MUZZLING LABOUR LEADERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2889, 29 September 1916, Page 4

MUZZLING LABOUR LEADERS

Mr. Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, has been expelled from the Sydney Waterside Workers' Union by a 5 to 1 majority. This is the reward extended to the Labour leader who probably has done more. for" tho particular union in question than any living man. Mr. Hughes is condemned for his views

on conscription. A few days ago the Executive of tho Political Labour Party in Sydney expelled Mr. Hughes from the Labour movement altogether. .When asked a day or two later what he intended to do about it, Mr. Hughes- did not iflinco matters i 1

'What as I going to do? I am going on. Ido not recognise either the authority or the right ofHhe Political Labour League Executive to expel-me. In this, the greatest crisis of the civilised world, in which democracy and labour 'are fighting for' their existence, this secret junta dares to tell me that, on pain of expulsion, we must not 6peak as o.nr consciences.direct. But whilo I live I will say that which I think to be right, and on this great question, which 6tands far above party, nothing they can say or do shall prevent me from pointing out to my fellow-citizens what "lias" to be done in'thls war/' The great question here referred to was, of course, National Service, otherwise conscription. The "sec-, ret 'junta," as'MK. Hughes styled it, has been'striking at the political existence of other notable leaders of the Labour movement.' " Me. Holman, Premier of New South

Wales, has also been placed under the b£sn for speaking sis his conscience directed on'the subjectof compulsory service. The 'Executive of the P.L.L. withdrew its endorsement of his candidature in the La-

bour interest at the forthcoming elections. This is bow Mr., Holman dealt with the matter:

"Tho fundamental bargain upon which a man joins the Labour movement is unity of the platform and freedom in everything else. During the last few months 110 one has done more than I to try to seoure unity upon the platform. If the action of the P.LJL was not so serious ill a critical time like this, it might bo regarded as almost ridiculous. The P.L.L. Executive lias gone entirely beyond its powers both, regarding Mr. Hughes and myself. I should like to know what claims tho P.L.L. Executive has to represent the Labonr movement that I have not got. A group of earnest, but short-sighted • men, such a 6 I believe tho present oxecutivo to be. cannot possibly oomo betewen ns and tho public. With , regard to Mr. Hughes, the position is still moro absurd. He has been elected by representatives of the Labour movement all over Australia as

their leader, and in that capacity he represents ovory State and not New South Wales alone. How can an executive o£ one State, representing only one section of Mr. Hughes's followers, undertake to depose him, and cast liim outsido tho movement? Action of this kind can only servo to strengthen the cause of those who urge the cai-rying of the referendum. It indicates that those who are 1 opposing it aro afraid of the force of argument, and aro seekingHo 6top tho mouths of Labour speakers in advance. These hatefnl tactics have been only in-

troduced into tlvo Labour moveMEnt .within tho last three- or four years, While they may ruin tho Labour movement they cannot possibly prevent tho achievement of tho public will." But this was hot all. Mr. Griffith, another Labour Minister, was placed on the Black List. In a speech at Cessnock, ho struck back at his. j assailants with much vigour : • "An organisation," he said, "which attempted to 'muzzle' public men was flying contrary to all Labour principles. The Empire is fighting for right and juntico, and, by liod, wo will not bo muzisloa." Still other Labour Ministers and Labour members aro threatened by tho Executive of the Political Labour movement, and a bitter struggle is expected to be the outcomeone which may split the Labour movemont. The Melbourne Age, however, prtfiiably gets down to the neart of the situation when it compares the votes recortlod in tho election of the Executive of the Political Labour League with tho votes polled by tho Labour candidates at the Federal elections. The figures show that the Executive waa oleefced |

on tho votes of 34,374 electors, whereas tho Labour vote in the State recorded for its candidates for the Senate was over 340,000. Tho Executive which Ihuß professes to apeak in the name of Labour really represents only one-tenth of tho Labour following. It is satisfactory to know this, not only for the sake of Mb. Hughes and thoso associated with him who are being so unfairly attacked, but because of its probable bearing on the result of the Conscription Referendum. *