ALLIANCE OF LABOUR AND SOVIETISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2441, 15 June 1922, Page 3

ALLIANCE OF LABOUR AND SOVIETISM.

LEADER’S CONTRADICTORY

STATEMENTS

MISLEADING .THE P. AND T. OFFICERS. We have before us a pamphlet published by the Post and Telegraph Officers Association as the report of the discussion which took place (in committee) on the subject of the Alliance of Labour at the Conference .in October 1921. Messrs M. J. Mack, Alliance President and J. Roberts, Secretary, addressed the Conference. In answering one question Mr Roberts spoke as fol- ; lows:— AGAINST THE SOVIET. Mr Roberts“ Now, I am asked about our relationship to the Soviet and all I want to say is this: that . we have no relationship with the Soviet, and I am going to say definitely to you that introduction, of the system to,N.Z. would never be a success, and the. man who would advocate the system to this country would be a candidate for-the nearest mental hospital. What was all right for the people of Russia- is not necessarily all right for the people of N.Z. The people of Russia were not free, and they "understood only the law of force. The Soviet system that I suggest is control of your Department.” Mr Steele:. “Your attitude is not favourable to the Soviet?” Mr Roberts: “No!” WHAT IS THE SOVIET SYSTEM?

Apparently the delegates present at that conference forgot to ask the very pertinent question—What is the Soviet? From the context we take it that what is meant by “the Soviet” as there used, is the Russian system of Government. Wei! what is that? We have a published copy of the Russian Soviet Constitution adopted by the fifth All-Rus-sian Congress of Soviets at.its sitting of July 10th, 1918. The Constitution definitely affirms the policv of:— ' '

(a) Collective ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. (b) Control of Industries by the

workers through a Supreme Coun-

cil of National Economy. (c) Representation of the Industrial workers in the Soviet Congress which constitutes the Russian form of Parliament. SUPPORTING THE SOVIET PRRINCIPLES.

If the P. and T. delegates at this Conference had been fully conversant with -the matter of what the Russian Bolshevist Industrial system means, they would recognise that Mr Roberts statement to the effect that he “Alliance” was not favourable to the Soviet was pure bluff and deception. In, this very report of the P. and T. Association it is stated that, the Alliance objective is: — (1) The organisation of the wage-wox-kers of New Zealand on the lines of class and industry. (2) The collective ownership of 'the means of production and distribution, and control of all industries by the workers who operate ■ them in the interests of the com-

munity. Our readers will see that this “Objective” is the same in principle as that stated in the Soviet Constitution. On page 18 of the reporl Mr Roberts says:— “INDUSTRIAL PARLIAMENT.” “Passing on to another point — If ever industry is to be efficiently managed it must be managed by men who understand it. If the P. and T. Department is to be efficiently managed men must have a say Messrs Massey and Coates know possibly as much about your Department as' the fanners do, and that is not. very much. Possibly the.licking of a twopenny stamp is their limit. The day is coming in New Zealand when, instead of having a Government elected according to geographical boundaries, we will have one elected by different industries. Your industry will have its own representative there. He will be put there, by you, and you will have the right to put him out as soon as he treats you hard. The time t has arrived now when we should be audacious in every department.”

“Instead of Regulations being placed before you, you should be there to draft them.”

SHAMELESS DECEPTION. We have no hesitation in stigmatising this sophistical yes—no talk of the Alliance Secretary as simply deception. The Russian system upthe principles of: — (1) Collective ownership of Industries. (2) Control of all industries by the workers who operate them in the interests of the community. (3) Government through an Industrial Parliament named a Supreme Economic Council. The N.Z. Alliance of Labour endorses all of-these principles, and yet its secretary had the shameless audacity to tell the P. and T. Conference that- this “Alliance" does not favour -the Soviet. We can quite believe Mr Roberts was in earnest when he said—see pages 18 and 19 —“The time lias arrived now when we should be audacious in every department." The motto of these Alliance officers appears to be “audacity, au- . 'dacity and still more audacity.” Their greatest trick of audacity is in the plain deception they practiced on the P. and T. Officers Association as disclosed in the Association’s own pamphlet which we - herein quote. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)