LABOR TROUBLES.

Evening Star, Issue 14931, 18 July 1912, Page 2

LABOR TROUBLES.

TO THE EDITOII. Sir, —I wish to congratulate “Worker’’ on his advice in Saturday evening’s ‘Star’ regarding the Federation of Labor; but ho might have put his rase a great deal more strongly than he did. History does not record a. more foolish method for the ' ndvoncemen x, of the workers i ’nan. the one followed by this great fcdeiallon, for the ; one simple reason that they are not there | to 'build anything up, bat to tear every- | thing down. The teaching of their [ ‘ Maoriland Worker ’ is against, anything I which makes for law or order. They make | light of religion and agteements,• they. are I-against military training and, in a general wav, anything; or anyone in authority over others. I simply will not take their paper in’my house whet e any of my family might, eee it. They cry out for freedom, liberty, the right to strike, and eo on. And "what does it all amount to? W.e who. like a lot of poor silly sheep,' have been beguiled by their statements ate left with the splendid privilege of paring up whatever they think may be required, and the right to stop work when their dignity is at stake. A truly glorious freedom, ’indeed' And what does the. freedom to strike mean but simply the freedom to starve—a lusuiy any of us can indulge in any day we feel inclined, without indicting it on other.-. I think “Wo;ter" is safe when he says there- are hundreds in Dunedin who would not cease work at the call of the federation. For myself, I have been guilty of many folhts, hut most assuredly I am not going to treat my wife and family and mr°e]f to a feast of fasting to maintain the dignity of a few self-installed and irresjiousibip prisons. Intelligent, Labor leaders the world over have come to realise that the strike is not worth the suffering which it entails, and everyone knows that a general strike in Xew Zealand just now would pat, the cause of Labor back by 20 years. 1 would earnestly and fervently appeal _to ali workers’to get this great federation overthrown, for if it. is supported it most certainly will sooner or _ later bring us into trouble. It is tottering now, sno it would be a mistaken kindness to prolong i(» agenv. Det rid of it, and make ourselves as contented as we can till we can better OUT conditions by Ac t of Parliament. which thinking men see is the cnly constitutional uay to gain our c-mK—I am, etc,. July 17.