Scott Bennett's Campaign

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 31, 6 October 1911, Page 8

Scott Bennett's Campaign

ENTHUSIASTIC WELLINGTON EV3EETINGS. H. Scott Bennett, who is touring Ncav Zealand under N.Z.F.L. auspices, arrived in Wellington on -Saturday, September 30. On Saturday evening the Socialist Hall, Manners street, Avas crowded to the doors with Industrialists and Socialists, avlio assembled to bid our talented comrade welcome. In reply to addresses of welcome, 'Scott Bennett gave a short, but .powerful address upon the potentialities of working-class progress in NeAV Zealand. He urged his hearers to remain true to the principles' of Socialism and Industrial Unionism, and to fight upon clear-cut class lines. On Sunday evening, despite counterattractions, the King's Theatre Avas croAA'ded to hear' Scott Bennett on "Unity and One Big Union" (Avith special reference to Professor Mills' unity scheme). During the course of a poAverful address, Scott Bennett said the day of craft or sectional unionism had pass-

cd. Something more scientific had to take its place. Workers had been defeated again and again because the present form of trade organisation admitted of one section of the_ workingclass betraying another section. The masters acted differently. They banded together to bring success to their side as a Avhole. They argued on the lines that a Avin for the miners to-day might mean a win for the bootmakers to-morrow, and as a body they went out to fight the Avago slaves to the bitter end. If the Avorking-class Avould only grasp the class-consciousness of the employers, they would not have somany defeats written against their names. He made a strong appeal to the Avorkers to band themselves into one solid union, irrespective of occupation, Avith the motto that an injury to one Avas an injury to all. (Applause.) They should go on until there Avas no longer left a class Avith poAver to exploit the producers cf all wealth —the Avorkers. They Avould go on to a time Avhen the means of production, distribution and exchange were in their own hands. The union must be a class organisation, composed only of tne Avage-earning class. He entered into a criticism of Professor Mills' unity scheme. He quoted from Professor Mills' own book, "The Struggle for Existence," Avith the object of shoAving that the platform recently draAvn up Avas, in respect to the fusion of different parties, in direct opposition to the principles outlined in his book. He gave it as his opinion that behiaid th" unity scheme were the reactionaries of the Labor movement.

In whose honour ' commemorative celebSatiohs have been held of late.

At the conclusion of the address, after ausAA'-ering numerous questions, the audience, at the call of the lecturer, gaA r e three cheers for International Socialism and the NeAV Zealand Federation of Labor. On Monday night another croAvded house greeted Scott Bennett Avhen he lectured in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, upon "Bayonets and Boys." Tuesday night Comrade Bennett left for Dunedin, where he speaks on October 4 ; Kaitangata, October 5 ; Christ- 1 church, October 8 and 9; then leaving for the West Coast.

vance among the members of the Waihi Union is in on small measure due to his earnestness, energy and abilitA 7 . Assuming office when union affairs in Waihi aa-ore very dead, Parry is iioav president of a body of militant industrialists avlio refuse any longer to craAvl to plutocratic judges, Avhine to .employers, or otherAvise prove t'hemelveis brainless wage-slaves. As an indication of this progress, Aye might mention the Union's cancellation of registration under the C. ax_(k A. Act, abolition of the competitive contract system, and the separation of the accident fund from the Union, so that the Union shall be able to serve its real purpose of being a fighting machine. As a member of the Mines Commission, Parry lias amply justified his appointment, disclosing a knoAvledge of the industry and a keenness in examination which has resulted in the revolting nature of the mining industry of the Dominion being exposed. Young and energetic, a speaker of force, an -ardent student of Avorkingclass history and economics, W. E. Parry, class-conscious Socialist and Industrialist, is doing noble work for his class and will do even nobler things in the day* to come.