THE REAL UNION SMASHER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 6

THE REAL UNION SMASHER.

From the time that the Federation of Labour began to take a hand in the present industrial crisis it has persistently endeavoured to make people believe that unionism is engaged in a. great battle for its very existence, whereas everyone who has any real understanding of the position knows perfectly well that it is merely the Federation's own lawless methods that are at stake. _ Whenever the opportunity arises the strike leaders endeavour to pose as the representatives and defenders of the trades unions, and to act as the spokesmen of the whole of the organised labour of New Zealand. "When Mn. Webb speaks in Parliament, for instance, he_ says very little about the Federation and its revolutionary ideas; but ho professes to be deeply concerned about "organised labour," which, of course, includes the arbitration and other unions. In the present emergency it, suits these advocates of syndicalism to conceal their true policy, and to assume the role of the special friend and protector of unionism. In reality, the Federation of Labour is the implacable enemy of the (rades union movement. Its mask of friendship was ruthlessly torn off by Ml!, lvoi: rfA'/.Ei.i., secretary of the Executive Hoard of the Amalgamated Mociot.v of Carpenters, in the course, of some remarks on the situation which lie made at Auckland on Monday. He sees ill at the Federation's policy can only involve (ho unions in disaster, and lie has done something to open the eyes of the Auckland workers to that fact. Mi:. Uazki.lj reveals the Federation in its true character ns a "union smasher," and he is able to back up his opinion with such undeniable facts as the

breaking of the Waihi Miners' Union, the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union, the .Seamen's Union, and the Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union. This wrecking policy lias been erpially disastrous in other places besides Auckland; but the wo.-kers arc now realising the dangers ahead. Ignorance is one o? the chief perils to legitimate unionism, and this is clearly recognised by Ma. Hazeix, as the following extract from his statement shows: — He said dial the ignorance displayed in Auckland by the rank and file regnrdinjf Iho Conciliation Council and Arbitration Court was nslounding, and only wont to show the kind of doctrine that 7md liecn thrust, down the throats of honest workers by (he extremists, or those in open revolt, against trade union: principles, as well a.s against law and order, ,'i'hc professional secretaries were a source of jiuisanrs fo the whole community, and the members should remove these parasites from office and manage, their own affairs. The idea of a man holding the office as secretary to four or five unions and treating them all with the eani-o kind of food was rather humorous. Xo .man could hold office in the Amalgamated Society unless lie was a carpenter or joiner. Tin's policy prevented exploitation. He asked how many of the professional secretaries went out: on strike. As soon as the trades unions decide to manage their own affairs and refuse to be dragged at trie heels of revolutionary Socialists, there will be a great improvement in the industrial life of the country. It will ha an altogether wholesome changebetter for the employers, better for the workmen, and better for the community generally.