Wm. Pryor's Lament.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 10, 12 May 1911, Page 5

Wm. Pryor's Lament.

Whence and Whither N.Z. Federation of Labor.

By P. H. HICKEY.

Tee employers of New Zealand, through the medium of their paid emissary, "Mr Pryor, appear to be alarmed at * the cancellation of registrations which is taking place by those unions comprising the New Zealand Federation of Labour. In a speech delivered in "YV anganui this spokesman of the master class warned his fellow-exploiters of the sorry time which awaited them. Industrial upheavals were in the air; strike clouds were massing upon the horizon ; the Federation of Labour was but awaiting an opportunity to declare a general strike. Why the strike was to be called William did not say. For amusement probably. That the employing class should deploro the severance of unions from the Arbitration Act one can well understand, for never was an institution established which has devitalised the workers as this Act has done. With the tendency to crawl to a class ridden judge accentuated to a sickening degree, unionists have been an easy prey tor Pryor and his associates. With a judge whose t-Jass bias is notorious, it is little wonder iJhat at least sonic- of the more intelligent workers are removing themselves from the Arbitration Court's pernicious influence. Whilst deploring this escape by the Federation of Labour from the prison walls of arbitration, it would be well if the employers realised thab they themselves arc principally to blame ; their famous duo, Sim and Pryor, have done more to turn the Maorilaxid workers front centipedeait to class conscious fighters than anything which Labour itself has accomplished. During the last three years workingclass history has .been made in New Zealand. Fir-iV. r. !in .,.. th;j Blackball strike. The rapidity with which Judge Sam rushed to the scene with his inquisition is well known. The Union proved that, goaded by the brutality of a tyrannical manager, it was forced to take a stand to prevent its organisation from being smashed. Aftor hearing the evidence, and snubbing and insulting the Union's witnesses, Sim fined the Union seventy-five per cent, of the maximum penalty. The. miners' reply to this injustice is the Federation of Labour. Then came the bakers' strike against an unbearable award. Another severe castigation by the "Court; more heavy

fines! Tho judgment in the farm labourers' ease had no tendency to increase the workers' respect for this peculiar institution. The Blackball Union after the settlement of its strike decided to cancel its registration. Its application for cancellation was stayed by the company filing a dispute. Against its wishes the Union was compelled to again face the "Kaiser," and after insulting and browbeating the Union representatives, Sim conceded the Company a substantial reduction. This in the face of the lowest coal miners' wage in New Zealand. Since that time this absurd machi.no of oppression has been led up and down the country by Sim, oppressing, scolding, and insulting like a revengeful old harridan. Its remaining shreds of dignity were lost for ever in the laughing stock it made of itself in the recent shearers , dispute. Like the vulture which follows in the wake of an army, came Pryor behind tho Court., urging and threatening as occasion offered. Whenever an opportunity came for lowering wages Pryor with unseemly haste rushed to the scene and saw that it was brought about. Ever vigilant, this mouthpiece of tho master class has overreached himself and now his chickens are coming home to roost. "With all his alleged shrewdness, Pryor finds some of his apparently greatest victories being used as an instrument against his class. Pry or is right. The Employers' Federation needs to fear the New Zealand federation of Labour not because it wants a general strike, but because it is instilling into the minds of the workers the recognition of the class struggle, because it is infusing that spirit of revolt that, spells emancipation ; because it is establishing that Industrial Union •which wiJl be the strong right arm that will help to bring into beiijg Industrial Democracy. It is too iate for the employers to lament. If Labour had been treated with common courtesy its allegiance, to capitalist institutions could have .been prolonged. But the awakening was inevitable, even without the assistance of Sim, Pryor and Co. The Employers' federation should have remembered tho, memorable words of Alexander 11. of Russia to his nobility, upon tho necessity of freeing the serfs: "It is better, gentlemen, that it should come from above than to wait till it comes from beneath."