The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, December 9, 1913. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1182, 9 December 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, December 9, 1913. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Tin-; Federation of Labour is strenuously endeavouring to retain its loving embrace of the Flaxmills Employees’ Union. On the whole the Union has been particularly responsive and sympathetic with this revolutionary organisation. It was primarily responsible for bringing Mr Robertson into the political field, what time the said Mr Robertson was organising labour and spreading the gospel of ultra-socialism. The flaxmill workers were then in the primary sphere. A glorious future was painted for them by demagogues and revolutionary propagandists. Many of the flaxmill workers soon picked up ideas aud repeated stock Red Fed. arguments, until one side of the industrial picture had become almost perfect. But, unfortunately for the Reds, a majority of these men are now beginning to realise that there is another side to the picture, aud that there are arguments pro. and con. iu industrial affairs. They are beginning to reason out the ultimate end of revolutionary socialism, and the events at Waihi and the Wellington waterside strike has beenjlluminating. Still, the leaders of the extreme Labourites whose cause and mana is daily diminishing, are strenuously endeavouring to hug the flaxmill workers to a closer embrace. To this end the notorious Mr Parry was engaged as the Union’s organiser, and other leaders keep in constant touch with the Union. Some time since Messrs Parry and Robertson came to Foxtou to hearten the workers up in respect to a struggle which has no connection with the flaxmill industry. Again on Saturday night Comrade Dowgray aud Brother Fox addressed an exclusive meeting of flaxmill workers and their wives. But the dawn of reason among the employees is beginning to break, aud it is now only a matter of lime when the flaxmills employees will cast off the embrace of the Red Feds. The signs are already apparent, and members of the Union who previously kept silent are now beginning to open their mouths in protest against the extremes of the leaders of the Federation of Labour. Unionism is recognised as essential, provided it is grounded on a sound aud sane foundations rearing its super* structure ou constitutional lines that will stand against the battering of monopoly aud greed. Labour has nothing to gain, but everything to lose, if it seeks to build on revolution and anarchy.