In Our Opinion

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 8

In Our Opinion

TO the delegates of the Anti-Militar-ist Conference, greeting and welcome. You have come together, gentlemen, at a critical time, on a critical mission. You have seen the anti-mili-tarist agitation begin so humbly as to be despised by the foe, and grow so large as to be conciliated by the foe. Every step of the agitation justified its protest, and proved its need. If at the outset any of you were in doubt concerning the correctness of the antagonism to Wardian defence, that doubt must have faded away as the searchlight thrown upon "Defence" bared its anachronisms and clangers. You have important tactics to consider and important tasks to do—make your conference the means of dealing the deathblow to conscription. Again, greeting and welcome, delegates —yours is a high calling.

rFVEE elections are to be held on December 7 or thereabout. Now the hour for action strikes. In certain electorates the' F.L. is on trial politically. It is strong industrially in these electorates, and can only be consistent by --.becoming strong politically also. If Webb does not win in Grey, if Hickey does not win in Ohinemuri, it will be fatal folly on working-class electors' part. Robertson (the flaxmillers' choice) must be brought on top in Otaki; A big effort in these three cases, and victory is assured. As regards the candidates of the Socialist Part3 T the chances of some are excellent, and in no place will the colours be disgraced. For the next few weeks the work to do is the work at hand, and that work is to work torrentially for Savage, Munro, Howard, Cooke, Gould, Freeman, Hickey, Robertson, and Webb. Make the campaign-lively. Concentrate on candidatures whose triumphant issue will attract the world's notice and attest New Zealand's continued progress.

is more than marching onward : she is galloping. The lessons of the revolution are many, but chiefly that China has been overrun with agitators, educators, and organisers. It is nowadays supremest folly to persist in the antiquated notion of one peopled superiority to another. Astounding inter-communication, travelling', common cause in every land of common '"- oppression (i.e., Unpaid Labor) are but several of numerous factors making humanity one.

T|/f"UCfI more comment appears to have surrounded the recent ballot of Wellington Watersiders re joining or otherwise tlie Fcderation-of Labor than was- the ease either at Auckland or Lyttelton. The week before'the voting was a hot week on-the wharves. A secretarial circular was scattered broadcast, followed by a rejoinder from Mr. Glover. Pros and cons were undoubtedly fully .discussed before the vote. Under the circumstances, the'decision is more than gratifying. That decision led the Wellington daily papers to evince alarm. Messrs. Smith (Wharf Laborers) and. Young (Trades Hall Council) were interviewed, both speaking bitterly against the F.L. Mr. Farland lvell put the case for the F.L. As all the branches of the Waterside Workers' Federation which have so far voted on the subject have decided for joining the F.L., it is to hoped the verdict will be honorably regarded. Plainly, the watersiders are for Industrial Unionism. If all for Industrial Unionism will get into one organisation the power of Labor Avill be tenfold that of an Arbitration Court.

npHE Auckland strike stirred things somewhat. The "Evening Post" was very -much exercised, and printed ''scare" articles on the .menace of the Federation of Labor. The enmity of the daily press to the F.L. ought to convince the toilers of the strength of the F.L. The Auckland 'strike - was successful because the F.L. was behind it. - In their forthcoming struggle the Watersiders will.be successful because the F.L. will be behind them —if' the Watersidors hurry up, and not allow, reactionary officials to frustrate their -.wishes.-.-At Auckland the Mayor seems to have got a .shock, and so went "off pop" against those terrible agitators who had entered his Garden of - Eden! Semple spoke candidly and' calmly in rebuttal. The "Herald's" interviewjs with Mayor and ; organiser: ; le*it ••readiyur... . -We- pongratulatfe.vfcfeie .laborers, of-Auckland:. ■ They- fought ; a good fight: When.fche^est.,of;'the Auckland . with-.-the-': laborers, in One. Big Union all r thew Atioklakd workers will; gain. better- conditions s.ll along li_b. *.v:...-..>•*- ; ? -... . -.....<.. . ~„ :

'TITHE OIL OCTOPUS" is an exceedingly readable series of articles—s good journalism- rather than profound dissection. The fact that the articles are the work of the internationally-* celebrated "London Truth" is a credential not to be underestimated. Our, readers will be interested from the start. So many studies of the Trust are so dry! Not merely because w<J have bought the Dominion rights o£ "The Oil Octopus" do we boost it—« we boost it because its reading proved l its interest. Will "Worker"-!tes hel_ in getting that extra circulation upoKi which we reckon as justification for ouif enterprise?

rpHE Sydney wharf laborers' strike provides food for reflection. Its instructive aspects' are so many. Wo cannot join in the general denunciation. Whether the strike was ' •right* l or "wrong," there was a cause at th<a back of it. We think legislators might remember this ere becoming hysterical about the dreadful immorality of a breach of agreement. At the samei time, it is once again illustrated that before men strike they must bo solid, and all the trades or callings involved linked-up for concerted and fraternal .co-partnership.

FinHIS letter is to hand: Under in* structions from the Editor, Mr* James Edmond,-1 draw attention to the fact that in "The Maoriland Worker/*' October 13, 1911, an article headed "Maoriland Fills 'Em Up Again," is reprinted from a recent issue of this paper. To that the "Bulletin" has no complaint, but it does complain thai* about an inch and a half of matter has been added to the original without explanation. None of the words afteri ".the Plimsoli line will look after itself "■ came out of this office, and I have td request that you will explain this in your next issue." If this letter is not sufficient explanation—and we gladly, insert it —we may add that the mattes complained of was an advertisement,and was "set" as su])plied. We are astonished that not only the "Bulletin"but many correspondents do not detect the, to us, obvious advertisements ia "The Worker." To save, further misunderstanding, let it be published that' the outer columns on pages 9 and 11, and the placards on each side; of our title, are advertisements. We are not sufficiently interested in either side of the liquor controversy to devote wholesale space.to partisan war-cries.