AT THE QUEEN'S STATUE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 482, 15 April 1909, Page 9

AT THE QUEEN'S STATUE.

SOCIALISM ORATORY. Under tho influeneo of a genial sun the talking action'of tho unemployed moved towards tho Queen's Statuo yesterday afternoon, and relieved its mind of many tilings. Oomrado Dowdall voiced a griovanco against tho secretary of tho Watorsido Workers' Union (Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P.), alleging thc.t ho had. struck off tho membership of the union n man who was behind in his payments to that body. This information was accompanied by many sovoro remarks about Mr. M'Laren. Mr. Dowdall then turned to remarks that had been made at tho meeting of tho Benevolent Trustees, in dealing with tho request for aid of tho man who Mr. Dowdall stated had suffered through tho action of the secretary of tho union. Mr. Dowdall said tho trustees had called tlie wharf labourers a lot of loafers, simply becauso thoy had to hold themselves in readiness to tako up work when it caino along. Why was ho in his working clothes, lie would liko to know, if it was not to work when work offered? And yet, becauso they had to bo down at 7 o'clock'in tho morning, and wait till 5 at night, in orie place, to oblige tho employers of labour, they were to be callcd "loafers" (a term, by the way, that Air. Robertson did not use). If they were loafers why didn't tho police come along and arrest them for having no visible means of support? ' ■ ■ ■ At this stago Comrade Dowdall, encouraged by fhe increasing size of the crowd, harked back to the affairs of tlie Waterside Workors' Union, and, catching sight of Mr. M'Laren in tho crowd, asked him the number of members on tho roll, which that official refused to give, whereupon Comrade Dowdall stated that Mr. M'Laren had made use of tho workors to gain tho position lie [ had, and otjier such remarks, lie was re- | buked by Mr. M'Laren, but once more "took tho opportunity, before tho members of the itnion and the public," to tell him in very plain terms what lie thought of him. Then Comrade Fitzgerald stepped forward, and made even strongor" remarks abcut the Secretary of the AVaterside Workers' Union, who, he said, had used the backs of the workers as stepping-stones to a position in Parliament, to bccomo the nucleus of tho great Labour party—God help tho Labour party. Tho speaker said ho was not a.member of Parliament, and never would bo—(hear, hear)—but he would tell Mr. M'Laren that there was a force higher, than Parliament—tho force that could put him into Parliament could kick him outj and thero was a force arising that would sweep him (Mr. M'Laren) out' of existence, and which' would do justico to the worker, in spite of Parliament. Mr. M'Laren was supposed to be a student of politica:l economy, yet lie had heard him at three meetings held in tho street stato what this country wanted was for the capitalist to introduce moro capital. (Mr. M'Laren nas understood to deny this.) Now; tho speaker was a student of political economy, ,and he regarded capital as the result of one man exploiting others, and that the more capital there was introduced the richer would the capitalist grow, and the poorer would become tho worker. Mr.' M'Laren said that ho had never stated anything of tho kind. Comrade Fitzgerald said lie would bo only too, glad to havo Mr. M'Ljiren's challenge. Ho would bo looking forward to it during tlie coming week. Mr. M'Laren said if there was any truth in what ho was saying he would challenge him there and then, but there was nothing to reply to. • Comrado Fitzgerald warned the workers that a crisis was at hand, and it was well that they should 'bo prepared for it. What this crisis was ho did not indicate very clearly, but of words there were plenty. ' At this stage, Comrado Fitzgerald told a pathetic story of how he had worked-at the Stormbird—and ho was not physically strong —on one occasion until ho had been carried into tho shed in a fit. If lie had been in Mr. M'Laren's position, ho would have seeu that the trucks used on the wharf wero chucked over long ago. .They were far too heavy, and if Mr. Robertson did see tho men going slow with thorn on the' wharf, he would go a brt slower 'himself if he had to push them. Thers were further remarks of an ironical character about "the nucleus of the Labotn party" and the "capitalistic press," &nd such like, but our reporter had to leave. Liter on tho following report of the proceedings vas handed in to this offico:— " At a largely attended meeting of waterI side workers, convened'at 3 p.m. yesterday, at tho Queen's Statuo, by the "Wellington Socialist party, tho following resolution was passed unanimously: 'That this meeting ofwateisido and other Wellington > workers enter an emphatic protest against the accusations mado by Mr. D. Robertson at the last meeting of iho Benevolent Institution, and demanded such organisation of waterside work 'as shall mako it impossible for any willing waterside worker to bo unemployed."' The resolution was moved by Mr. A. Whitakor, a Nelson delegate at the Socialist Conference,' and seconded by Mr. T, Eagle of Wellington. It was carried after having been spoken to by various delegates and local speakers."