THAT BIG UNION

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1659, 28 January 1913, Page 3

THAT BIG UNION

Sir,—lt seems now that tlie "Red Feds." have achieved their object in assimilating tho "United Labour l'nrty," and thereby committed hundreds of the unionists to the methods of tho "Reds." I should like to ask the leaders of tho "United Labour Party" if they are prepared to resubmit tho now proposals to the several unions that, have nlhlinted with it, so as to givo each unionist a chancc to endorse or reject the proposed change. Personally I have been opposed to any union being affiliated with either party, as it would be a cuto observer that could show where tho line divides them. I liold that 90 per cent of the older trades unionists who are members of the unions had no idea when joining unions tlmt they would be compelled to drop their own individual politics and swallow tho politics of their so-called leaders. Any one who runs oounter with these men soon finds they are not wanted to voice their opinions on these matters. It seems to me there is 110 other course open to unionists who are not prepared to swallow all these proposal, but to get out of it. Then these men can lfave as big a union as they like, but they should try and convert meii, not coerce them, into their way of thinking. Some time ago the union that I belonged to, "Hie Wellington Enginedrivers," after an address by Mr.. Mills, decided to take a ballot on joining thb U.L.P. I opposed the idea, from the first, but .the ballot went against me. Soino 80 per cent agreed to join,- and now the 20 per cent have to contribute to these new proposals, though I made it ouite" clear I would not pay one penny to either party and now I have come to the conclusion that the only safe plan is to get out altogether. It seems to bo a curious state, of matters that one or. two delegates can attend these meetings of tho "Reds" and oommit all the rest- of their fellow* to any proposal the "Reds" wish to put forth, an<l then spread it all over the country as,the voice of Labour. The Unitedkibour Party was not astute enough for the Reds," as they might very easily have shaped the decisions of the present Conference by a solid vote at we conferences I understand that most of the umonsyn the U'.L.P. were asked $&&&&&*%&.