The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1925.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1925.

It was mentioned in lli-t- cable no' l '* this week that the Uritish Labor l’arty had hoi'll tabling words of good choor lo their comrades overseas, including Australia and New Zealand where eleetiuns are about to Ik 1 held. <Just what .sort of folk they are at Home and abroad who tire working lor internationalism, it is interesting to refer to Mr Arthur Henderson M.l’., who was a member of (lie ill-lated British I.ahor Ministry whi h went under when the I!nssianisiug efforts behind the f.ahor I’artv were exposed to the British eleeior.s. Mr Henderson wa, present at the I nlernal iontd Labor and Socialist Congress at Marseilles in August last, being President of the gathering. In the course of his atldress lie is tlots reported to have said : “There were grave and sinister evidences of read ion. In every country to-day Capitalism was striving to lon e dow II I rade union slandards of wages, hours and working conditions by playing olf the workers of one country against those of other countries. I hours and low wages in one country were used as an argument for reducing wages and lengthening hours in other countries. “ft -eemed to him that the grip of Capitalism had been tightening since the war. that the power of the small groups who control finance and own the machinery of production had been enormously extended and war to-, la v more truly i n teroa t ionn I in its score than ever before. “If the sufferings of people did mu move the Capitali-i exploiters, it" the horrors of modern social and industrial conditions excited no pity, the organised power ot the workers must be evoked and the whole strength of their movement, nationally and internationally organised. must lo used to strike the fetters from the workers’ limbs and ti establish freedom." This js fhe usual Hass of clap-trap served out. but the threat of national organisations "to strike nil tellers"’ is a new guise in which to stale a revolution is at hand. Mr A. J. Cook. Secretary of the Miners’ Federation at Home, is another of the revolutionary firebrands, and he has fixed Afav ot next war as the time when in F.tlgland they will come to grips. Mr Cook regarded the Covernineut voneossion t> avoid an upheaval at the time ot the coal crisis, a- a distinct climb down, indicating Ihe political power ol Labor to delate to any government in Britain. This is how Mr Cook descrdird lhe sit o, ation : The employers had said to the Prime Minister: “You keep the ring and le| rs fight." Bui Mr Baldwin was a humanitarian and a man. and the Cubinel feared the result because it would have meant- revolution. Take it front me. revolutions will mine. I want a revolution that will have a disciplinary army, and a revolution that will have not only discipline, but be organised with an objective before it ; a revolution that will understand its goal: n revolution where the mentality of the people will be free from the terrible curses of criticism and apathy. This victory must be consolidated. With regard to the coining inquiry, the miners would not he satisfied unless there were sitting on the com mission practical minds connected with the industry. In Unit poiineetion Ids friend Air Baldwin had made a fatal mistake. Aiiners would not accept settlements unless they were applied all round in the coal-fields on the basis contained in a letter which he had in his possession, written on behalf of the Government, stating that wages were not to be reduced, and if n pit was to lie opened anywhere it must be with the wages and conditions that existed under the 1921 agreement. The miners' light was an open fight, with no apology for nationalisation, for nationalisation was not a theory but

:tn economic necessity. Mr Cook is n licllicosc lender, who it will lie soon is spoiling for a field. We have moil of tlie .same type in tlie Labor movement in New Zealand today. though at tlie nioinont they are lo he heal'd only in tin' minor key. Still nien like the I.a hour candidate for Westland are prepared and ready to talk sedition again should the oemsion and opportunity offer. This may he hot-headed nonsense at the moment. Ini t like Mr Cook's statements, it shows the germ of disruption has taken hold and men of that stamp should not he placed in the position ol a people’s representative, for the people of Westland, for instance, do not stand for sedition, nor would they he patty to offering any offence against law and order to imperil the State or constitutional rights. It is well to remember the excesses in speech of the folk at Home, and wo may conelt.de this reference to the attitude of people prominent in British Labor circles at Home by limiting the following qiiartet of utterances from Mr Cook's firebrand speeches published in ihe August Knglish papers: You should thank Cod there uro some Hods in your movement. f don't want to encourage physical violence on any side. Hie re is going to he an election lie fore twelve months are over. Send to the House of Commons the right men. We will capture the Army and the Navy by having them controlled by a Laliotir Government. Let me warn the Government not to tempi the Army and N'avv too much. They are our own lads. T have enough faith in thorn to know that they will not turn against their own people. Many of them joined the forces lieeauso they were out o‘ work. The Communist has stood by yon T would rather associate with Communists than with royalty.