THE PERSECUTION OF FREE MEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1905, 13 November 1913, Page 10

THE PERSECUTION OF FREE MEN.

(To tho Editor.)

Sir,—l am, pleased with the impartial you have conducted your pa-, \per during the present crisis regarding tho strike. An J for freedom of your leaders to express their opinion on the same. This morning "Non-Unionist's" letter appealod -to mo strongly. For in my opinion, ho struck tho right nail on the head, for tho cause of all our trouble connected wit.i Labour, viz., preference to unionists. x This should now' bo done away with. I don't object to unions—that is for inoii to join a union for mutual help. I object to them saying to me, join us Or you shan't work. I am a fairly old colonist.; have reared a large family in the Wellington district; had a thorough training ill the building trade. My father, a builder in the Old Land, was generally needed l by tho boss, being one of tie last to go when tho job cam© to a slose. Yet these new chums comealong and with the assistance of our late Government get laws passed to shut me and others like me out of earning riiy daily bread. When our late friend Mr. Seddon canio in power, or rather jumped in power, I was told by many I would have to join the union or get'no work. I had had somo experience with, union men who were then in Wallington, and .not liking their methods and mean i notions I said I would never join myisolf with such men. Now mind, Mr. jEditor, I do not say all union men aro I mean; far from Id t. I love many of the men who aro now in the union, but Khey are theTo by compulsion. They and hundreds of our tradesmen would leave the union to-morrow if they were :sure of a chance of-work. Tho persecution I havo icceived from unionists ali theso yo.ns was without mercy, though they knew I had at that time a Jot of little children depending upon mo. I used to got work, but very soon tome of these men interviewed tho boss and I was not wanted, although at that time no preference clause existed. Well here Ave are, Mr. Editor, the family grown up and independent of dad, and I challenge any man in Wellington or district to say I owo him a pound. Can tho strikers say this with all their greed? I may say that when a young man I worked for Scoullar and Archibald upon tho big building in Wellington known as "the biggest :wooden building in the world," and. also on many fine buildings in our City. ' . _ Now these simple truths are mentioned so that .the public may see what ■these unionists are They would crush Miy man who will not join theni and bo ruled as pawns on a board by a few agitators, for our men havo sunk their individuality entirely. Now, Mr. Editor, I have been surprised at the language tho leaders of the striko havo •Made in public, and apparently no notice, taken-of it-by tho powers that be. I am afraid. they never study God's Word., May I refer-them to James' Epistle, chapter 3? Lpt them read that ■and put a-bridle on their tongue: "Even so the tongue is a little memtier, and boaateth great things. " Be--sioW, how great a.matter a little fire kindleth! And tho tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity! So is the tongue among our members, that it defileth tho !wholo body, and setteth on firo tho fcourse of nature, and it is set on firo of hell."

Now that tho present trouble is Hearing tho end let us hope tho law will be altered, and that every man able and willing to work may be allowed without lot pr hindranco."—l am, etc.,

ANOTHER NON-UNIONIST. Hutt, November 12.