WATERSIDERS AND THE SOVIET.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1932, Page 3

WATERSIDERS AND THE SOVIET.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—After the world’s greatest war everyone thought that things would brighten up, everything would be back to normal, and the prospects would be good for everyone. But the whole world seems to be upside down, every nation seems to be facing a crisis. No doubt the enormous war debts with which the Great War has saddled the nation have a lot to do with the depression. But that is not all. Take the trouble that is spreading aU over the world, causing hardships and starvation, which is its object. I refer to Soviet propaganda, which has its agents far and wide. It is here amongst us at New Plymouth at the present time, as anyone can see. The agents have got to do something to show for their money, which comes from overseas, and to do this they are mixed up with the different unions to cause unemployment as much as they can, and to try to cause a world-wide revolution. What country is not affected to-day through. this propaganda? I say every loyal Britisher ought to make war against it, and drive it back to the country v/hence it came. Those who are caught spreading this propaganda should be sent out of this country to the place where it originated. We should make every effort to stamp it right out, and until this step is taken the world will not be at rest. Here at New Plymouth the propaganda is right in our midst. Ships come to take dur produce away and the watersiders refuse to load it because the feezing works men are out on strike, which should never have happened, for they could all have been working under a protest and let the principals concerned fight it out. Fancy, the producers of the country having to come and put their produce on board the vessels themselves to get it away! I think it is shameful that such a business like this should come to what it has, and if the different unions are going to run the country as they like, well things will never be at rest. Here are married men with their wives and children wanting money badly. It is hard enough these times to get food and the men are willing to work, but the ballot of the union says “no.” Yet some of the men out on strike are having the time of their lives, while others are hard up against it. I think the time has come now for the Government to tske action in this matter and form a national waterside union which should be conducted under a ballot system. They should do away with all this trouble and see that the produce of the country is put on board the vessels without any further inconvenience to the producer. • Another fault in the present state of affairs is that 210 men are considered sufficient to run our port, and no other person can join the union. I would like to know what right anyone has to say that 210 men are sufficient to work our port. Who makes the laws of the country? How many non-unionists have been employed just recently to keep things moving at our port? Yet many non-unionists have been put out of their jobs when the unionists have finished theirs . How many good, honest workers have applied to join the Watersiders’ Union and have had their applications refused, so those who are in power can hold a monopoly when trouble comes? This latter fact has proved itself at the present time. We are led to believe that the Watersiders’ Union is restricted to 210 men. It is all wrong. Anybody wishing to join that union has a perfect right to become a member, as well as those who are in it, as long as he can prove he has a clean sheet. If the application of such a man is declined, the only thing to do then is to appeal to the law; and it will tell him if people can hold a monopoly of the union or not. —I am, etc., OLD BOY. New Plymouth, November 29.