What Is the Alliance of Labour?

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1922, Page 4

What Is the Alliance of Labour ?

AN OPEN LETTER TO POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICERS.

To the members of the Post and I olograph Officers’ Association we respectfully submit the following matter for consideration as it affects every l ,ei " son in the Service. As you know ah effort is being made to induce your Association to affiliate with the Alliance of labour. Whether you ballot for so joining or not rests with you, but it is right that before being called upon to vote, the whole truth as to what this Alliance means should be placed before you. What is the Alliance of Labour? Has it full constitution ever been published so that you could read it for yourself and judge of the matter without being influenced by anyone? These are fair questions to which you should require definite answers. We have before us now the press report of a meeting of the Auckland section of your Association held on Saturday, 18th inst. Mr J. H. McKenzie, Dominion President, and Mr H. E. Combs, General Secretary, gave addresses on the Alliance and question of affiliation. After reading these speeches we have no hesitation in saying that neither speaker set out plainly the true aims of the 'Alliance, but simply presented such features as might convince the members of the desirability of affiliation. In tins matter we contend that the truth, the whole truth and nothing hut the truth should, in honesty, be presented by your officers. First of all it should -be pointed out that, as presented by Mr J. Robedts, the Alliance Secretary, the objective is: _“ The collective ownership of the means of production and distribution, and the control of the industries by the workers who operate them in the interests of the community.” That is the Socialist objective, exactly the same in principle as the objective of the old Red Federation of Labour which read: The socialisation of the means of production, distrib|utidn. and exchange.” Further it should be explained that again according to Mr J. Roberts (who must know) the aims of the Alliance are:

(1) “To have the parliamentary representatives of the people elected by groups of individual trades, from wharf labourers to bankers, rather than by the present haphazard method of geographical representation. (2) “To give control of the manual carrying out of the different industries to the workers. (3) “ To confine industrial disputes tn the Department in which they originate." ME OOMBS WRONG. When Mr Combs assured the meeting at Auckland that “the Alliance was not a political organisation; as the Alliance expanded it would include all shades of political opinion; its objects were entirely industrial ” he was stating what is Certainly not correct. We ask you how can the Alliance have the aim (No. 1) of revolutionising the parliamentary system without being a political organisation? Again, how can persons of all shades of political opinion honestly support the Socialist objective of the Alliance ?We put it straight to Mr Combs whether he honestly meant that members could be Liberals, Reform or Labour and yet sincerely support tile Alliance objective of the “ collective ownership of production and distribution and control of industries by tlie workers ? Dare he answer that question?

On the question of “ strikes,” we observe tliav bjotli speakers pleaded that the Alliance was not a strikingmaking organisation. They ought really to have explained that it would depend on circumstances. These words of Mr Combs want some thinking out. “ It might ibe that in some time of national trouble, when the service was heart and whole with those who were fighting, the Alliance might order the officers to remain at work; and they would then have to remain, whatever their feelings,” So the Alliance “might order,” but suppose it ordered the officers to cease work; we suppose if it could order one way it could order the other. Note the veiled form of Mr Combs’ language. Is there one in

the service game enough to ask him to take the mask off. Altogether we submit to you that in connection with the Alliance business there is far too much mystery, pretence, talking in cunningly devised phrase, professions which are false on the face of them, is it not a plain fact that the Alliance is an at- , tempt to form the “ One Big Union | of all wage earners to take over the industries of the Dominion? How is it going to be done without a physical revolution you would do well to consider. The questions for the civil servants ar ,, ; Can the Alliance of Labour give you what you want ? Is it going to do it by a big strike, by revolution or by political action? Apparently Messrs McKenzie and Combs look for none of these three courses from the Alliance. You should ask him what other course remains.—We are, yours faithfully N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE.