Unionism : Old and New.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 February 1911, Page 11

Unionism : Old and New.

(By H. SCOTT BENNETT.)

Mr Scott Bennett recently eontribated a series of thoughtful articles to "' The Leader " on this much-debated subject. There are few well-informed who will dispute Mr Bennett's contention that there is great danger in relying at the present juncture upon political action which is not based upon a solid foundation of industrial organisation. The present attempt to form a Labour Party Mr Bennett regards as dangerous for this very reason. He says:—"The preliminary steps that have been taken are at least instructive! Overtures have been made to certain ' advanced ' Liberals in the House of Representatives for the purpose of persuading these politicians to form the nucleus of the new party, , in order, presumably, that it shall not be wanting in tone and respectability! A Liberal-Labour Party is to save the situation ! "Is this not a further exemplification of the confusion that the old unionism creates and perpetuates? Not a party that is to assist the workers organised upon the industrial field to obtain control of natural and social opportunities—the only possible way out of the present economic labyrinth —but a party that shall busy itself in the attempt to procure an 'improved , Arbitration Act and what not! It cannot be too often insisted that political action without a sound industrial organisation of the workers—without the workers organised in the industries that they are destined to "take and hold , for the purpose of producing for their own comfort and well-being--without that, political action must necessarily result in failure and

We have attached too much importance to political action in the past and too little importance to sound industrial organisation, not only in the matter of combating the master class in the everyday struggles, but in the more important matter of bringing about the liberation of the workers from the existing economic servitude." As to the objective of the new unionism, Mr Bennett speaks in no uncertain tones. "That objective," he say* plainly, "is Socialism : a state of society in which we shall have the collective democratic management by the many of the work the many must do collectively. "We hear a lot about the necessity of pursuing a 'step at a time , policy VJ- * lie T reall sation of this objective! Might I suggest that no step in the direction of realising our ideal can be surer than that of organising the workers m the industries that they are destined to ultimately control Liet our every effort then be directed to building up this new Unionism in .New Zealand.' All else is of little avail. Sound industrial organisation is the need of the hour "