In Our Opinion.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 23, 11 August 1911, Page 11

In Our Opinion.

millS (from the "Labour Leader") 4 .-«- brilliantly clear and convincing :—r "A defensiA'e citizen army is no :£iia£aJi4> tee against Avar, any more v2i-~ the carrying of defensive Aveapons in times gone by Avas a guarantee against duels/ With nations as Avith -individuals the carrying; of Aveapons constitutes a tempta l tion to use them in ease of a quarrel or as a means of settling a bitter dispute. With nations as Avith individuals, the one eft'ectiA'e guarantee against duelling is the casting aside of tlier weapons and the settlement of disputes by pacific means. Wisdom, therefore, dictates that Socialist Parties should concentrate their energies on promoting the abolition of armies and the establishment of compul-' .sory arbitration as' a-means of settling international disputes. All the! more essential is this policy in view of the wiles of jingoes and scaremongers, the increasing menace of. armaments, and the fostering of the .militarist spirit in a country like England. For Socialists to advocate armies of any kind is simply to play into the hands of their enemies.. The only Ava.y to ayo'id this is to th'roAv all their weight in the opposite scale, and to counteract the forces Avhich make against Socialism and international peace." . * IT .appears Aye 'fell in" in thinking Andrew Fisher, Labour Prime Minister of the ComnioiiAvealth of -Australia, had opened his heart to Mr. Stead, and sounded a Avorking-class rather than -a politician's note. Or course, Mr. Fisher has a right to object to being misrepresented, but the pity of it is that the views . attributed to Mr. Fisher should be misrepresentation, and that Mr. Fisher should be more indignant.over the A'iews than the misrepresentation. Hoavever, there it is—a repudiation for every understanding and insurrectionary membcA- of the Labour movement to grieve OA-er. We are glad to note .that Sydney "Bulletin" and Queensland "Worker" also "fell in," and shoAved indications of backing "Andy's" declaration, had it been "Andy's" declaration. : ■«• „. 13R0BABLY owing to the persistent "pegging away"* of the Executive of the JS'ew Zealand Federation of Labour the Mines Commission has been set up at last. It is iioav hard at Avork, and no stone should be left unturaied to. present to it such evidence as Avill strengthen the needs and claims- of the miners of this country. We. understand that the Commission on Friday last left Wellington for Whangarei, Huntly, Thames, and Waihi in turn. It will subsequently proceed to the South Island. Its moA-ements will be chronicled in this paper; and we urge miners' officials of all centres to prepare for the Commission's coming, and see that it hears the miners' case for betterment. We. congratulate the Labour Federation in having avciii its right to say Avho should sit on the Com mission for the miners, and Aye also congratulate Messrs. Dowgray and Parry on being selected for such responsible Avork. . .* THE sugar Avorkers of Queensland are fighti'Eig gamely for the abolition of sugar slavery. As the fight proceeds just Avhat legislation, has been sanctioned and insisted upon by . the monopolists and their satellites is coming to light. Sloavly, public opinion is getting on the' side of the strikers. If the men are to vmi they must be helped. The Avorkers of New Zealand must help, and every Union ought to try and vote something to the sugar strikers' fund. We shall be glad to receive, acknoAvledge, and foiward all donations sent care of this paper. ♦ WE regret the decision of the men of the Buller not to contest that seat at the forthcoming election. The Buller could be Avon for Socialism and- Industrialism, and as these are Avhat must be won in order to better the position of the Avorkers it s-eems quixotic not to put up a fight for them, and at that a fight feAv electorates could equal in merit. The Buller Federationists haA'-e a chance to show Avhat they can do, and ought not to miss the chance. Perhaps it is possible to rescind the decision, and get into line Avith the movement for direct political representation of the Avorkingclass ? <S> SOCIALISTS need not trouble themselves about schemes of national defence so long as anti-Socialists breathe defiance (says the "Labour Leader"). What Socialists haA'e to do is to aim at rendering defiance impossible and defence unnecessary. In this connection attention is called to the resolution passed at International Socialist Congress held at Copenhagen in September last year. The resolution deliberately adopted by the Congress of representative Socialist from many lands outlines the policy Avhich it is incumbent on all Socialist parties to adopt: The Congress reiterating the oft-re-peated duty of Socialist representatiA-es- , in-the Parliaments to combat militarism Avith all the means at their command, and to refuse the means for armaments, requires from its representatives:— (o) The constant reiteration of the demand that international arbitration be the direction- of ultimate complete disputes. (bj Persistent and repeated proposals in the direction of ultimate complete disarmament; and, above .all, as a. first step, the conclusion of a general treaty

limiting naval armaments, and abrogating the right of privateering. (c) The demand for the abolition" of secret diplomacy and the publication of all existing and future agreements between, the Governments. (d) The guaranty of the independence of all nations, and-their protection from military attacks and violent suppression,' etc., etc. This resoluton, outlining the policy recommended to Socialist parties in all countries, cannot be too often repeated or too strongly emphasised. It constitutes an instruction to Socialist parties all over the world. » , TO those who contend that the vote is useless, we have now nothing to say. The Socialist Party is. a voting/ organisation. And if the vote lias been useful in the past—in the absence ,ot Revolutionary Socialist candidates —it, can be more useful in the present and. in the future. Non-voting means, contempt for the franchise, .and a derogation; of citizen slip. It means-abandoimg work-

able democracy. Given free playi '■:. the academic and the doctrinaire may undo efficient and tested methods of action. Organisation is much more than theories.