New Zealand's Example.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7181, 4 June 1891, Page 2

New Zealand's Example.

That the Labour Unionistshavonotalways acted wisely their very best friends, sb well as they themselves, will readily own. Indeed, it would be strange if a body of men suddenly placed amid surroundings of an entirely new character should in no respect make mistakes. The wisdom of any course of action can only be certainly judged by its success, and its success must always be a matter of doubt until the time of accomplishment. So many accidents, which are altogether unforeseen, must happen in everyday life, that the mere fact that they have not been provided for does not by any means show a want of prudence in those who have been surprised by them. Failure brought about through recklessness, and failure the result of accidents which could not possibly have been guarded against are two very different things. The first is highly blameworthy, the second is absolutely irreproachable. Thoso who suffer from either kind of failure, however, may gain much by the experience they go through ; and by how much they profit by that experience by so much will they Bhow themselves to be deserving of a greater or smaller share of blame or pity. The experience of last year's strike has brought with it leßsons which the wage-earners of New Zealand will take to heart. They have learned the value of combination' and the folly of even partial disunion. The capitalists combined in a far more perfect j manner than the workers did, and i were successful to a proportionate 1 extent in the bitter struggle which they forced upon the working classes. To the credit of the capitalists, it must be said that they have used their victory with some moderation. How far that moderation is due to a fear of ultimate defeat, it is not necessary jußt now to inquire. For, after all, the victory was by no means bo overwhelming as the more violent of the capitalists would have liked. The working men were not so crushed as to lose all heart. Defeated in one direction they rallied in another, and their rally was not without effect. That rally was made at the general elections, when the capitalists received a blow, under the effects of which they are still staggering. The victory of the Labour party at the polling booths last December has hod an influence*

the full scope of which i is impossible to measure. The " one-man-one vote" clause enabled the party to gain that victory ; and we find that Sir George Qrey, the apostle if the principle, is pro- 1 claiming its success to sympathetic ears ' throughout Australia. The example of New Zealand is held up to the working men of Australia for their emulation, and they are making hearty resolutions to imitate it. In Queensland, for instance, there are eleven constituencies, we are told, where the working men are striving hard, with every hope of success, to put into Parliament labour representatives. In New South Wales, where a general election seems very close, the Labour party hopes to largely increase the number of its supporters in the Legislature. In Victoria similar tactics are being adopted. In no slight degree the example of what the .Labour party did lately in New Zealand is encouraging the wage-earnera or the island continent.