Importance of District Councils.

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 November 1913, Page 4

Importance of District Councils.

Recent happenings, notably in the South Island, have emphasised again the importance of making every possible provision for promoting local solidarity; guarding again over-central-isation of control; diffusing education; strengthening organisation generally ; and developing that rank-and-file selfreliance without which there can be no real progress towards Industrial Democracy.

District Councils, provided for in the I.W.W. Constitution, meet this requirement. Industrial Unionism recognises the Local Industrial Union as the UNIT of organisation. Where any degree of organisation has been achieved, and there are several local unions in a district affiliated with the same national body—as in the case of the West Coast —they should elect delegates for the purpose of making a strong District Council; each local union to have delegates on that council. The recent Blackball fiasco was due largely to misunderstanding among the West Coast local unions; lack of district solidarity, due to the absence of a proper District Council —not to lack of militancy; and to the U.F. of L. executive being unable to respond quickly, even had they been so disposed. The geographical difficulties on that coast are not insurmountable. A District Council, with jurisdiction for the whole district, composed of one or more delegates from each union, and healthily functioning, would do much to obviate misunderstanding and consequent defeat; promote a healthier feeling of solidarity; and provide in some degree against possible treachery of national officials. The foregoing applies, in a general way, to all districts, including cities.