"NOT DEAD YET."

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVI, Issue 14912, 3 December 1912, Page 3

"NOT DEAD YET."

FEDERATION OF LABOUR, . A MANIFESTO'S CLAIM.The Federation of Labour Executive made the following statement on Saturday:— "Although wo have declared the strike off, we have no apologies to make for its existence. It was absolutely justified, and no self-respecting unionist could have acted otherwise. v !.t is now clearlv known by all !New Zealand workers' that the fight was not one between two sections ot workers, but was for the sacred principle of democracy rule in the indusrial movement. This fact is clearly demonstrated by the recent developments at Huntly, where less than i:0 .men have, against the wish of 400, filtered iiito an agreement which is intended to be binding on the whole of the democracy. Surely this is plain to the working class that the AAaihi fight was more than justified, and that the, very heart of Unionism is endangered in this country by this insidious and monstrous method. The employing class may he optimistic over the result of the AVaihi struggle. We want to say that this is not n defeat for the working classes of New ZeaJand. From an educative point of view, it is a great victory. The treatment meted out to the AA'aihi minors and to the mine-fnvners, and the tactics of the Government in coming to the rescue of the mine-owners, has done more to bring the working classes together than all the educational work that we could have carried on for years to come. Mr Massey has. in fact, acted as a very effective organiser. There havo been more rebels made during the few months of the AVaihi strike than there have been" for years previously in New Zealand. It has shown the working classes conclusively what they are up against. "It may be said that the Federation of Labour is dead, but it is impossible to kill an organisation in the -'oth century with a policeman's baton, or by any form of administrative tyranny. Every act of treachery committed fans the Haines of rebellion in the working classes. Every man and woman of AVaihi is more determined to-day to light against oppression than on the day work was stopped. The decision of the Executive, after a .strenuous battle. was accepted with wonderful response. The men recognised that a great battle had been fought, one that they need not be ashamed of., but could, rather, be proud of. This fight has left, a mark on the history of trades' unionists in New Zealand. These people, in spice of the tremendous odds against them, would have cheerfully continued to fighi if the Executive had asked them to do so. As regards the organisation elsewhere, the financial support alone reached over £30.000. and'this would havo been continued had we thought any flood purpose could be served by continuing the fight. AA'e are in the position to eliminate any suggestion of hardship or suffering usually inseparab'e from industrial conflicts. Strike pay usually ceases when a strike is declared off. but we will see that every family is supported until the natural bread winner is in a position to take tile responsibility off our hands. AVe are not at, all disheartened. AVe have fought against tremendous odds a battle of which we can feel nroud. AA'e have ionght a clean fight, but our opponents have used all the forces at their command against us. AVe are quite satisfied that the light has strengthened our organisation. AVe have decided to call -a. conference of Trad.es I'nions together in Wellington shortly in. order to solidify the forces of Labour in New Zealand, so that it can more suece>,iu!ly combat the forces against us. There are thousands ready to join us. and we will giro them the chance. It will be seen in due time that the Federation of Labour is not dead but is just beginning to live. One dofct'against such odds will not wreck the Federation. The workingclass has been built up mi', defeat. The AVaihi strike is an- incident, not an er.och.'' I