THE GROWTH OF FEDERATION

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 7, 20 March 1911, Page 12

THE GROWTH OF FEDERATION

♦ The affiliation of the Shearers' Union to the JNefw Zealand Federation of Labour is an event fraught with importance to the cause of the worker. lS o more promising movement ever has been by the workers of rsew Zealand than the organisation of a body having as its object the conversion of the* manual labourers in this Dominion to the principles of Industrial Unionism. The Federation of Labour was initiated uy a body of Miners who were seized of the necessity of consolidating the Labour Movement, and providing true politics for the workers in place of the spurious politics which have done more to retard progress than anything else. The chief problem for political parties of all colours is the Labour problem. The Labour problem is the alpha and omega of politics—a stern fact which m being recognised more clearly every day alike by the friends and foes of Labour. The step taken by the Shearers sanctioned by the splendid majority of six to one, is sure to bei followed sooner or later by other unions, with results which, will prove far reaching and significant. It is a straight out answer to the tying detractors of the movement towards industrial Unionism. It proves what we have asserted all along, that the* rank and file are m advance of their would-be leaders, and can be trusted to know where their true interest lies. The moral and financial support of the Sheaiers will be welcome! by the Federation, which hitherto has been run so successfully engineered by the Miners of Maoriland. On the othetr hand the gain in prestige to the- Siiearers by thus joining the Federation is incalculable and wortli more both morally and nnancially than twenty times its money cost. The generous treatment by the Executive of the Federation of the "Maoriland ~orkee," from tihe time this paper was launched by the Shearers' Union, was no small factor in producing the* satisfactory result upon which all the Unions within the

Federation can be heartily congratulated. The "Maoeiland Worker," s noAV the official organ of the Federation o> Labour, and ere long will be issued weekly at a popular priceu The journal Avill be under the sole control of officers appointed by the delegates elected by proportional representation attending the annual conferences of the Federation and AA'ill be a consistent, fearless, outspoken advocate of Industrial Unionism and Socialism — the politics of the future. Friends of Labour avi.ti rejoice to learn that for tiie first time in the history of Maoriland a, Labour Press AA'ill be set up to champion the cause of the Avorkers, to denounce the enemy without and witbin ou l- ranks, and to be the pioneer of a consolidated class-con-scious proletariat aalio knowing tiheir rights will dare ail to gain them ana maintain them.