THE SLAVERY OF THE WORKING MAN.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2715, 9 March 1916, Page 7

THE SLAVERY OF THE WORKING MAN.

Sir,—Mr. Vavasour tells us that ha . heard horrible tales about trades unionists at a house party in Ireland. Of course, he heard those tales from the ■ coal barons, munition manufacturers, millionaire merchants, or their friends or acquaintances. There 6eems to have been no' hint given that the causo of .those strikes was the action of the employers in trying to keep the price of labour down to pre-war rates, while the products of Labour were put up fifty •per cent., thereby bringing the workers and their families to the verge of starvation; and there seems to nave been no Labour agitator present at the house party to draw attention to these, dls- ■ agreeable facts. There are other crimes Mr. Vavasoui brings against unionists—i.e., that they would not take over a shipbuilding yard ■after private enterprise had made a 'failure of it; also that they would not .work for the pittance of an Italian worker, so that Armstrong's could construct Italian contraots in England. Of course these charges carry their own refutation. _ hi re the question of the half-education of Labour agitators, no doubt Mr. Vavasoui- would consider such men as the late "Dick" Scddon, also Messrs. .'Huglics, Fisher, and Watson, of the Federal Labour Party, half-edu-cated men (for they'all started as unionists, later on becoming agitators), while ■lie would probably consider a young man with a-university degree, a monocle, and the proper sort of drawl, a fully educated man. Of course, it would be 'highly gratifying to Mr. Vavasour if the unionists would adopt that sort of man las a leader, instead of some craftsman iwith the grime of labour on his hands. I Now Mr. Vavasour is a unionist, and &n agitator, for his own class. He is a prominent member and sometime president of the Marlborough Farmors' ilJnion, and is, I believe, one of the most .persistent agitators in the Dominion. When, in June, 1914, the Marlborough Farm Labourers and Station Employees organised a union (of whioh tho writer is a member), and asked the Arbitration Court for an award, Sir. Vavasour was the man who appeared in Court and strongly objected against the Court hearing the case. Sinco that time forty jrer cent, of that union have gone to itho front. Will Mr. Vavasour tell us ihow many members of his Farmers' Union have enlisted? Indeed, for a class •'of men bound in tho chains of slavery (as per Mr. Vavasour), I think trade Unionists are doing very well. The A.W.U. of Australia, with a membership sf 80,000, has already sent 20,000 men to the front. These figures are vouched for by llr. Hughes, the Federal Premier. Even that arch-agitator, "Mick" Laracy, the Dominion Shearers' secretary, has gone to do his hit. I have not ■yet heard .of any of the big panjan-; ijrums of tho Farmer's and Squatters' fdnion making a name for themselves in» that way. There are those who • seem to think that because the trade unions are not continually passing loyal resolutions, and proposing toasts, or making n brave show on Patriotic Committees, that they are not doing their share, hut the fact that the trades unionist quietly goes to the front,' while tho Farmers' Unions attend to the patriotic toasts and resolutions, whilo they are raking in the war profits with both hands. Mr. Vavasour tells us that ho Tiopes class distinction will ceaso after the war, but if it does it will not be owing to tho Press contributions of liiniself or his fellow agitators.—l am, UNIONIST. [Our correspondent can justly claim jthat unionists have responded well to the call to arms, but his reflections on the farming community are unwarranted.]

Sir,—l have been forwarded a copy of the "Maoriland Worker" of February 23, containing an articlo on my letter published in your issus of February 19, entitled "Tho Slavery of tho Working-Class." Tlio article in qucs< tion is amusing reading, being a vituperative tirade against mo, and rapes certain strictures J make

against the intelligence of the Labour loader*. In 'The Dominion of March 3, page 3, ia given Mr. Massey's answer to certain questions on the conscription of wealth, formulated by tlfe Labour Conference, consisting of delegates representing 87 organisations, and cddrcssed to liim by Uio "Maoriland AVorker." It is difficult to believe tliat any body of men could conceive such ;i scheme, which Mr. jYlassey rightly dubs "preposterous and ridiculous." Mr. Massey's reply to thu questions put before liim is concise, complete, and an entire justification ol any strictures I have made against tlio intelligence of tlio leaders of the working man.—l am, otc., H. D. VAVASOUI}. Blenheim, March 7. ' KOWHAI SEED. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In each autumn of the past four years I have been distributing kowhai seed. I liavo the pleasure of now offering, through your columns, to supply any of your renders Mio wish for it a packet of kowhai senl. In that period I have distributed.closa upon 2000 packots, the seed going to Europe, Araorica, and Australia, as well as to all parts of New Zealand. I am, therefore, encouraged to renew the offer this season. All-1 ask is that those lovers of trees and flowers who desire to obtain a packet of the seed of the Dominion's national flower should send ni« a stamped and addressed envelope. I fhall enclose with tlie packet a printed slip, giving some particulars of the plants, and tlie method of cultivation. I should like to hear from those who obtain 6eeds of the measure of success they have mot with in growing them.— I am, etc., L, T. BROWN. Kimbolton Road, Feilding, March 8, 1916.