Heard and Said.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 11, 19 May 1911, Page 9

Heard and Said.

That the Christchurch Free Speech cases now wait on a decision from tho Supremo Court. That the formation of a non-political union in Melbourne is not because ~f belief in Industrial Unionism but represents reactionary tendencies. That touching the Mines Commission a "Westport paper stiggests that "there is not much likelihood of the' commission being appointed at all, r at any rate until after the general-elec-tions.' . That the Westport Coal Company, Ltd., has again secured the contract for the supply of coal to the Admiralty for the year ending March 31st, 1912. That a successful public meeting was held at Greymouth last Friday to protest at the shortage of orders received by the State mine. That the State mine is only workinsz half-time and a number of miners are idle. That the arbitration award for the Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Association of Australia is to operate for five years—without preference to unionists—which means that the Association is "tied U2>" to the bosses for the term, and in the likely event of a strike of other mine workers will be compelled to ''scab" wholesale. That as arbitration leads to sectional and non-uniform agreements, thus proventing working-class solidarity in the time- of trouble end so creating organised scabbery, is another reason why it should be fought shy of. That even as lighting weapon industrial unionism—the linked-up class organisation of the toilers—can give arbitration points. That the sound line of action for the "Unions of the-Dominion is to get into the Federation or Labor and thereby get together to fight in unison—"each for all and all for each." That despite their Wages Boards the workers of Victoria and New South Wales have found that while wages go up the stairs prices go up the elevator, and so they want a commission regarding the cost of living. That if the aforesaid workers only tumbled to the economic fact that under Capitalism wages stick' about subsistence level necessarily, they'd perhaps be sensible enough to organise fo get rid of capitalism the robber. That his many admirers will regret to hear that Marry Holland has suffered a breakdown in health, as. a result of the heavy strain of his agitatory work—journalistic and otherwise. That running separate Socialist pipers in Australia is heartbreaking work and the price paid for producing them is perhaps too high. That it's comical to read the newspaper blow about N.Z's. big surphis and prosperity side by side with tho wail of other papers about the host of departures from theso shores. That the "Daily Telegraph" (Waihi) says: A rumour is being persistently circulated in town to the fact that the Executive of the Waihi Miners' Union has decided to make a demand upon the local mining companies for the abolition of the contract system, substituing the wages system at 11s per day for all miners underground. That the same paper adds : We have approached the officials of the Union on the subject, and to the nmiouV they give an absolute emphatic denial. No recommendation has been ma.de in such direction, and it is also pointed out that the cancellation of the Union's registration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act has not yet been Gazetted. Further, that a ballot of the members of the Union would first of all be necessary on any recommendation of a like nature. That the men of the Addington Workshops did right to protest against the insolent method of paying wages in vogue. That Hickey's "Worker" article on "No Compromise' , is being extensively quoted and commented upon, but, able as it is, is not the official expression of tho Federation's attitude, which has yet to be determined. That in the meantime the subject of amalgamation ought to be discussed freely and calmly, for big issues are contingent on the final result. That in Mr. Tregear's speech there is something for miners and waterfronters and railwaymen and others, and "something for them too in our leading article. That Organiser Semplc°s Waihi meeting on May 7thWas a rousingly big and enthiTsiaistie one.