THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 22

THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR

io-Tn editob'ov thx pbcbs. Sir,—The purpose of my recent writing to -'The Press'V-was to"-ascertain what knowledge Mr Hunter'really has of trade unionism, Spcialism, and (economics. He has proved by his recent letters that his knowledge is of a very superficial; nature. In my last letter, I described in plain language the achievements of the present Government, hoping that Mr Hunter would try to disprove my statements.- Instead of. that he tried to be funny! I asked him to give your - readers his knowledge concerning the .evolution of trade unionism in all its phases. Again .Mr Hunter • side-tracked- "the .request. He showed his political l ignorance by accusing me of endeavouring _/to,' destroy the-ejtiploying class; Any genuine student of .tsociology recognises the absurdity of such-a statement." For' one can, only, "destroy a' material object. Society*"or capitalism are mere abstractions, and subject'to the eternal law of ".change. It would be absurd for. Socialists to try to destroy capitalism, .for capitalism with wage slavery has .within itself the seed of its

own destruction. We are trying to ' avoid a cataclysmic change by gradu- < ally building the new social State 1 based on cooperation. Even Mr Mon- 1 tagu Norman, director of the Bank ] of- England, has publicly stated that < capitalism has, had its day. Mr Roose- i velt has said the same. Mr Hunter's ' puny efforts are directed towards up- : holding an outworn and effete eco- ; nomic system. While private capital- ; ism lasts, trade unions are recognising ■ the legal and legitimate state of the ; employing class. We are trying to ■ avoid any possible social conflict by , acting as an organised body using legal means. I fail to see how Mr Hunter ; can accuse us of personal enmity against employers. Mr Hunter,'since his forced retirement from the Labour Party, has suddenly developed a profound admiration for the so-called orthodox economy, with all its wars, slumps, crises, bankruptcies, and corruption A comparison of the speeches made .by Mr Hunter when -he. contested Christchurch East as a Labour, candidate, against Dr. Thacker, and the speeches he'will make as the Nationalist candidate for Avon, will make entertaining reading. He will at least add to the gaiety of nations. His slangy reference to Mr Saunders as a "dinkuni Socialist and his invitation to. me to become one of the "dinkums .instead of to use his own elegant phraseology, "blowing hot and cold," is amusing, i ioined the Christchurch. Socialist Party nearly 30 years ago, and have endeavoured throughout the years to remain true to the faith, and loyal to the great movement lam associated with? Can Mr Hunter say the same? -Yours, etc., j. ROBERTS. . September 16, 1938. .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PBESS. . sir,—As. a "loyal member of the Nationalist, Party," as Mr C. *. Saunders puts it, and I am proud because I am convinced }hat every person who values personal liberty must combine to defeat the despicable Socialistic compulsion that Mr Saunders stands lor. I do subscribe to its aim to defeat compulsory unionism .with its abominable .accompaniments. The worker has to pay £4 17s before he can start work on the Lyttelton waterfront; he is compelled to PW levies to the New Zealand Labour Party,, and the "Standard" newspaper, on the vote ; of a special meeting. Then there is the sacrifice of the Principle of the" secret ballot by the Minister for Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, at the dictation of the Federation of Labour affiliations. Other unions demand 25s from workers before they can start work. It matters not that the worker has had a bad spin, that the storekeeper and the butcher, *aker, etc. have stood to him to enable him to live, the union must have its annual subscription in advance. All this, and yet Mr Saunders has the effrontery to trot out the sob-stuff contained in his letter this morning. Labbur " ye gods, what sins are committed'in thy name! Mr makes out that he does not know the difference between preference to unionists, which I have aways stood for, and compulsory unionism, industrial conscription, which every reasonable being abhors. I gave him credit for more sense. The "bucket collection on the wharf" is an illustration of the sacredness of the union's funds. When they want money to send a delegate to a conference they vote the money cheerfully from the funds, but when a poor devil is down and out they come the charity stunt, and take up a collection. If I were Mr Saunders I would not ventilate the actions of the present-day union leaders too much. —-Yours, etc., . ■■ ' . :•;,,~:■. > HIRAM HUNTER. September 16, 1938. [Subject /to the right of reply:' of "Clerk," this correspondence is now closed.—Ed*., "The Press."J :