The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 18, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1058, 18 June 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 18, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Cat in baud, says the Wellington Post, envoys of the Red Federation of Eabour, some of whose spokesmen were wont to scoff at the leaders of arbitration unionism, went to the Wellington Trades and Labour Council on Thursday evening, and pleaded for aid in the campaign on behalf of alleged “solidarity” against alleged “scabbery.” The Trades Council was invited to help the Federation to compel the Waihi employers to recognise the “principle” that arbitrationist engine-drivers must not be allowed to breathe the same industrial air as anti-arbitratiouist miners. Rightly the Council declined the invitation. A resolution to support the Reds in their tyrannous attempt to dictate to one group of workers at Waihi, and to the employers, would have stultified the council, which is linked up with the United Labour Party, a body that sets out its preference for reason against unreason in the settlement of disputes. A few weeks ago the Hon. J. T. Paul, organiser for the Labour Party, hinted that it was taking a line clear away from the Red Federation, and the action of the Wellington Council follows in logical sequence. Probably other district councils will copy the Wellington example, and thus the ultra - Socialists, seeking a “splendid solidarity,” are likely to find an inglorious isolation. Already they have been compelled to modify their policy of syndicalism. They once expressed contempt for the “sectional strike,” but in the Waihi case they are maintaining a “sectional strike,” vainly hoping that something will happen to assure success. If Red rhetoric could do this, then would the Federation be speedily triumphant. Here are 9 tew samples from the current number of the Maoriland Worker ; —“ Fling jn funds —enthusiastic in the privilege. . . . The class is above all —the class, class, class! Working-class resurgent ! . . . Every strike is at once a beacon and a milestone —in its fact a stirring reminder that divine discontent and progressmaking rebelliousness still live and breathe and have being. . . . It is necessary that we win at Waihi, and we can win at Waihi. . , . Shout for victory ! Work for victory! Give for victory !. . . As the impetuous torrent rushes or the strong wind thunders, so we in our irresistible Class War.

. . . Give us fighters ! Give us Dantons (‘ dare, and to dare, and again to dare’). Give us a red; letter campaign.” This last phrase is an appeal tor men like Daulon, Marat, Robespierre, and others who figured bloodthirstily in the Revolution of the French against titled tyranny. It is implied by the Reds that New Zealand of the twentieth century is on a par with France of the eighteenth century, as the result of two decades of straight-out democratic government.