“LEST WE FORGET.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1169, 8 November 1913, Page 4

“LEST WE FORGET.”

MR HICKEY ON AGREE MENTS.

A LINE ABOUT “HELL-”

[Evening Post.]

Who has not seen or heard the Hickey line : “Toss every agreement to Hell ?” In fairness to Mr Hickey it is well to give more ample quotations from the article containing that revolutionary sentiment, published iu the Maorihud Worker ot 7th February, 1912, under the heading—“ Test We Forget.” Mr P. H, Hickey was prominent in the formation aud organisation of the Red Federation of Labour, and is closely associated with the Worker, of which he has been sub editor for some time. He was conspicuous during the tramway strike here last year, and his red light has not been hidden under a bushel since the waterside trouble began on 22nd October.

A REVOLUTIONARY ORGAN-

ISATION.

“The Federation of Labour,” wrote Mr Hickey in the the article uuder notice, “was the outcome of the activities of class-conscious workers desirous of building up iu New Zealand a revolutionary organisation to assist iu the abolition of wage-slavery. Its primary object was the education of the workers iu the principles of industrial organisation ; to teach the significance of the class war ; to make apparent to the working class that no other goal than that of Socialism was worthy of a

working class organisation

“Of late there has been much talk of ‘agreements,’ ‘industrial peace,’ ‘loyalty to employers,’ and such like phrases. Dou’t listen to them ! Don’t believe them ! There can be no industrial peace in New Zealand while the capitalist system lasts. There can be no talk of ‘loyalty’ between workers and employers “Recognise that every agreement entered into is not binding upon you for a single instant. No, not if it were signed by a thousand officials and ratified by a dozen Courts. The agreement is not sacred. Only a fool would regard It as such. The moment an opportunity occurs to better your conditions break your agreement. Break it whenever it will pay you to do so. ... . “If we are to be hobbled by ‘agreements,’ our motto, ‘an injury to one is the concerh of all,’ becomes a mockery. . . “Are we ludustralisls ? Are we Revolutionists ? If we are, let us act accordingly. If necessary let us toss every agreement to hell.”

PARALYSING NEW ZEALAND.

THE THREAT OF 1911.

During the Auckland fight of February last year the Red phrase about “paralysing’’ tbe whole country was used. Apparently the words were originally uttered by Mr Semple in December, 1911, when Sir Arthur Guinness addressed a public meeting at Duuollie. Discussing an answer to a question about the administration of the Defence Act Mr Semple said (Press Association report) that “if the Government enforced payment of fines by imprisonment or by attachment of defendants’ wages, he would paralyse the industries and business of the whole of New Zealand.’’

THE REVOLUTIONS OK MR

MILLS,

IN ONE SHORT YEAR

To-day Mr W. T. Mills, of Milwaukee, is an organiser for the Red Federation, which he joined, definitely, in July. In June and July last year be was an organiser for the United Labour Party. In a conversation with a Post reporter on the 20th June, 1912, Mr Mills said : “The most important phase of the Labour question is the current conflict between the policy of promoting frequent irregular and altogether unnecessary strikes as against the policy of withholding the strike, to be used never except as an absolu'ely last resort, while on the other hand the Interests of Labour are to be promoted through conciliation aud arbitration aud by such political action as will secure improvement in the law relating to industrial disputes as well as dealing with problems which lie utterly beyond the possibility of securing their adjustment by means of a strike! . . . “If the policy of the Federation of Labour is to be further supported, the Federation will need to introduce into its own organisation a Conciliation Board aud an Arbitration Court of its own. . . . “The strikers in Waihi are certain to be beaten, because the strike was called in accordance with the programme of the Federation of Labour, aud that programme was bound to tail in this country as it has failed everywhere else when put to the test.” On 27th July, 1912, Mr Mills had this statement in the Dannevitke News : “ We (United Labour Party) do not believe in syndicalism or strikes. Political organisation is our message aud our aim. The place to strike is not at the pit mouth or on the job, but at the ballot-box. There is nothing that the useful people rightly want that they cannot honestly have if they vote together instead of striking together,”