evont of a member accepting loss than the minimum rate of wages, and asking this union to recover the amount of short payments, ho shall be fined at the rate of 2s Od weekly for each week ho shall have accepted such short payments."

In reply to the assertion of Mr Ounninghamo Graham that tho British Labour party "had not been Socialist enough in their pronouncements, had not done as much as they should have done, and had not been noisy enpugh, nor been locked up in the Clock Tower." the Labour Leader thinks " the suggestion that Laobur members, because they aro Labour members, should play the part of rowdies in Parliament is essentially a snobbish one. It springs from the idea that working-men are by naturo noisy and undisciplined—that a democrat must be a demagogue." The recont award obtained by the Auckland Engine-drivers' Union clears up a knotty point and frees a number of enginedrivers in the Dominion from muddlcdom. The' Auckland men gain some distinct advantages. The traction engine-drivers gain an increase of 3d per hour, and are to be paid for getting up steam. Preference has been granted. But tho greatest point is that at last the court sees eye to eye with the Legislature and have decreed that servico and competency certificates shall rank as equal. I havo commented more than once on the unfairness of the courts' decree in the past. "Industrial Tramp" (Auckland Star) elaborates thus:—"As far baokas 1903 tho Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment Act was passed, making the certificate of service to rank equal with the certificate of competency; and yot the court porsisted in declaring awards, in which service-men were to receive Is per day less tlum the competenoy men, the act notwithstanding. The Wellington Union have sent deputation after deputation hefore the Minister in charge, of the Machinery Deportment, who sympathised with them, but could do nothing in tho face | of Iho awards of the court, and it is now a source of much satisfaction to the unions concerned to note the change of front of the court under the presidency of Mr Justice Sim. The change will make a big difference in the wajres of tho numerous service men in Auckland, and one big firm working its engine-drivers on three shifts will have to pay 6s per week, per man extra. The rites under the old award were:—First-class competency, 10s per day; second-class competency. 9s; first-class service, 9s; and second-class service, 8s per day. It will thus be noted that the 8s per day man has been aboished, and the new rates are: First-olass, 10s; and secondcass, 95."