THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22506, 14 September 1938, Page 7

THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —I would advise your readers to re-read Mr Hiram Hunter’s latest letter. Mr Hunter is a man on whom time has had no effect for he has learnt nothing from the great changes which have revolutionised our social, moral, and economic sciences. While the La- ( hour Party has grown to responsible manhood, conscious of its responsibilities and true to its great ideals, Mr Hunter is now a candidate for a party he always proclaimed as the enemy of the workers. The men he glories in vilifying have made a great name for themselves and have deserved due recognition from all sections of the community. Mr P. C. Webb has been acclaimed by all as the most successful Minister for Mines. Mr P. Fraser has been described by the head of the Education Board in Auckland as the most competent Minister for Education New Zealand has ever had. Mr Semple has simply revolutionised the Public Works Department and improved the traffic conditions to such an extent as to have deserved the gratitude of the community. Mr W. Nash is a wizard at finance. He has created more than £11.000.000 of social credit. He has reduced the London debt by £4,000.000. also reduced the annual interest due to the London bankers without increasing the people’s taxation. Mr Savage is acclaimed by al 1 wherever he goes. It is not true thai the unions are fighting the business community. In fact, we are protecting the honest employer from any underhand abuses bv disreputable competitors. The modern humanitarian employer has nothing to fear from the organised disciplined workers. Wherever I call on my secretarial duties I meet with nothing but the most courteous reception from all employers. Our purpose is to safeguard the life and interests of the workers in this ever grinding competitive social system. Our idea] is not a class, but a social ideal for the benefit of all. Mr Hunter’s only aim is to try to besmirch the characters of our leaders. My advice to him is to leave even for the moment this undignified task, and to give us an outline of cultural socialism and also its relations to organised labour while adding his open criticism. This is a fair challenge which Mr Hunter cannot reasonably refuse to accept.— Yours, etc., J. ROBERTS. September 13. 1938. TO THE EDITOR Of THE PRESS. Sir,—in reply to “Wondering,” I wish to state that I was divorced from the Labour Party because I criticised the policy publicly. The reason I have allied myself with the new party is that I believe that there is room only for two parties, and that independents are not wanted. The Labour Party is pledged to socialisation, which means that every employer is to be eliminated, as an employer, and that everything is to be owned and controlled by he State, that there is to be only one class, i.e., the working class. The Nationalist Party comprises all those who are in favour of the competitive system of private enterprise and opposed to Socialism. This issue puts every other in the shade, i.e., freedom versus dictatorship. 1 have no desire to “eliminate” any employer, but prefer to see the workers co-operating with employers for their mutual welfare. After mature consideration, I am convinced that Socialism is doomed to failure because of the first law of nature,, i.e., self-preservation. This Divine law is potent: it guides the destinies of everything which inhabit: the earth. The acquisitive instinct is common to us all, and cannot be overcome by the passage of legislative acts or the decrees of’dictators, a fact which has been driven home even to the arch dictators of Russia; aye, even in spite of the firing squad. My position is easily understood by those who wish to observe the truth, and the action of the members of the executive of the North Canterbury Lapour Representation Committee, in "dealing” with ms as they did, at Riccarton nine months ago, is not to their credit. It was a “hole and corner” business, savouring of Russian methods. —Yours, etc., .HIRAM HUNTER. September 13, 1938.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—Mr Hiram Hunter, in spite of his craft union outlook, or perhaps because of it, might have been quite a good negotiator on behalf of the _ trade unions he served in the past, in the matter of wages and conditions, but if he is still consistent, his utility stopped there; he did nothing in the direction of attaining such an objective as that of the Federation of Labour; Socialism and the abolition of exploitation of man by man. I refuse to endorse his libel on the workers of New Zealand in the hint that large numbers are anti-unionist. The trade unions are their basic organs, and if even a section is anti-union, that in itself is a criticism of some of the past leadership. If any considerable numbers of the unionists affiliated to the Federation of Labour were against its objective, they would soon make their voice heard. So far they nave not done so, and even Mr Hunter’s newlyfound friends have to talk about “freedom” and “democracy” to get a hearing; I predict that ere long they will be calling themselves "Socialists,” even if only “National Socialists,” for the purpose of tickling the ears of the Socialist workers.

To all appearances the pressure of the organised workers and their allies has stopped Hitler and has probably saved humanity from commencing its self-destruction. History will record the part played by the armed Soviet millions. They have been our allies in the last few days, and hitherto, against Fascism. Yes, I think they are brother unionists worthy to be in the same international. Mr Hunter has foolishly covered himself with ignominy by linking up with another international, the black international of reaction* —Yours, etc., C. F, SAUNDERS. Jeptember 13, 1938.