Matawai Happenings

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 5, 1 June 1913, Page 4

Matawai Happenings

Mills spoke in Gisborne recently. The “ Professor,” taking into consideration the fact that Gisborne is the centre of a fanning and stockraising district, where the landowners’ interests are dominant, spoke with a view of catching the small farmers’ votes. He flayed the land policy of New Zealand and extolled the Canadian policy of land settlement,

No doubt the Canadian Proletariat is having a lovely time ever since the Canadian Government instituted the policy. In the course of his speech the Professor said .we could have 5,000,000 of a population in New Zealand, and ive would not have to spent any money in a^mr-

w , hiker. This kind of - he should get the farmers’ Mte “ next election.”

He spoke of unimproved land values, putting the land tax where it ought to be, and taking the tax from the tariff. He would start by taking the tax off: tobacco. He spoke of the “ private industrial monopolies, ’ ’ the necessity of greater educational facilities, provision for dealing with the small farmers’ products (more small farmers’ votes) and the needs of the community (apparently there are not two classes in the community). Altogether, from a wage slave’s point of view, who wants unity ? The meeting was a vote-catching affair.

Some months ago the Poverty Bay Construction Workers’ Union wrote to the Executive of the N.Z.F.L. asking them if they would be willing to pay part of an organiser’s expenses, to organise other lines under construction in New Zealand, with a view of opposing the attempts to institute the private contract system and retain the co-operative system. After waiting

more than four months for a reply we received word from the Executive that they were unable to contribute to the expenses of an organiser. We then took direct action and sent for H. A. Campbell to organise the workers on other lines. The last report from him states that he is meeting with excellent success in the North Auckland district.

This union is in a flourishing condition; there are 250 members. In addition to maintaining an organiser on other lines, £2O was sent to the striking Illawarra miners, and a representative meeting recommended a 6d. per week levy till the strike is ended. £lO was also contributed to the P.R.U. These and other little matters show that the navvy is doing his bit towards carrying on the Class War. The members of this union transact all business from the floor of its fortnightly meetings—we will not tolerate “ Government by Executive.” The wages have been as high as seventeen shillings in some cuttings, and we have been able to resist the petty pin-prick-ing of petty officials since we organised. There are a lot of men out of work, and the Public Works Department is refusing nearly all applications.—JUS.