UNITY V. FEDERATION OF LABOR.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 33, 20 October 1911, Page 17

UNITY V. FEDERATION OF LABOR.

'gi r? —Your leader of last week, -"Unity," explains the position of the above admirably, at least it does so to mc, and I trust does to all who want explanation. I lire in a 'town where a Labor Party exists, but dcesn <t flourish to any great extent. It intends, however, putting a candidate up for Parliament, but from all I can gather the word Socialism must be kept in the background. 'It isn't wise or tactful to use it. It would spell disaster to Labor candidate. It would mislead probable votes (to the other fellow). The people are not yet educated up to the meaning of such a revolutionary word. No, no! Be a Socialist as much as you like among your fellow Socialists', but be careful in a mixed audience, and, above all, don't appear too revolutionary. It is not wise. Oh, my dear brother, ain't it sickening? This is the REAL difference between the I T/abor Party, Trades and Labor Coun..'cils, unity schemers, or whatever they choose to* call themselves and the Federation of Labor. The latter scorns such milksop methods. It aims at iiobler things. It considers dignity. It does and will command respect. I feel proud of it and I hereby ask to he come one of its members. 1 want to belong to something that has grit and oswi fight boldly for its rights, not to a. Lab.-Lib., Lib.-Lab., half-and-half jjoncern that allows itself to be tied up bound hand and foot by the employers' C. and A. Act. I want something that Oiur stand on its feet and deal blows that count, not lie in the gutter and feebly kick. I want to belong to those who are in earnest and unafraid, not to those who use so-called tact, please cvorybody-if-you-can phrases, feel-j'our-way" tactics. No! Such may be some people's methods of α-ririving at Socialism, but to my mind these individuals inevitably succumb to that fatal opportunism which lies in the path and has stolen from the workers, scores of their one-time champions. Prof. Mills brought his unity scheme here <& fortnight ago. His address, though masterly and oratorical, seemed to mc purely revisional. I couldn't swallow it. I've no doubt much good will eventuate wherever ho may lecture, as disTbiission is suro to follow; but those .with backbone who wanb things done, not only discused, will find no time for present-day Labor parties or their unity schemes, but will look for something more militant and eventually they will throw in their lot with the N.Z.F.L. Though I nray bo a, solitary 'Federationist here, I trust I will hraltiIply andTiTTk-up a branch of the Fede> ■ration at this end. of the island, with the rest of you. To that end I would liko to hoar that Scott Bennett was paying us a visit. I am sure the Labor ■party here would very much like to listen to him.—l am, etc., Invercargill. R.W.