“HOW LABOR GOVERNS”

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1923, Page 4

“HOW LABOR GOVERNS”

(Sydney Herald). It is an ironic circumstance that the keenest critics of Labour’s political methods and achievements are those who belong, or have belonged, to the movement themselves. Aloroover, their thrusts are the more telling because they are armed with inside information. They know exactly where to lind the joints in their colleagues’ harness, or, to change the metaphor, they know which cupboard contains the skeleton. They may even have helped to put it there. Frequently they denounce their ••comrades” in terms which the most case-hardened opponent of Labour would hesitate to employ. One has niilv to remember the acrimonious atmosphere of the recent A.L.P. Conference, the invective and taunts and objurgations that filled the air. When Labour goes about to set its house in order, a good deal of dust is raised in the process. The 'latest to hear willies- against Labour is Air \ . CL C'hilde in “How Labour Governs. Although he is very plain-spoken, he nowhere indulges in abuse, hut his observations are nolle tile less caustie on that account. After a distinguished course at the universities oi Sydney and Oxford, Ah' C lulde spent some time in Queensland, and was subsequently private .secretary to Mr .John Storey. His hook i- a history oi the Labour movement m Australia during the last I wontv years, and troiu one point of view may he regarded as a warning addressed to Labour in oihei countries as to wiial it should avoid. One imagines that, it will cause con siderahle agitation and irritation in local Labour circles, and many of his statements are sure to be challenged. The opponent.- of Labour, however, must not suppose that Air Childe is a brand -nalehed from the burning. He is an unoiiuiproiiii-iiig antagonist of the Tories and the eapitalisi system, lie does not ilf line his own political creed, Inn there is not the slightest doubt lb,si he believes that little is to he hoped from Labour with its present ideals and organisation. Air Child" comments on the phenomenon that the caucus system discourage- originality and brilliance. “Tlie exceptional mail is always .-uspeet. When a man of marked ability dees succeed in gaining the lead, like Holman or Then lore, lie tends to become autocratic. A man of outstanding ability and d. eiitmliug personality naturally resents diciaiinn I'lvun those less gified and well-iulunied than himself. . The demon at ie discipline o' ibe Labour parti i.a • in several in-tunecs turned such men into apostate-Still, it cauii-t l;e helped. Discipline i,in .■ he maintained, and Ike individual nm-i subjugate him. ell to ilie cause. .Mr ( liilde quotes with appro', a! Cue action of thn-e Queensland stal.v:uts in who, though they were satisfied that universal ser-

vice «ti, owe- -ary, ■ do’, ally subordinated I heir own opinions in the dii talcs id the movement and took the lump agaia-l eoiiMripi on." The one Labour moniker in Queensland who had the courage of his convictions, refused to accept tlie deei-imi and lelt tlie parly, “wa- -übseipieut lv rewarded tor his 1 ivaijiery by a testimonial, got no by the Tori Violent mn-tr.-vei yis certain to he excite.l by a chapier d-iling with the allies and iui.i:■ 11 d-. On" of i hem. according to Mr Childe, i- I lie Homan Catholic Church. “It i- notorious.'’ be say-, "that the t ailinlir Church, a; a body. M'Ppnrithe Labour panv qniie solidly.” Why. he tiiid- ii rath, r dili'e id: to uuder-.-laitd. “Vmy few < | if- piomiuciit Labour leaders'' have been of ibis faith: many, imbed, lone not Icon professing Christians at all. The (.'iiureli, moreover, has no liking for llie tenet, oj K'.iciitli.-m. Never!iiele-s. "its hierarchy lias eon- tautiy lent its -upoort to the Lah.ilir oe.nv. end a sectarian element- is distinct iy pen-op: i'lo in most league,.” Bui. emit iiua s M r ( liilde. "the iiio-t eerily dmm n-t rahl" allianc' formed by the Labour paiiy ilh tile vest".! intere-i - of a sect on ot Ihe eepii:11 - i ela-s i- t lint with the Ii ■ 11 ! <> r trade.” In ..end Suites a local option poll is held on tlie same day as a general election. To light reduction and itu-lii erne li‘ ■ liquor interests have an organi-a-l.’oii well supplied wit It funds and ear-. ’! hi-. Mr Childe ih rir.ivs. ha- been at I lie di-po-al ef I .about- eendid it a-. Lah.uir lias never been over-iavi-ldy ’ equipped with the sinews of war. and’ “the use of (lie liceu-ed victuallers' ear-, of the piihii"-hou-es for the di-- t play of Lalimir signs, and even monetary contribution- lias therein;.' beelt invaluable. Whither Hie u ■_> t'ue-e anpiirteiuiHee.- has involved any grave sacrifice of Labour principle- in al.other que-1 i' ll." 'I here is :i iti'.me.-ling chapter oil the 1:17 strike (Hie ‘trikehreakers wire largely the sons of laimers “and suchlike persons'.’), an I another on the act ivit ie- of the i.W.W. in Australia during the war. Mr Childe does net aerie with i lie i icw will'd, held in the Labour partv l!;ai the proceedings again d "liie Twelv'’ were a “I raine-uo." “The iuncr i Morio ; of the I.W.W. i as confessedly re-e-m-i sihl,■ for (he fires, and ronm o 1 tho cenionml may quite pO"ge'y have hi mi eoimected with the plan or it- ej'.vii-j lion. But it is quite another rentier j whether the police pick'd the u >.sl j guilty men.” Incidentally we learn ' that (ertaiu gentlemen who earn -l ; n j tlie business of forging bank notes (fori wh e|] they were (onvieted.) .'d 1 not to I so from motives of sordid gam. bit i with the uhiect of aech-raling Hi • mor

llu'iiw of -ocii'l v bv denroi'i o ing Hie I (tirrmtey. Still, iliev killed two bird-! witli mi..' stone.’ For tic re.l. AH Childe lias little faith in the nhi’ity of the Labour movement, as if is now; const il tiled, to help the working ehi-s . The A.W.C.. whir!’, excreisos sueh in- ! Iltter.ee, is “mevelv a maeliine for • iiug offieials into Parliament.” While: the o.!!.[’. may he realised, ii “v.iiii degenerate’ into that state of -otilie-s [ meehani-m whieh .seems to come over i ail Labour activities in tlm lionr of i their apparent triumph. As tli" Lab-! '■nr parly, starting with a band of in. j spired Socialists, degenerated into a 1 vast machine for capturing political power, hut dir] not know how to use I that [lower when attained. except for i the profit of individuals; so tlie O.ILl". ! will, in all likelihood, become iu-i a ! gigantic apparatus for the glorification, ol a tew bosses.” Wherever iho read- j er'x [iolitie.il sympatliie- may be. lie -ili certainly find food for reflection in this book. i