TRADE UNIONISM AND THE LABOUR PARTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19965, 6 December 1926, Page 2

TRADE UNIONISM AND THE LABOUR PARTY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have read with interest a letter on the above subject in to-day’s issue of the Daily Times by Mr W. J. Tennent, who seems amazed at the idea of trades unionism and the Labour Party being in total agreement. Is he only now aware Sof this fact? Perhaps it will not be out of order to apprise him of one more fact, in case he has not been aware of it — that the various federations of employers find their reflections in the mirror of the capitalist Government and have done so for years past, leaving behind them an atrocious record of tyranny, bad housing, corrupt laws, wars, and unemployment. Your correspondent righteously denounces strikes of all descriptions, not daring to mention lock-outs and conveniently forgetting that effect and cause are always together. If he will turn to page 9, column 2, of your issue of December 3 he will see that Mr {nice is not surprised that extremism is displayed, and that Mr Bruce instantly points out the cause when contemplating he existing conditions prevalent. Furthermore, your correspondent says that business is built on good faith, on reliance of contracts and agreements, etc. In this he is about 20 per cent, right, the other 80 per cent, being built on low wages and the power to compel workers to accept bad conditions in order that dividends may be paid. For instance, whilst negotiating (I use the term guardedly) with the coal miners at Hoi, to accept a lower standard of living, Mr Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, coal and iron magnate, received a dividend of 10 per cent, on his business. How does j this strike your correspondent when sugi Resting the “pull together” motto? A i lot more I could quote, but if readers j will only scan the fianneial paners they j will receive some genuine eye-openers, if, however, the present-day capitaist can formulate a scheme for the complete emancipation of the worker and place him in his proper sphere then I have no doubt that the workers will accept it and do justice to such system. In he meantime, the workers cannot help pointing out the shortcomings of the capitalist system and will continue to do so to their own satisfaction. —I am, etc., Arthur J. Rundle. i. Vv e puuiiau rue auuvu .en,er in tun wuus iu it men it was received ny us, auu mane no comment upon it, out it tvuuiu oe interesting to nnoiv tne autnonty upon wincu tne writer ox tue letter oasis ms reierenee to mr uumwin. —itu., U.JJ.i.J

—Xlie lone o t your rw gaming U'UUO unionism UllU UlO JLiUUUUi *• urly ougnt lu oo very luietesiiuj! to oveiy u.ciuusr 01 mo cuuimuuity, u only ior it; sincerity. your currespoiiuein may led comment aoout ills coiieiasiom upon cno aocions ana oujoocivos 01 uiesc two organisations, ic nucurany louovvs cnul no ivin give cue appearance co some ol noc ocmg exactly eorreoc in lus veruioc, .Ulus giving cause lor an incense cesire it nerves. To declare tnat trie interests oi craue aiuonisni anu me luauour r'arcy art atuugumscie is most assuredly away ironi die irucn. it niusC appear to any , niton.gent poison ratner simple to asa tire question, wnat 13 tne cause anti need ior a trade union; mere must ot necessity nave been some loree vvmcii urougnt me union into oemg. xt is generally auuntteu to bo tnat mode ot production Known as cue capitalistic system. X’ew people wnl attempt Co uony mis. Xbe trade union was not born because or the glorious prosperity wmeu capitalism bad brougnt upon the community, out because or cue neipioss, agonising cries emanating Irom Human beings, winch the cruel wheels ol capitalism vunu grinding to death during its pursuit ol pruut. siiid aicer long anu patient sacnuce and eiton these emcieuc orgainsa noils nave cone excellent work, which chierly consists m curtailing tne liberty aim oppressive power of the capitalist, and in extending the Ireedom and advancement o| the wage-worker. At what cost! Only iney who oore me cross Know the weight ot the burden. Xot still the conliict rages, not perhaps quite so crime us in days ol yore. to-day the employer may have the power to dismiss, Jocic-out, corrupt, victimise, and starve any who may disooey Lis will. Un the other hand the employee may go slow, or strike, and thus the struggle goes on, advancing, retreating, compromising, each party is it under a spell ol eternal nigiitinare, the light being continually led from the base cravings of human nature, iNow, just as surely as the inhuman capitalist gave cause tor the trade union, so surely did the unscrupulous politician cause the birth of the Labour .Party. A few of the advanced minds could see the folly and futilty of trying to obtain justice by the power of the fi--’ union alone, for such organisations are helpless against a hostile btate. Therefore, it is most essential if the trade union is to be efficient and effective that it must have direct expression in the Legislative Chamber, compelling a deep relationship to exist between the two bodies. The ideal of the Lab-ur Party was born from the horrors of the capitalist system as a more ! imane and superior system of wealth production, and is in every sense in accord with the paragraph which roads: “The prosperity of a country is built up by the united efforts of the whole community working harmoniously together.” To try and intimidate the wage-worker by such a cry that business has wings, and will take its flight to realms above is mere sentimentality. Business is the result of human needs, which increase about the same rate and in accordance with the growth of intelligence. Samuel Gompers may have been a great American Labour leader, sincere, honest, and of great experience, yet not infallible, but prone to err, even as other men do. It might do a world of good h the opportunity were taken to read the book of another great American, not a I abour agitator. 1 refer to the book. “Christianising the Social Order,’’ by Walter Rauschenbusch. Listen to this indictment on page 321, not upon a social theory, but upon actual facts: “Religion declares the supremo value of life and personality even of the humblest; business, that declaration of faith by setting up profit as the supreme and engrossing object of thought and effort, and by sacrific- " inpr life to profit where necessary. Christianity tenches the unity and solidarity of men; capitalism reduces that teaching to a harmless expression of sentiment by splitting society into two antagonistic sections, unlike in their work, their income, their pleasures, and their point of view.” These are strong and true words from a man of God. yet not too strong. Capitalism has already almost brought every country to its knees and civilisation to destruction in i its fight for markets and profits. _ xhe hope of humanity lies in the direction of the Socialist idea! —each for all and all tor each. —I am, etc., Ralph Harrison. Dunedin, December 3.