CHRISTCHURCH COMMENTS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 32, 13 October 1911, Page 13

CHRISTCHURCH COMMENTS.

Industrial Unaonrsm Spreading.— Tfae Proper "Hold." —Before the Engineers;--'.

In spite of the "schemers," the labor movement in the Cathedral City is in a glorious state of unrest, and applications are constantly being received by the the Canterbury branch of the N.Z.F.L. for speakers to be sent along, to address the various unions on Industrial Unionism. That "angel of peace," Robert Semple, ay cutto the Port to talk to the useful people who .unload-the ships. Did I say talk ? Well, let it go at that, although the word hardly describe., what took place. Anyrate, he,made a splendid impression, and the secretary has been going about quoting his friend "Bob" ever since. It's a good union down there; they have plenty of "money" in that Union, and it has been written that "Money" always talks. "A ginooine statesman should be. on his guard. .. ; . Ef he must have beliefs, nut to b'iievo 'em too hard; For, ez sure ez he does, he'll be blurting 'em out, 'Thout regarding the natur' o' man more'n a spoilt." It seems to mc that the above lines from the "BigloAv Papers" could be well applied to the present position of the land question in N.Z': The "ins 5 " used to have "beliefs" on this question, aaid I Avell remember them "nailing them to the mast," but they certainly did not "believe" them too hard; and mast and all is gone noiv. The Holy City workers used to.go mad over the question of Leasehold v. Freehold, but uoav they are beginning to realise that no matter what "hold" it's not the Avorkers that have got hold either by leasehold or freehold, so the» Government candidates will not hold the toilers on that hold this election. Our candidates believe that aac, the common people, should get hold as soon as possible, and not mind Avhat hold it is as long as it's a tight hold. On Friday evening tivo of our comrades went along to the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and addressed them on the One Big Union question, receiving a good hearing. Although some of tlie members tried to block our brethren from being received by saying- some -kind- things about them, the fact of Brother Cooke, the man who dared to have a principle and who went to jail to uphold that principle, being one of the speakers, caused that door to be throAvn open and the comrades Aye re received with cheers (as they say in Parliament). The other speaker Avas the "bottom-dogger," Tod Howard, who shoAved very clearly the weaknesses of the present system of organisation. Fred Cooke iol'loAved by showing the splendid advantages offered by Industrial Unionism."" Altogether, they say, they had a good time, and individual members;' of" the

Union have assured us since-that the Union is iioav seriously considering its position, with a view to joining the the N.Z.F.L.—THE VAG.