AMALGAMATION.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 17, 30 June 1911, Page 14

AMALGAMATION.

Sir, —An article in a previous issue by Mr. P. H. Hickey touches on a question which is of vital importance to every worker in this Dominion; that is, how we are going to come together and solidify the organisation of tho workers, so as to make it the effective force which it should be in the industrial and political activities of the Dominion. While I agree with Mr. Hickey that "no compromise" must be our watchword so far as basic principles

are concerned, yet we must not £o*get that the differences dividing tha army of the workers to-day are t« tactics hence there is no need for Mr. Hickey's precipitancy in running up the flag of "no compromise," else we be misunderstood. But let us come together, and ip. the light of existing facts and experience, face the task of formulating a. tactical policy, which will mobilise tho workers to demand the best possible conditions and wages to-day, while at* the same time evolving ourselves aa we go into that intelligent social organism which must intelligently kill tnat hideous idea (production tor profit) which dam/mates industry to-day, and denudes the workers of the resulva ,«f their collective labor, through a Wage system whioh measures out the workers' right to live in doses which. ■are a more existence. And it is just how to increase the right of the workers to consume what they produce by their collective labor that all the workingclass organisation and agitation is centred —thereiore, our oojective is the samo, no matter how conscious or unconsciously we may be struggling to attain it. And a breach . does exist in tho methods we use in tne struggle (Mr. Hickey's denial notwithstanding), and that relentless law of economic necessity, referred to as a future compelling force by Mr. Hickey, is nere and now counselling us to united action. But it is untenable that we should, as a minority, adopt an attitude of infallible dictator, either as an organisaion or as individuals, or t>o be so egotistic as to believe ihat the last and best has been said by "the path which it nas mapped out" when tne Federation issued its preamble and constitution . Tne non-inciusion of political acoion m usen is acmntttdly dug a momeutary attitude 01 tne x ederation. .industrial or direct actum, uu tne oasis 01 "an injury to one section of tne workers is tne twiioem 01 an" must ,be—it we nave learneu lium tne experience or tne past —our mode "of action, ii we woiud use tne most enective wtapoiis at our ouiniiianu. imiusonal action lias oeen mauvijuato m tne past on*y Decauso wo mummed 111 it any, and we nave luivwed cursse-ves tv 00 side-tracited in pe*nect*ng our tndtisunai organisation oy wa&i/*ng our Gu.ol ts on .ti.roitraw.on Uouits, W/hiCh raned us oecause the principle undoiiying tiiein is muereiifiy wnmg. *»nd iivff we nnd oiuscivos tied up in Sections to aw a*ds, wiucu piove very Cx/iivenieno to our masters, but absolutely d-omorahsiiig 10 tne virinty of tne woi'Kingciass organisation, wiucH must work out our own economic salvation. vv o must grip the weapon, we have been allowing to slip rrom our lianas, and rowgitKing tne interest of tne Wnbie 01 i*ne workeirs are identical, oy direct industrial action settxe an grievances as tney arise, at tne Si-imo time Uyiiunawag an tne puo*-c lns-titutioiis 01 tne oy direct worii-mg-Ciass ropresonua,:ci<jn, backed up and dictated oy our industrial solidarity.— xouis, e>ic., JL J aioora. A. M. HALL.