CHRISTCHURCH COMMENTS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 33, 20 October 1911, Page 14

CHRISTCHURCH COMMENTS.

" Grandmother • and Üb.*.ablsm.— . Laborers and Tirades Council. — *• Unity." Christ-church is blessed with a daily paper which is known and spoken of affectionately by the workers and others by the name of "Grandmother." Now, the policy of this paper is to got its news as cheaply as possible, because the owners of the paper are all poor wool kings and other land-grab-bers who are driven to their wits', ends to try and make both ends meet. Some time ago the editor thought he saw the way to getting a column or two of cheap stuff, and, incidentally, some inside information as to the doings of Labor, and so he approached a worker who at that time was top-dog in the Labor ranks, and who was exceedingly glad to get another 10s added to his ordinary wages. If you had told the said worker that in contributing this column at such a price he was blacklegging on- his fellow workers of the Typographical Unions, you would have had to fight. This man was a supporter of the Lib .-Lab. Party, and, of course, his writings were always in their praise, and eventually he was rewarded. It came, to pass that certain paid secretaries discovered that the inspectorship job business was about done, and so they decided to finish the Lib.-Lab. business and have a party of their own, and the best way to kill the Libs, was to prevent the Labs, from hearing any of the good points of the Libs, from any Lao., and so they formed a deputation, waited upon "Grandmother," and offered to take over this column and do it for nothing. If you happened to tell them they were scabbing on a scab, yow would have to fight five times. Now the column developed into an advertising column, and instead of the Libs, getting any of the ads., it developed into one long run of abuse against these Libs., and one long run of praise for the Labs., who consisted, incidentally, of five gentlemen who were employed by the workers to run exhibitions on behalf of the employers and landlords, and who were nearly all standing for Parliament. Now "Granny" discovered she was being exploited, and that instead of her pet "Libs." getting anything from this column, it was simply being used _to advertise the Labs, who were standing for Parliament. And so tfhe wrote them a kindly little notej urging them to "chuck it" or else pay for. it at advertising rates.- # So the column now will praise the Libs., must not praise the Labs., and so it is used to abuse the Socialists and Federation of Labor, and "Grandmother", is exceedingly pleased and everything in the garden, is lovely. .. The Canterbury" i'Gefloral have decided to pull out from the Trades Council. The Council, or at least the portion that is living on the game, decided that they mustn't let this Union pull out, because they paid £1 per week towards their upkeep, and so they got to work; tried to pack the meeting, fetched Prof. Mills along and tried to get the* Union to receive a deputation the night the matter was discussed. The Union to receive the deputation at their next meeting, and to hear Prof. Mills when the business had been settled! This w.as carried out: the men decided that they knew rust what they wanted, and as the Trades Council would not help them, they would drop the Council, and at half-past 10 they decided to listen, to the Professor j and ever since the members have been asking one another what he meant. Speaking of ids "scheme/ , he said: If fie didn't succeed, he couldn't fail j he wa§ n-cfi out to form any new organisation or to break down any existing organisation; and so the members are wondering What "ihe" is out for. The Laborers leaving the Council will be a great shock and ought to convince those" who remain that something is wrong. The next Union to go will be the painters'. Oh, the pity of it!—THE VAG.