The West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, 1912. THOSE “BARE KNUCKLES.”

West Coast Times, 26 June 1912, Page 2

The West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, 1912. THOSE “BARE KNUCKLES.”

Apparently Mr. Semple, organiser of the Red Labour, wishes the public to believe that ho and his colleagues have used velvet gloves in handling the Waihi affair so far, but from now onward the “bare knuckles” are to strike' terror into employers who dare to oppose the syndicalists, says the “Rost.” At the Conference with representatives of the Goldmineowners’ Association, Mr. Semple invited the employers’ delegates to remember that fists were now clenched. Ho was done with soft speech, and must try hard knocks. ‘‘Very well. Wo shall leave it at that,” was the calm comment of the associations presid- | cut, Mr, Rhodes. The report shows that the Conference practically closed before it had been opened tor a discussion of terms. As a preliminary Mr. Rhodes intended that the Federationalists must bo willing to enter into a binding agreement covering conditions approved by the representatives of the parties. It was not to havo signatures on a more slip of paper. There must bo something at stake, some definite means of redress for either party in the event of a breach by the other, and the association’s opinion was that the most satisfactory process wnld ho under the auspicii'S of the Arbitration Court. However, Mr. Rhodes was prepared to con-1 sidcr any equally binding form of agreement which the Federation might offer. This is not a surprising attitude for the employers to take. They have evidence that certain spokesmen ‘of the Federation—notably Mr Mickey —preached that the members should observe an agreement only so long as it suits them. For example, during the Wellington tramway strike the dictatorial “Strike Committee” which included representatives of the Red Federation, made a threat of a general strike, and the waterside workers was mentioned. The eommittco know, well that those workers had recently entered into an agreomentwith employers, but this fact was not regarded as an obstacle to “calling out” the watersiders. Similar developments elsewhere havo given cmpUoyors good cause to place scant faith in these agreements unless there is fair provision to ensure respect for them. The Federation is at war with the socalled “ capitalistic system,” and “wage slavery,” and the axiom of the Reds seems to be: “All’s fair in war.” Mr. Semple and his colleagues did not anticipate a rigorous insistence on an assurance' against the conversion of agreements into Waste paper. They protested, and the conference ended with Mr. Semple’s bluster about “hare knuckles.” This boast about force to compel the employers to take the Federation at its own valuation in regard to agreements must he sore disappointment to many of the Waihi strikers, now bitterly disillusioned, continues the Rost. They sec their idol’s feet of clay, and the burden of the tottering idol is to bo upon them. The Federation has flouted public opinion—a solid opinion evolved through times of turmoil—and the Federation must suffer the defeat which it has courted. The desire of this country, which wishes to have the cost of living reduced, is to havo a peaceful cooperation between employers and workers, to their mutual advantage. The great need is an assurance of fair conditions for industries, to permit existing ones to he extended and now ones to bo developed for the good of the whole emmunity. The Federation’s militant policy, 'deliberately stirring up class feeling js against peace for industries. The employers are to be harried until their losses drive them out of business, and* )thcn the “co-operative commonwealth” is to bo automatically established by the “collective ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange.” The men, most competent by native intelligent©, by training, by prudence, to direct the industries for the national benefit, are to bo pushed aside, and impetuous persons are to take control. That is the position which New Zealand has to face. The operations of the Red Federation of Labour are grievously disturbing the countries industries, primary and secondary, and are inevitably piling up the cost of living all round. Everything that is done to reduce the output must necessarily cut down, the supply of goods for general distribution. Every blow to an indus- ■ try must spread its effect through the whole community. The Federation is a destructive agency—nominally as an enemy of “capitalism,” but really as an enemy of the workers as well. Therefore, the day has come for the United Labour Party to declare itself plainly in regard to such a destructive agency. If this party is all that it professes to be—the friend of the conciliation and arbitration process to aid the development of industries for the good of all v classes—then this party must be the straightout opponent of the Rods, whose tactics are to continuously create discontent among workers and consequently injure industries, to the detriment of the workers. The United Labour Party’s duty in accordance with the statements of its leaders, fs to help the,general public to hold up a wall for Mr. Semple’s “bare knuckles.”

Strangely, the supply of domestic workers has declined with the short- j onlng cf the hours and the lengthen- j ing of the pay. Occasionally a commentator remarks that if employers are willing to “treat the girls” do- ' ccntly, they will not go long hogging 1 for maids. There is much evidence to disprove that assertion. Scores of heads of houses in Wellington alone are willing to pay well and to give a worker comfoitablo conditions and fair treatment in every way, but they look in vain. The explanation of the puzzle is that the avenues of employment for feminine hands in town and country have widened much in recent years. The factories have taken many, and they call loudly for more. They offer a comparatively short working week and attractive terms. They are out in competition 1 against households, and the factories, shops, and offices are boating the households. Time was when it was an ordinary thing for a girl to “go into service”—a phrase now nearly obsolete; now it is an extraordinary thing. With the captains of industry continuing to clamour for more girls, wo see no prospect of comfort for work-weary mothers who look for a competent assistant, unless numbers arc introduced from abroad. As an experiment the Government is impelling fifty girls from high-class English orphanages. These girls, when they do arrive, six months hence, wilt not appreciably reduce the demand. What will fifty he among so many housewives who need help? However, it will Vo a beginning, and the experiment may lead to something much larger. Now Zealand will have to make a stir in the Old Country if airy groat cohort of qualified girls is to ho caught, because' this country has keen competitors. Ansl tralia and Canada are on the alert, and many hundreds ot families in the Mother Country are asking for suitable girls. The shortage of domestic help is a world problem.

‘ Pahent” writes to “The Post” protesting against the manner in which lads “are compelled to forego their Saturday half-holidays, and also their other holidays,” owing to the exigencies of the military training scheme. The writer of the letter says he is not averse to military training, hut objects to compulsion, and says that it is not necessary “to monopolise all the hoys’ holidays to make soldiers of them. By attempting this the result will lie the opposite, and will only make good, obedient hoys i ;lo rebellions subjects.” The correspondent is apparently under a misapprehension. The reply to the letter is contained in a report of a deputation of sports bodies which waited on Major-General Godloy last month -v ongst ocher tilings, the deputation discussed the calling of daylight parades and their influence on winter sports. In particular .-eferenco was made to the calling of four daylight parades for the month if May. Genera! Godloy said this had been rendered necessary owing to the fact that uniforms for the troops had not loon available at an earlier date, a'd in order to hold the necessary number of parados before the close of the defence year on May 31st;, the orders referred to had been issued, lie also stated that it was very unlikely that such a thing would occur again. The deputation made it clear that tliO' organisations represented were, not opposed to military training On the contrary, they supported tin scheme, and recognised that defence had to come, first and all forms of sport second.

'Dili Sleeping Sickness Commission lias proved that the tsetse lly, known ns Glossina Morsitans, is a

carrier of the disease, as well ns the lly known as Glossina. I’alpalis. Signilieance is ton ml in the fact that while the Glossina. Pnlpnlis frequent a limited region, the Glossina iMorsitnns is widespread, and thrteforc difficult to exterminate. There ,is said to ho ./ho authenticated instance of the transmission of the disease from sick to healthy persons in districts where the (lies are not found, and they are found only in the. near neighbourhood of fresh water, where the vegetation is luxuriant and the shade abundant. They quickly abandon places from which those conditions have been removed, and the belt of country in which they are fulfilled appears to bo a narrow one. From some localities' the flies appear to have boon entirely banished by planting lemon grass, tho fragrance of which is repugnant to them and which has the. additional advantage of furnishing an essential oil of commercial value. It is believed that tho disease would necessarily die out if the flies could he destroyed or if all the infected persons could ho removed from fly-infested areas, so that tho flies themselves could no longer obtain tho parasite from human beings. The attainment of those two objects is now 1 tbo aim of a great scientific crusade. The flies exist in such countless numbers in East Africa that their destruction is not within tile limits of near possibility; but the removal of the sick is being carried into effect as rapidly as circumstances will permit and with an increasing amount of co-operation on tins part of tho natives and their chiefs.

Public notice is given in this issue that Stafford Street, between Rollest')n and Livingstone Streets, will bo closed for traffic to-day (Wednesday) be tween 7 a.m., and G p.m., for the purpose of renewing a culvert.

The billiard tournament played at St .Mary’s Club last evening was a deeiled success. Thirty-eight players took part. The games in nearly every case resulted in close finishes.

ly every case resulted in close fin The final between Mr. H. Malavcyand and Cr .Ward resulted in a win for the former. During the evening the Committee provided a dainty supper for the players.

A handsome gift was made to the Wanganui Borough last night in the shape of oighty-ono acres of land, which were presented by the Watipo Lend Company. The land, which is situated at Aramoho, is valued at £SOOO. It is of a hilly nature and has natural springs and clumps of bush making it suitable for botanical gardens.

Li our advertising columns will bo found the result of Mr. I. L. W. Hughes’s Art Union. The Wellington-Brindisi despatch on the 17th of May, arrived in London on the afternoon of the 22nd inst.

The ordinary monthly meeting, of Lodge Westland Kilwinning, No. 88, wi 1 be held this evening at 7.30 o’clock. If yon require your table knives, folks and spoons electro-plated, parcel them up and send them to J. Berms and Co., 123, Worcester St., Christchurch.—Advt.

Mr Win. McKay, writing from Chicago, on May 14th to a friend, states thatMVs McKay and himself l are Inning a complete rest. They wish to he remembered to all West Coast friends.

Tho following players will represent St. Mary’s Hookey Club against Greymouth at Greymouth this afternoon:—C. Linnemann, K. Foster, 0. Breeze, K. Kortegast, L. Kortegast, A. Owens, E. Booling, E. Owens, G. Hoad, M. Lincoln, O’Connor. The team will leave by the one o’clock train.

Tho share market as far as scrip in the Ross Goldfields Reconstructed, Ltd., is concerned, has been particularly quiet during the past few days and very few transactions have been recorded. The shares have dropod about Is during the past foitniglit. This is probably accounted for by the fact that a further call is expected to be made at any time.

The Dominion Convention of tho New Zealand Alliance, opened in Wellington yesterday. Resolutions were passed reaffirming the demand for a simple majority and for the abolition of four years delay in the coining into operation of prohibition when carried; also that tho Licensing Act should he amended to prevent the employment of unlicensed harmaids in private liars as well as public bars. The s.s. Rakuira, of the Norwegian fishing fleet, arrived at Westport from Norway, via Caplelown, Port Natal and Frcomnatlo last night, says a press wire. She is fitted out with a trying-ont installation, and a capacity for 300 tons of oil. The Rakuira is the floating factory of the fleet.

There are in all 82 bands aboard. The Rakuira ships hunker coal, stores, and provisions, and leaves on Tlinrsdav for Russell.

At Monday night’s mooting of (he Gieymoiilh Harbour Hoard, Mr Murdoch in asking for the members’ support of tin 1 proposed railway to Knmara, referred to an article which had appeared in the Christchurch papers, and which had spoken of Kumara as a decadent town. Ho had a good idea as to the writer’s identity. The article had its source in Hokitika. “It is hotter,” said Mr .Murdoch, “to ho a has been like Kumara than a never was.”

A deputation waited on the Prime Minister at 'Wellington yesterday afternoon and asked for the introduction of legislation giving some relief in respect of the, loss of their licenses by the changes in tho electoral boundaries, or some compensation. The hotels concerned were those at Pehantanni, Poirua and Waitati (South Island). Air. Mackenzie said he would at once bring the matter before tho Cabinet. He could understand tho injustice which the people would suffer if no relief were granted.

.Mr. J. Smith, Inspector of Stock lor Westland, visited (he Arahura stock sale on .Monday and met the fanners and buyers present, lie was well pleased with the quality of stock submitted and predicts an excellent Inture for growers of beef in (his par of Ihe Dominion. .Mr. Smith has had a varied and lengthy experience in Victoria, where he made a study of the “home separation” industry and later was engaged in Akaroa and Otago, managing the firms of several well-known companies which are exclusively engaged in too butter trade. Mr. Smith has genciously offered to give any assistance to fanners who propose to take up the dairying industry this coming

season. A Wellington message says: “The wireless station on the Government steamer Tutanekai, was officially opened yesterday afternoon. .'The first message transmitted was sent by Sir Joseph Ward (who is himself a, practical telegraphist) to JI is Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, and read as follows; “I lis Excellency the Governor, Palmerston North: “I have the honour to despatch to Your Excellency the first wireless message from the Tutanekai upon the occasion of the official opening of her wireless installation, which 1 have been requested by the Government to perform. The installation is a line one, and has been carried out entirely by New Zealand telegraph officers in a most satisfactory wav.—J. G Ward.”

Last evening the Dominion Meteorologist telegraph od the following weather summary ami forecast;— “The weather improved everywhere, except in Foveaux Strait. The ha remoter has risen considerahly about Fast Cape and is high everywhere; hut- falling in the south. Winds are moderate to strong and variable southerlies predominating in the north, ami northerlios in the south. Present indications for a falling barometer everywhere soon and especially in south; moderate to strong southerly breezes will probably change to fresh oning northerly winds after about sixteen hours northward of New Plymouth and Napier, and increasing northerlies elsewhere; fair to cloudy and milder weather may be expected in the north and increasing cloudiness elsewhere, with rain following on the West Coast, and southern districts, and squally conditions in Fovoaux Strait.” Patrons at F. Schroder and Co’s Clearing Sale can rely upon getting good value. It being the largest, best and cheapest stock over offered. To appreciate you must go and seo for yourself.—Advt.