"EX OFFICIO."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 609, 11 September 1909, Page 10

"EX OFFICIO."

: i Sir,—At tho recent conference of waterside workers,' tho secretary of the'federation claimed the privilegi'i of a'delegate!by" virtue of his /office.,, and tho conference, by., resolution, . recognised the claim. 'If this wcret&ry: was einployed by . a shipping combine, a flour-millers' aMociation, ;a: timber, :ring, or. any' similar organisation, would', he .have the. presumption, lo'.elaim .a{ seat nin the board of.direotors: ex .ofßciof Not 'much.'.' Parliament House em•'jllojs.'tt secretary or clerk, but he never claims' 'to' be- a,-member'of'Parliament''ex officio:Tho City...Council 'employs a clerk,' biit he. novor' clivims the. privileges .'of' aV councillor, neither idoes, the sanitary] inspector, ,nor the' dnstmah'. ■The' 'secretary-of''.the'Waterside ' Workers' Federation, is Mr. D. STLaren, the new'"Labour'-; M.P., How does he reconcile ,-has. atti-, txidp at .the .conference with - those "demo'cratio pHnciplMV'he'"has".been'6o'"forid':Vfv airing ; in; public ? It is to. understand • why 'the watersido workers, or; any other Labour body, shouldemploy,-: as seoretary, n member of • Parliament,:'who. refcei'ves lE3OO a,: year,- whilst' [ some of i their own class, who are quite competent to fill the position, can scarcely raise'a: crust.. ' And this eceretary, who professes ,'to. be Vin.; hdyocate of. "the right to work," prfto--.tises his doctrine ' by monopolising several fat billets. . The fact 'Is,. trades. unionism bfts .become a'- happy whero'the simple worker: must ; take ;a, back rsent, ei-Sn in the mnnsseinent 'of his own affairs.' 'As; to those delegates who. vyere'appointed to this'secretaryridden conference, presumably- the /federation', is governed by a proper constitution,-hnd unless • they':'hadvihstruotioris >. to , trdmple ;- upon that' coustitution, ;the 'waterside, .workers' hilve. been' Vety much misrepresented. - William of Germany rules ;by- Divine right,.:;tte LabourV'secretary' .rules.,ex officio.—l am, etc., - 'ARAMAS.'ptembei 0 i