UNDER ECLIPSE

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 42, 3 July 1909, Page 2

UNDER ECLIPSE

Labour Leaders' Self-Effacement

NO longer are the public to be privileged to penetrate, per medium

of the newspaper reports, into the motives and the reasoning that lie behind the pronouncements which that mighty and glorious institution, the Trades and Labour Council of Auckland, is ever ready to issue, upon questions political, social, and economic. Hitherto, the Council, in common with other deliberative assemblies in this enlightened land, has deigned to admit the press reporters to its gatherings It has permitted, nay, even besought them, to publish far and wide the pearls of wisdom that fell from the lips of its wise men, in the discussion of all kinds of topics. But suddenly the welcome has been withdrawn. By solemn resolution the press representatives — at any rate, the representatives of the "capitalistic" press — have been excluded from the Council's meetings. The daily papers are to be left to drag out their existence as best they can without the aid of the flashes of rhetoric from the Trades and Labour Councillors that have occasionally illuminated their columns.

Somehow or other, and possibly to the surprise of the Trades and Labour Council, the daily papers seem likely to survive the blow. It is, indeed, conceivabl ? that from the breasts of busy reporters there went up a sigh of relief when they heard that there was one less meeting to attend at regular intervals, and also that sub-editors rejoiced that a certain amount of space hitherto devoted to Trades Council eloquence was set free for more important matters. Certainly, there is as yet no sign of squirming on the part of the newspapers under the

slight which the Trades and Labour Council intended to inflict. For it seems that it is only at the " capitalistic " press that the blow was directed. Apparently, some publications which affect to represent only what is called the •• workers' " side of labour controversies are to be allowed the exclusive privilege of reporting the Council's proceedings.

It comes to this, then — that the Trades Council, either resenting the criticism of the established press of Auckland, or feeling hurt that that press has not given it the amount of attention to which it considered itself entitled, or else declining to have dealings with an institution with which capital is concerned, has resolved to hide its own light under a bushel, rather than have its proceedings reported by the " capitalistic " press. Such sublime self-abnegation almost compels respect and admiration. For self -abnegation it undoubtedly is. Wherein, apart from the honour and glory of posing before the world aa leaders of the labour cause, has consisted the satisfaction of membership of the Trades Council ? What would Auckland have known of its Arthur Rosser, its W. P. Black, and its Thomas Long but for the publicity given to their sayings and doings on the Council by the daily press of the city ? And where is going to be the satisfaction of participating in debates the purport of which will be known only to the comparatively few of the elect who are accustomed to read a purely labour paper ?

It might even be laid to the charge of the newspapers of Auckland that they have given to the Trades Council and its doings an amount of prominence out of proportion to the interest of the majority of ita readers in such matters. It does not appear to be dear at present whether they are henceforward to be boycotted altogether as regards Trades Council news, or whether the bare resolutions of the Council will be officially communicated to them, as crumbs of consolation, so to speak. If, in the latter case, the newspapers were on their part to do a little boycotting, the Trades Council might not be quite so enamoured of its own medicine as it now is Moreover, as publicity is the breath of life to demagogues, it cannot be long before their present sulky fit will pass away, and the Council will wish to shed its light once more upon a benighted public through papers that have circulations. Then will come the opportunity of the "capitalistic" press, which will probably have discovered by that time that the interest of the public in Trades Council discussions is almost a minus quantity. And the effacement of the councillors may become permanent.