THE WAYS OF LABOUR LEADERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 6

THE WAYS OF LABOUR LEADERS.

Two rather interesting features of the strike situation to-day arc the

attitude taken up by the* Sydney Wharf Labourers' Union towards Mr. Hughes and his Conference, and the Kappoarancc locally of tho United Labour party with another peace proposal. Mtt. Hbohes is beginning to cut it rather inglorious figure. A few days ago he, its chairman of I.ho Conference, forwarded to New _ Zealand a lengthy cable message intended to be of a most impressive nature. He made it quite clear, in this message that Caesak, in the shape of the Conference, had spoken, and that, nothing remained for the people of this Dominion but to bow the knee and submit to the dictation of the Labour Trust of Australia. It was a deliberate attempt to intimidate tho people of this country and force them to yield to the wishes of the Red federation, f ailing compliance with' this impudent suggestion, the Labour leaders in Australia were to get to work to use their Combine to crush all efforts to maintain communication and trade bv sea between tho Dominion and the Commonwealth. It will be recalled that in reply to. tho Citizens 1 Defence Committee, which had pointed out the uselcssness of entering into agreements with the Red Federation; Mr. Hughes lightly brushed aside the notion that any agreement entered into under the auspices of his Conference would not be adhered to. He did not say so in as many words, but 1m plainly sought to convey the idea that his organisation could exercise an influence over the Keel Federation which would afford an assurance to employers and to citizens generally that any decision arrived at as tho result of arbitration would be accepted and adhered to. Poor Mn. Hughes ! This was only a few days ago, but already ho is being made to look ridiculous by his own Bed Muggers. For all his bold declarations he now fincis that 'lie has rnoro than _he can do to control his own associates, much loss influence his Red Federation allies in New Zealand, who are making him their tool for the time being. The "Red Raggers," as Me. Hughes himself calls them, belonging to Mr, Hughes's own Combine, have more than once point blank refused to obey orders, and he is reported to have declared that- unless they come into,line he will have'to test which is the stronger, "Red Raggers" or Unionism. He had the impudence .to imply that the citizens and employers here were attacking labour unionism simply because they refused to have anything to do with the "Red Raggers," and he is' now forced to admit that lie may be compelled to follow in Sydney practically the same course as has been followed by the citizens and employers here, and cut adrift from the "Red Raggers.'' He would attempt to forcfl the people of New Zealand to swallow the Socialist-Anarchist principles of the Red Federation in the name of Labour Unionism, but he himself desires to draw a distinct line between unionism and the "Red Raggers'' in Australia. So much for the consistency of Mr. Hughes and so much for the value of agreements en to re.,d into with "Red Raggers." As for the United Labour party's latest move, that is quite on a par with its attitude throughout. It. professes ti> have no sympathy with the methods of the Red Federation, it. knows that the Red Federation is a menaec to the interests of legitimate unionism, but, it has not'tho courage to come forward and ranire itself openly on the side of the public; in the present struggle. It knows better than most people the valuclessness of agreements entered into with the "Red Federation,'' and vet it advocates that the present trouble should lie submitted to a form of

arbitration which affords not the. slightest guarantee that the decision arrived at would be accented or adhered to. It knows that the Federation of Labour, owing !. l; its reckless and unscrupulous policy, threatens the, peace of mind ami the financial resource. 1 ! of all unionist:-, and yet. when that Fedcrat ion is ttrauticelly

in rxlrcmis so fill" as the present strike is concerned, ancl so far as its influence for many years to conic is concerned, it stupidly or treacherously c6mes forward with a proposal which it knbvvs is worthless for cood, but which is calculated to encourage the lied Flaggers to continue their hopeless light. No doubt the United Labour party is playing its own game. It napes to win over the seccdcrs from the .Red Federation, but; it should not attempt to make the public believe that it is actuated by any high and worthy desire, to end the present trouble. It wants to see the Red Federation crushed, and quite properly so; but it has not the courage to coma forward openly and assist in performing that service to unionism and to the country generally. The United Labour party lmd a, great opportunity to further the legitimate interests of Labour and to strengthen its posi-; lion with the public generally; but its loaders are too timid and too narrow visioned. They cannot see that the Labour party can. never gain any great measure of success until it shakes off its selfishness, and broadens its horizon sufficiently to perceive what ifc owes to the public as well as to itself.