The Editorial "I"

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 35, 3 November 1911, Page 13

The Editorial "I"

&__. * What struck mc most. about_ the Auckland movement was the admirable and"'well-balanced relationship of politics and industrialism. At the street -meetings and in the counsels, I noticed mn insistence on the fundamental importance of industrial organisation coupled with a shrewd and worldlywise recognition of the power of Writing ihe Law. Here was no mere academic so-called impossibilist attitude, but a reasoned" and conditioned intent tc. make the most and the best of events and circumstances. So convinced am I that our safety, sanity, and salvation - lie in gripping the necessity of vigorously operating simultaneously in these two immense fields Aye term the political and the industrial—so convinced of the likely loss potential in being oneeyed and one-idead —so" confident that the agitational and the political, the propagandist and the practical together give the surety of triumph—that the all-round enthusiasm and activity of the Auckland comrades not only pleased •mc, but lifted mc to the skies. ' While within the moveahcut we grapple with the problems of administration as much as we develop the critical^—and in all a.nd through all hold tightly to • principles, yet never ignore commonsense nor the need of success' —while this we do victory is not only inevitable, but imminent. You see, we've got to win not alone by the greatness of our emancipatory means, but by showing ourselves fit and able and honest users of the weapons given into our custody. We have to convince by'the matter-of-fact, plain wisdom of our praeticableness, when, thought to be simply chasing rainbows. And in New Zealand what is standing to the movement as much as anything are the gains all along the .line of the Federation of Labour, and-immediate gains at. that--gains gained quicker and stronger because gained in the name and aspiration of the final aim rather than by concealing the objective. This, indeed, is the true tactic for Labour—aa'hen Labour "takes a. tumble" it will be jubilant and concerning Socialism, because of the Socialist movement's amazing horse-sense, and practical genius. « - « I Listened attentively at the Auckland out-door meetings — heard such earnest and growingly-capable speakers as Comrades Savage, Fraser, Sayes, Barker, O'Brien, and several whose names I don't know—and interestingly noted the zealous inculcating of the One Big Union unity scheme at the same time as I noted a needed emphasisregarding the_ scope and sway of the ballot. This is one reason why "Savage will poll surprisingly well for Auckland Central —this joined to the work being done in the electorate in the way of canvassing, house-to-house literature distribution, conversational propaganda, and frequent meetings before small but--listen ing ■ knots of electors. W r ork tells-—-and by this time Aye ought to know.that mere preaching alone is of little avail. In order to capture unions and Avin elections avc have to proA-e ourselves as industrious, as trustworthy, and as capable as the other felloAv, Avho has hitherto had all the plums, not .owing to having hotter ideas than ours, but to having command of the detail -and drudgery of organisation. So as I studied tho Aucklanders—i.e., our Aucklandors — I fell mightily in loa-o Avith their methods and gloried in. their sensibleness of choice, of candidate. Savage towers _ a.bovo his opponents, and I'll swear is as true as steel to us. . - * ' ■« • . » - The Auckland Socialist Party is at once the headquarters of 1 the Socialist movement per se, and of the active Union spirits who-se 'splendid Avork has brought to Industrial Unionism —' c _henvi.se to the..Federation of Labour —the labourers, the tramway-men, the watersiders, and others, in addition to establishing a propaganda branch of weight. Soon all Auckland Unionism will be for the Labour Federation, and then Auckland will be as much a centre of the Federation as" is Waihi or the West .Coast. Many men have contributed to this result and this probability, but I will be applauded I knoAv if I pay special tribute to the ... skill, earnestness, and perseverance of Comrade P. Fraser, about whom New Zealand will hear plentifully directly, for he is the makings of a figure of'force. But I started this paragraph to mention the fine affinity between SocialistParty and Industrial Union makers as disclosed by Socialist Hall being the joint rendezvous. The combination is possibly the reason aa.iv the Auckland party can. pay a lecturer, just no-AY pay A secretary (Mr. J.-Savage), pay for. Opera House one. night per Aveek. pay for Federal. Hall as permanent beadquarters (and of itself the hall would hold a good Sunday night audience., and pay all the advertising and'other costs incidental to activities —the total well over £20 per ay .ok. And .among these activities one must not omit tin. . .useful 1 social departments, Avhich include a Sunday afternoon tea at the rooms and sundry Aveek-night socials, holiday picnics, etc. The Sunday afternoon tea is first-rate as a tea, but "first-rater" as a manifestation of fraternal fellowship, stimulating .and strengthening beyond measuring. 'The womenfolk .chiefly -responsible for lots of that, deft and. charming Avork necessary to successful social life—such J • _• omen folk are the -gift of God : -tV the j ••• movement. . Hats .off ..to. them. , J '♦'--' '-*■•■■■•-_ - j '$ amn-ot 'i)Vop"osing-'fd ;:^A t oh , 'e_iumer-'! ..4at. the. activities -'-.i -th*. *' Auckland : *'Socialist Party, but tho -Sunday liight I •^ meeting, is* .a, wonder, and a standing trjhute-'i^: : $l,_ 'Scfrtt; "18_v_- \ •nctt. ' W-li#.: :avo■ .have such ih--^A'ery'.c#_.fiTP^.th^■'•■*.«. of fcmnwpL.,, ...1_ ..here. Th* 'Audi.landers __.c_®j- ';*..:

open-air meetings', for those on the Saturday night, arid on Sunday afternoon and evening are marked by intelligent exposition (and 0, what a boon!) and -large audiences. I thought literature-selling a, weak spot at the outdoor meetings, though __ strong point at the indoor. At the latter, too, an efficient orchestra (led by Mr. Meredith) reminded- mc of Melbourne. and set mc longing for a choir also* (though the Auckland party has a glee club). One could not bat be.gratified at meeting a circle to whom "The Maoriland"Worker" was blood of their blood and bone of their bone, and these friends are doing grandly. Over 300 copies are sold on Sunday night! I have referred to some of the speakers, but the writers are there too, and "Bloodworth" and "Deucalion" and others are men to meet and thank the stars for the privilege. Tom B. should go far. It has nothing to do with this belief, but since. Tom B. talked of my personal appearance, let mc ask aH who meet him to have regard to that forehead and then find its superior in depth and in character. * * » The president (Mr. Morris) and secretory (H. F. Wise) of the Anti-militarist Council, as others, could not help win a visitor's admiration on account . of the. persistency and ability of their attack upon the rotten reeds New Zealand is proud to term Defence. The council holds regular meetings in the suburbs, and is on the move all the time in handling literature and promoting meet ings. Good! « « ■ The Auckland stay seemed an inspiriting rally. The men making our movement are fated to be this Dominion.'s men of affairs within a fewyears —and. Auckland is preparing -its valued quota. Of many I met I could meander about, but I'll conserve the impressions in the mental archives'. 1 found, intellectuality co-operating with conviction in the same unit, and numerous units. As "after hours' " congeniality-it suited mc beautifully to chat and sup with Macintosh, an old comrade (that is, ho seemed old because I had met him at Greymouth), and with Learning and Fraser and "I _t__" and Bloodworth and Horning— to whom and to party officers one word of thanks for kindly hospitality. « * * As for Auckland, apart from our interests and its harbour, its scenic views (I stood atop of Mount Eden and saAv the harbours each side of mc and thought of Wesley's hymn, "Lo, On a Narrow Neck of Land"), its craters, its buildings, its streets, why these all attract attention, a.s docs plenty else. . It was curiously fascinating to mc tc.be able to get in a tram on one side of New Zealand and ride in it to tho other side; the harbour trips were enchanting. But menacingly gibbering.'at mc were two nascent demons —Sim. is and Slump. The slums are readying to shame and stain Auckland; the slump hoveringly halts upon the' horizon. Has Auckland's commercial progress been too hurried? Marvellous development there has been in suburban settlement, and I heard prediction of a city due to hare half of Melbourne's quantity of population (which is half a million). Can Auckland, things being as they are, maintain a quarter million souls? I do not know. What" I'do know is that a Slump is on the wing. THE EYE-

\I7F Ulz the Mills-Bennett debate in * * Wellington to be a red-letter evening. We endorse the estimate of its 'chairman.' On a high leA-el, it Avas an intellectual outing—and Are could not help wishing for frequent and standard public bouts of the kind. One thing avc have got to do in Australasia, and that is educate the communities up to paying as readily for lectures and debates asthey do for plays. The Australasians seem to ox pec. for little or nothing the best that can be got in speaking dine, Avhoreas. in Britain and America alike the working-class leaders of thought and action find big houses ready to pay admission and rush the chance. As' to the Bennett-Mills do. bate; both disputants aa-ere undeniably brilliant, Bennett to us gloriously so. It Avas splendid. . q, : ;

A PRO PCS, the "Weekly Herald" of October 11 thus prefaced Prof. Mills' letter printed by us last AYeok: "Professor Mills has Avritten in these "terms to Mr.. H- Scott Bennett." it added: "Mr. Scott Bennett ay ill have to be clever to shuffle out of' that, avo troAv. But ho is admittedly clever. The odds are 4 to I against his acceptance of one debate. 10 to 1 against a second attempt, and any odds you like against three trials of strength against the little man in the grey'- suit." The addition is amusing, seeing that Bennett regarded the chance to meet the Professor as th'"> chance of his life. What arc the odds nov. r But the Avrctched part of the business, sorely reflecting" upon "Mills-and his backers, is that the letter upon which all the press and platform jeers wore based was ncA-cr. sent to Bennett, nor seen by _iim..until amid the hullabaloo a friend showed him a copy in a paper. Will somebody please explain why a letter purported to bo sent was never sent ;■ and Avhy never sent, an answer Aras so self-rights-ously demanded iti "Wellington and Auckland—while- ..Bennett was at the West Coast in blissful ignorance of letter oa. contents?

Workmen h.iA'e been engaged removing the boilers from the V ic-toria Quartz "Mine, Bendigo—the deepest gold mine, in- the world; When. tiie second VdW .had. been taken out, the surface .of '"tli _ : 'gr'_i.r_d beneath it cojllaissed.. and the men; found theins standing on the brink -q _£{_:* Jiole, 'Which, proved-..t.) he. tl.io r .i<)p.; jo£f jpi old shaft, -ffl*u«t ; : r>(;H't;'.,in /depth.'•. ;)_4. eral, ; pa_tii.s of tributerft .'are at work' in" Tliis 'lull -Va_ V> he of .'_i_e.>,j*i-clie£t;''pa'iltfi 0_- Hemline, " .._.'. """"'■. ". : 1./'-"" -f -;j-''