Stand Solid Now.

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 13, 8 November 1913, Page 1

Stand Solid Now.

Labour is on Trial in New Zealand

COMPULSORY ARBITRATION AND OTHER VITAL ISSUES ARE AT STAKE

Exhibition Workers Out. Auckland Trams Stopped. Hikurangi Miners on Strike

1 the town. We have received anonymous letters in which the writers threaten to scab, and say that they want to return to work and settle differences afterwards. We wish the “ Bosses ” who, write these letters w’ould sign their names! The following resolutions have been received: —

the Strikers for the orderly manner in which the Strike is being conducted, also for their firm determination to resist force by force, if the armed blackguards of the Government make any attempt to disturb the peace, and that w r e express our contempt for those miserable counterfeits of men who man the trains that bring in the scum the Government have scraped up in tow r n and country, for the purpose of creating that state of disorder, that they pretend they want to avoid; and further, that we wfill not handle scab material, w T ill not build barricades to protect scabs, and will dowm tools on the introduction of free labour or special police on the w r aterfront, and w r e place ourselves unreservedly in the hands of the Strike Committee.

AUCKLAND QUIET, BUT TENSE.

(Issued Nov. 7.) Tilings are quiet, but tense, in Auckland. • Like tlie atmosphere before a storm it is charged with electricity, and at intervals we hear distant rumblings. The mounted ‘ ‘ specials ’' marched in to town to-day from Otahuhu. When they arrived at Epsom they incited 15 labourers, who happened to be at work on the road, by putting their spread fingers and tiiumb to noses and shouting derisively at the men at work. The labourers answered, and the “ specials ” turned to charge, but were put to flight by the labourers. To show’ w T hat depths the money bugs of this town can reach, we may mention that they have attempted to stop our supplies of food stuff and groceries, but without success. This information we had from a prominent business man of

EXHIBITION WORKERS MASS MEETING. Carried: “ That the Exhibition Workers refuse to w r ork on the Exhibition and Wonderland Buildings until the strike is all settled, and the same be submitted to the Strike Committee, and that each Union represented shall declare an unfair job.”

RESOLUTION PASSED AT A MEETING OF THE HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES.

That this Meeting of Harbour Board Employees congratulate

AUCKLAND STONEMASONS. Tlie following resolution was

HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES, PAINTERS, TINSMITHS, STONEMASONS, AND OTHERS SOLID LABOUR EVERYWHERE SPEAKS CLEARLY.

communicated : At a meeting held last night (Nov. 6), the Auckland Stonemasons’ Union unanimously, resolved : That this meeting of Auckland Stonemasons tender their sympathy to all their felWvorkers on strike throughout the Dominion, and will, by their financial and material support, do all in their power to assist them in their struggle for the workers of Ivew Zealand, and will refuse to handle any material that has been contaminated by free labour.” <£oo was donated to the Executive of the Federation for the benefit of men m need. —W. Vennall, Secretary. WORD FROM WAIHI. To A.W.W.U. “ Comrade, you will find enclosed P.O. for £l3, collected for strikers from members of my Union. We are very few’ in numbers, but are willing to help comrades in this Class Fight. “ Trusting that victory will Crown your efforts. —Yours, Waihi Workers’ Union.” BRAVO, BARBERS!

Some of the Auckland hairdressers have undertaken to shave strikers free of charge. STRIKE BENEFIT PICTURES. Eelk>w-Worker Eairs gave' a good picture show at the Trades Hall, Auckland, on November 6. £9 9s was cleared and handed over to the Strike Fund. RAILWAY SOLIDARITY. Some Auckland Railway Workers have refused to touch coal labelled “November 6.” A REPUDIATION. Two members of the Auckland "Waterside Workers’ Union, instructed by the Strike Committee, and unknown to each other, visited a scab agency (A, L. Andrews, Wright’s Buildings, Fort Street). They were instructed to go down (Turn Paper Over.)

WHERE DO YOU STAND? Nov. 8. In the last analysis all success in all labour struggles depends on might, intelligently directed. The forces on both sides at present are gathering for a determined struggle. Workers have struck, revolted, against unbearable conditions. Large groups of other workers have immediately taken up the fight and declared it a, class question. The Employers may have forced the fight unconsciously, but they are startled at the sudden display of Solidarity, and they certainly are anxious for a settlement—they are losing many thousands daily. They, as well as we, recognise that such vital issues as compulsory arbitration are at stake, and they are massing their physical force to bludgeon Labour into subjection for many years to come. Now or Never Labour must speak with no uncertain voice. If this fight is not taken up wholeheartedly by The Working Class; if we do not stand as one man, by our fellow-workersnow; if the fight is carried on sectionally, we are undone, and may sink into a tyranny which will put Labour back for many years to come. The whole power of the Working Class must be brought to bear now. There can be no shirking the issue if we are to win. Upon the disposition of the physical forces, and the determination of the Rank and File not to be put in the background depends the outcome of the struggle. It behoves every worker, then, to ask himself: Who is carrying Cossacks and ignorant ‘‘ specials ” to the storm centres ? Who is massing the physical power of the Enemy? Who is supplying provisions to the armed hoards who are to be turned loose on the streets to provoke violence and destroy the order and quietness which now exists, in most centres, under Working Class rule? v Who is setting up the type for the lying reports appearing in the daily press? Who is doing the several acts which may ]vst turn victory into defeat? There is but one answer to the Master Class with their ready bludgeons and bullets. That answer is A GENERAL STRIKE. The bosses are beaten now if the Whole Working Class will stand solid. Their defeat is discerahle in the pleading for a settlement. Labour can strike a blow now. The master* first bulwark is division among mselves. After that comes defeat through leaders. And last comes the Cossacks and machine guns. A solid stand by the Rank and Eile can make a sure victory. Surely Labour will give its reply.

AN APPEAL FOR EXTENSION A gn*eat change has taken place in the attitude of the Press of late. Recognising the invincibility of the Working Class battalions of New Zealand, they are now anxious to get a settlement as early as possible. These organs, pool creatures, are but a reflection of the minds and ideas of the ruling class. They have screeched of Syndicalism, Anarchism, and Red Fedisrn in the past, now, lo and behold, it has become, say they, a mistaken idea of brotherhood.

Some of the Cow Country sheets, eager in the early days of the strike for civil war, are now getting scared as to what the consequences

may be. The Government have funked the trouble, now they are realising that a greater power than they have arisen in New Zealand.

They have the uniform police, whom they can’t trust, owing to the dictatorial attitude of Czar Herdman.

They have the ships of the Imoerial Navy, the men of which have admitted that they will refuse to shoot down workers, but rather that they will fire into the air. They have left the “ specials,” who already have come into conflict in Wellington with the uniformed Police and Territorials.

The I.W.W. always maintains that the General Strike, to be effective, must be carried over as much ground and as many trades and industries as possible. I do not believe in waiting for the employers to make the next move. The strike, to be effective, must be general, short, and sharp. The sympathy of trades in both Wellington and Auckland is remarkable, to say the least.

Let the Strike Committees ask these Unions to cease work at once, and carry the war into the enemy’s camp. Let us show the money kings we are aggressive. Th e Class War is very discernible these days, let us perfect our organisation from small Onions. To-day we are strong, and hold our frontier, let us marshal our disciplined forces and march on the enemy ’ s territory. We are not for the perpetuation of Class Rule, we are for its abolition. The time to hit is NOW; the wav to hit is the MASS GENERAL STRKE.

I apnea 1 to the Rank and Eile; to the Toiling Masses of New Zealand to insist upon ACTION.

The kind-hearted masters are trying to hold the starvation weapon over our heads. Let us retaliate like men, by asking our brothers to withdraw their labour power from the productive plants of this country.

One week of such action will bring the masters to terms, because the employers cannot mass enough protection for their sacred, private property. Make the strike general, short, sharp, and effective, and the marrow is ours. The results and success of such action will be simply magnificent; that it will bear out the Industrialist’s motto: “ We learn to fight by fighting ;” by creating, during the time of Social War, a feeling of brotherhood and co-operation, which will emphasise itself in the fighting organisation of the future. The mass strike is the finest opportunity.

The present strike has already hit the ruling class hard: let us carry it still further, and drive a nail into the coffin of the corrupt and rotten system of Capitalism, which produces the millionaire and the pauper. The enemy have encroached on our frontier long enough. The day has gone past for raids. We extend congratulations to the workers of New Zealand Their action has proved that the old excuse, “ because we are not organised,” will not hold water. They will organise during this

fight, and the more general the fight the better organisation will ensue. Don’t wait for scab labour workers of New Zealand. STRIKE! STRIKE! Long live the greatest weapon of the Working Class —THE GENERAL STRIKE. It is a milestone towards EXPROPRIATION.—Tom Barker.

A SIDELIGHT ON SCABPROCURING.

A rather amusing incident occurred this week in one of the largest wholesale houses in this city. It appears all the male workers were filed up outside the manager’s office to enter singly in their turn. The leading question put by the manager to each individual upon entering ran much as follows: “ Well, what will you be prepared to do ? Will you make one to help to unload the boats lying in the harbour ? or will you act as a ‘ special constable?’ ” After a few had answered the foregoing questions, ,and had been disposed ofanother somewhat droll individual entered the sanctum. The opening questions were put as hitherto, but the droll one replied by interrogating his questioner to the following effect. “ What is Mr, R r ” (referring to the principal) “going to do?” “Oh, he isn’t going to do anything in the matter himself,” replied the manager, “he will only just merely see that as many as possible shall go down to help break the strike.” ‘ Well, anyhow,” again queried the droll one, “ what do you purpose doing in the affair ? What part w i)\ you take?” “Oh,” replied thg manager, with an air of superiority, “ I shall stay here and look after my department, you know.” The droll one reflected for a few moments, and then said, “ Very well, Mr. , I think I’ll stay here with you, then.”

POLITICAL SOCIALISM.

Capturing the Government.

The most vital controversy that is being agitated within the revolutionary movement at present deals with this question : What can the working class gain or lose by political action? The whole revolutionary movement is lining up in opposing camps, and the conflict between the two breaks out with increasing frequency and bitterness ; yet neither side has so far explained its position in a comprehensive manner; both sides are rather avoiding open and thorough discussion for the sake of harmony. Such harmony is dearly bought and treacherous. It is safe to say that the greater part of the bitterness is due to the very attempt to stifle the controversy. But even if harmony could be had by stifling this question it would be altogether too big a price to pay for peace. The question is vitally important to us, and if we fail to deal with it quickly it will only weaken the revolutionary movement, and may cause great injury to our class. It is for this reason that I make this attempt to. show that the working class have little or nothing to gain through political action, and that the energy expended in such action is worse than wasted. — B. E. Nillson.

What a monster is that thing ignorance ! Work for, its’s abolition ! * * 45Get sense! Get wise I and organise for the abolition of bloodsuckers and parasites of all descriptions, and, most important of all, the infernal system that produces them. Start using the grey matter in the base of your crapium. There’s a lot of thinking to be done yet!

UNION OFFICE RAIDED.

Nov. 8. The Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union office was raided in the early hours this morning. A banner was torn to shreds, and papers, etc., rifled. The Strike Committee are occupying fresh quarters.

AUCKLAND TRAMS STOPPED.

The Auckland tram system is completely stopped.

AUCKLAND CARTERS.

Have stopped work.

CAPITAL’S DUPES LINED UP ON THE WHARF.

Ae we go to press the Auckland wharves are guarded by about 1,000 “special” constables. What the result of this will be is problematical, but the fact remains that there has not yet been any need for such action, and if a general melee and rioting takes place, the blame can only be hurled at the heads of the Employers ’Association, at whose behest 'these specials have made their appearance. Let us hope that the blackest tragedy in New Zealand’s industrial history is not forthwith to be enacted.

JOCKEYS WONT RIDE!

It is reported that the jockeys of Auckland have refused to ride after the first appearance of scab labour on the wharf.

COUNCIL MEN.

The report that the Auckland Councilmen were leaving their decision till Monday is denied. They are ready to come out the moment they are called upon.

CYCLE PICKETS.

The Auckland strikers have organised a cycle corps of flying pickets. Things are livening up in Auckland.

CARTERS AND TIMBER WORKERS.

Held enthusiastic meetings last night and are solid to a man.

AUCKLAND PROCESSION.

A huge procession of all workers will march up Queen Street to the Domain on Sunday, 2.30 p.m.

MISSION MUSICIANS SOLID!

The Central Mission Band in Auckland has refused to play on Sunday, because one of their number is to scab on the wharf.

THE CLASS WAR.

{e Hostility on the part of the rank, and file of the organised workers pursues every effort at reconciliation with the employers, * because in the very essence of things, anything but hostility between the owners of the tools of production and workers is in the nature of things impossible. In spite of collective bargaining and conferences between labour leaders and capitalist, the hostility between the parties on each ride of the machine process really increases in intensity until it approaches actual conflict. Indeed, oqly now are the forces of the opponent beginning to come.into the field. All former fighting has been skirmishing of isolated groups, who have carried on the conflict from the main body, and whose operations have but slightly interfered with the general process of production and distribution.” —• Austin Lewis, in “ The Militant Proletariat.”