OUT & ABOUT

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 39, 1 December 1911, Page 3

OUT & ABOUT

EWAM WEE.

Meeting Eobie Hit other day, I said to him, "Are you wearying for the day of .the General Election Kobie?" ' ""No, man," said he, "bxit working for the day of xhe Generaii E'./jocAnd so is everj T Socialist. There are those -\\-ho do not

•nnderstand'the optimism. of the Socialist. ■Whatever the result of the forthcoming elections the Socialist will go on his way a'ejoicing, for he knows the clay he is working for, the clay of the General Ejection, is another lap nearer consummation. •■ "Say," continued Robie, "you remember those verses our old friend 'Bricktop' wrote, don't they suit the occasion to a tee? B'lie<ve I could recite them after all these weary years." And then he rolled off the lines I knew so well: — Dash my buttons, wot a shindy, 'Ere's a blessed go! Orators at every windy, Statesmen (?) in a row. Shoutin' like the very—Satan, Void o , sense or rhyme. LA.rgif.yiir an' debating At Election time. .Verdant youths just fresh from coil-ego Speak their little piece, Deadheads show their lack o' knowledge, Gulderin' like geese; ; Bald' old frauds, considered pious, ! Perched up there sublime, Utter !i<"■!?. like Ananias, At Election time. Lean air' fat men. short an' tall men, Men o ! medium size, Act the to all men," So's to gain the prize 0' the vote o' Brown or Walker, An' to power dim'—■ Votes are> for the 'cutest talker At Election tim.e. Blest if I caii understand it, ' But it seems to mc That the proper sort o' candidAte for us would be Just a blecmhi' talkin/ parrot!— Mebbe it's no crime Catch in' donkeys with a carrot At Election time! Crime, or no crime, the trick is repeated with varying success every three years, but, somehow, I fancy, that, though the supply and size of the carrots are increasing, .the number of donkeys is growing more beautifully lees. * * * I have made it my business during the past week to- spend most of my ereniu'gs in the newspaper room of the Public 'Library, turning over the files of the papers from all parts of the Dominion, and it is marvellous how far the varied speeches of tho various candidates go to support the statements made in the above - verses. Candidates, liberal and tory alike, "act the everything to all men" in order to gain votes. F'ri-nstns. Says' Qhristchurch "Press": Mr Lauren son's attitude on compulsory military training is decidedly on the Yes—No- variety. He said "lm supported the compulsory system. The yellow .races were within a week's sail from -Atistralia. No man or woman wanted to have his or har daughter married to* a Chinaman or Japanese, lie. would favour-referring the matter to referendum, and he believed that-an- overwhelming; majority would vote for the system." Snbeequently, in reply to a question, he said he was strongly in favour of WITHDRAWING THE COIIPTJISORY clauses 'until tliey got the will of the people on the subject. He would like to see far wider scope given to, tho conscientious objectors. Not a single man or boy should be in the Territorials who did not want to be there. M.V Laurenson is very accommodating, fen't he? Evidently he believes with his dhief that a Parliamentarian's first duty is to get into Parliament.' Failing that he is no Parliamentarian, and he gets no honorarium. How different is Mr Laureneon's attitude to that of that famous [countryman of his, old J. Morrison Davideon. _ Morrison Davidson, 'way back In the Eighties, was brought to Greenock as (the Radical candidate. In his first address he made the most revolutionary Speech that up to that time had been heard from a liberal platform. In his final appeal he described a candidate of phe Laurenson type as one who intimated foo the electors that such and such were Ibis principles but if they didn't like them they could be altered. Then referring to Jiis OWB statement of policy he concluded,

''These are my principles and if you don't iike them you can go to —'.". I cannot tell you-what was the name of the favoured ; .spot as not one of the papers printed it, lest other towns should be jealous, I .siippose, but I do know that J. Morrison" Davidson never went to Parliament ! * * -s Did , you notice that the genial Sir John Windly said that if Labour Candidate Alack gets into the Second Ballot and the Windy One doesn't, Six* John will stay "to. help him out." TJmphra, Liberals are always anxious to help Labour "oat," especially on the understanding that, as a quid pro quo, Labour should help them in. f. * * I see from a letter of Mr TMvn-rd Tre;rpar's that he still hopes Labour men v.-ill vote for Liberal candidates- where no Labour man is standing. Edward says Up does not ask the workers to vote for ii Liberal in any constituency where a Labour -man is seeking a seat, w'ieh is very kind.on 'mi, siz I. But wot I want to know is if a Labour man can vote for a Liberal w'y put itp a Labour man jigin J im? I'm not struck on_ Labour men. voters cr candidates, but .L hope that those of them who take their Labourism in earnest will give Edward's advice the go-by and under the conditions named write '"""Labour" across their ballot just a= I hope every true Socialist in like situation will write '"Socialist" across his or hers. Rest assured Yoxf'i/n get what you don't WANT. , WITHOUT VOTING FOR IT.

Will somebody kindly take and give the Labour candidates some lessons in political economy? Will they also, try to '.inpress upon them the desirability of ilu-if' becoming acquainted 'with the Dominion Year Book? For look ye,. Mr "Voumr declared himself in favour of applying the principle of the new protection to the iron industry, so that the benefits resulting from the additional taxation shall be equally distributed between manufacturers and consumers. Can Mr Young point to one single instance where the '''benefits resulting" from such "additional taxation."' ever were "equally distributed between manufacturers and consumers?" And even were they so distributed the manufacturers would be the gainers as the consumers in the final analysis pay the tax, while getting only an equal-share of the benefits they tliemselyes have provided. Of course Twn's idea is to encourage local industry- But that such protection does not protect is beyond question, for it is surely unfair that ninety-nine per cent, of the workers should-be taxed in order to enable some second-rate captain of industry to employ the other one per cent., and, incidentally, make a fortune. Let mc illustrate. Take candles. The import duty on candles is a half-penny per pound above the duty on wax. According to the last Year Book the duty on candles realised ,£16,285, to which may be added at least another half-penny per pound of additional profit owing to the action of. the tariff on the 17,237cwt. of candles manufactured, bringing it up to something over Now there are only about sixty persons all told constantly 'employed making candles in New Zealand, and these receive wages amounting to about JJ5500 per annum. So, to put the matter quite clear, the consum era of New Zealand are paying .£20,300 in taxation, plus the manufacturers' profits in order that sixty individuals may receive wages amounting to .£5500. I submit, friends, the game isn't worth the candle I

The other day I had a document pxrt into my hands that set out to prove that despite our "Commercial Trusts -Act"... there are several lusty Trusts at work in New Zealand. One of these Trusts,' picked out for special mention, is the Sugar Trust of whose rapaciousness most of ushave been aware for qtyite a while. It seems this concern, in its greed of gain, has been gradually .restricting- the number of firms to which it will soil this commodity. As the circTilar puts it: It is impossible for any independent wholesaler to handle sugar under the latest selling conditions, and as there is mo retail business outside the combine handling ,£SOO per month, it follows that practically the whole sugar output will be controlled by a syndicate" with the sole object of restraining trade in its own interests.' If this monopoly is permitted it means placing it in the uncontrolled,position of fixing conditions with" a margin of five per cent, to operate on. This* conspiracy will cost the public approximately <£30,e00 per annum, which will find-its way into the pockets of -about for try conspirators. The pecxiliar thing about this affair is that every member of Parliament, including the so-called Labour Members, and every capitalist newspaper received conies of the document from which I have taken the above facts, but not one of them, so far as I have observed, has as much as mentioned its existence. Why?

No, Mr Wright has not seen fib to send to ''The Worker" an answer to the series of serious- questions published in these columns a fortnight ago. I am informed that , at one of his meetings he referred to "The Worker" as a ""certain" newspaper, which was very kind of him. "Certain'" is certainly a good word. I wonder if there is anything "certain." about Mr Wrignt except his staleness— unless it be his mediocrity Certain it is that, while admitting that the Moster Printers" A,ss>. (of which he is a member), benefited by the bit of jobbing given: out by the Government, he at the saxn-e time claims to have received no benefit directly or indirectly, which shows that his sense of exactitude is of uncertain quantity. If the instance which we gave is not one of Jobbery, then Mr Wright is the right man in the right place, and I hop© the workers of NeAvtown will see that he gets there again. Selah! . ■ ' " ' * • * Lift what paper we like we find it full of cable news concerning Labour unrest in every part of the globe. It would seem as if the Spirit of Revolt was brooding over the world. In some parts it means the taking up of arms. Here in New Zealand it means, as yet nothing more serious than taking tip a lead pencil. Let us each see to it that we use it arightThrones are shaking, tyrants quaking, Fraud and fear shall flee the world, For the morning bringeth. warning Freedom's is now unfurled. Comrades! comrades! Up, anil speed, ye to the battle! Brothers! Sisters! Hear the drums of freemen rattle! List! list! their joyous cry, . Liberty! Liberty! Yeai*s of toiling, weary moiling. Sowed and reaped Aye golden grain; Harvest treasure brought scant pleasure, Meagre aye our mead of gain. Comrades! comrades! Up, and speed ye •to the battle! Brothers! Sisters! Hear the drums of freemen rattle! List! List! the joyous cry, Liberty! Liberty J

It is to hasten' the dawning of that morning that the N.Z. Socialist Party and the Federation of Labour have put candidates (Hit to seek election to the Parliament' of . this Dominion. They coirie before you as men who believe in initiating in New Zealand a Co-operative Commonweal, in which every worker, whether by hand or brain, shall be entitled to claim a full share in the Commonweal. Some of our opponents , have been telling you that Socialism is bad, despicable/ a dream—that Socialism is- all nonsense, which implies that Socialists are nonsensical persons. Now, such statements—to use the mildest tei*m possible—are misleading. It is therefore my duty to assist in. putting you right in this important matter. For Socialism is important. The happiness ami general welfare of the people are important and Socialism has to do with these things. Moreover, the opponents of Socialism evidently regard it as important, else why should they go to such lengths of trouble and expense to refute it"? ■ The opponents of Socialism say: — It means an end of liberty of the individual.

If would take from every man his home and belongings. It would kill all enterprise and progress. It would destroy the Family life. There is no need for Socialism. Working men and women ! Each of these statements is untrue. The man who makes them understands Socialism and is therefore lying, ot he does not understand Socialism and is therefore not qualified to speak about it. Would it end Individual Liberty? Liberty means freedom. Are you workers free? What are the facts? Under tire present system the workers are. compelled to lire in rack-rented houses* — have to hand over weekly to landlords from two, to two and a-half days' wages, as rent for houses it is a satire to dignify with the name of ■ "home." As the result of the working- of our industrial system, based as it is on' the private ownership of- the means of life, thirty to forty per cent, of the workers have to follow casual and intermittent employment. Many have to remain idle, uvea in normal seasons, because it does not pay capitalists-to employ them. Have you the liberty to live where you like? If so, why do you live in rack-rented houses ? Have you the liberty to ■ work ? If so, why are you sometimes unemployed, and why does the fear of unemployment make yon, Leads of families, so anxious from day to ciay? ]N T o, friends, you have no "liberty" except the liberty to work when the capr ,ist can make a profit out of you, ana the liberty to starve when he can't. Would Socialism Rob You of Your Home and Belongings? No. It is the present system that robs you. Toti workers are being robbed every day of yotir lives. You produce all the wealth, and are justly entitled, to the results of your efforts. Instead of which the capitalist class gives you what is called at wage, and keeps the remainder. So long as any of the wealth which you produce is withheld from you, so long are you being robbed. The preseiit system is based on: robbery, i.e., profit. Oily bo long as the workers consent to be robbed can the present system exist. Therefore for any of oxxv enlightened opponents to speak of Socialism seizing your houses and beloaigings is again, barefaced nonsense. Sxirely you see this?

Would Socialism Kill 'Enterprise and Progress? For obvious reasons our opponents 'ddE not <;<Ty what they mean by ''enterprise*-* and "progress; ,-. If by "enterprise" the;s mean a capacity for xind&reelling a busi-a ness competitor and so driving him and Lj§ family to ruin—Socialists would" Kiijf such "enterprise. ,-. If by; "progress" they mean the" eacSs«< Kent problem, the overcrowding the growing unemployed problem, thtff constant fear of losing one's job, a con l * tinuance of the dull, drab, dreary lives the majority of the workers lead—if l~x, progress our opponents mean these, and ~ other manifestations of the injustice c£ " •the present system, then Socialism. vroTilcfi Stop SUCH PROGRESS. Would Socialism Destroy Home Life? The statement that Socialism would de» stroy home life is a terminological inexr* , - actitude. I have no wish to be rudo i<j our opponents, otherwise I should cliai** acterisd sucih a statement as a lie, an'<t its authors as liaes. We Socialists lieve . Homes should be built to live iw? They are now built for promt. And wheoj, our sons and daughters are able to work , , economic pressure of the capitalist system, sooner or later, • forces them from home, scatters them.! abroad. Under So- , cialisnl they need not go unless thejfi wished. The present system of capitalism, blasts family life , ; It grinds down th» workman; it clutches the wife. It pita/ the boy and the girl against the man aii<i the woman, until the family bond 13. strained to breaking point. Sccfialksost would not destroy family life. Under Socialism the homesoorf r iFe| people would be homes worth livikq ths > i% At present they are merely , "- places to remain in only as long as ir£ « necessaiy—and for this shelter we - forced to pay an excessive rent. And), until' you decide to look after your own*, country for yourselves you will hay© NO CHOICE IN- THE MATTER. Es There Any Need for Socialism. Given a country and a people, the} problem is how that people may mpkej the best of the country and themselves. You workers produce all the -wr alte:. In return for your labour ,, "you receive less than a third of what you produce— •*■, just sufficient to enable you io liven and go on producing. Is that maticgf the best of your country and of selves ? The great majority of the work/i ers of New Zealand are within- one moii+a from, actual want. Tour boys and g'irla" have to go to work at an age when the most important part of their educa*ir.n - should be beginning. The workers a body have only one prospect—to vroFX and go on WOB.KING, so that fiomooiie el =•$ may pocket the profit. Making the bcFl! of your country and yourselves? "W'iiat , ' a travesty! '"'■ Workers, I appeal to you!. T ask totl* earnestly to consider this question of Q o* cialism. It concerns you vitally. Q® and hear oxir candidates speak. Put cr-ies- , ~~ tions to them at the close of their addresses. Stop them in the street an(S argue with them. • No, they don't think you will swailowf any sort of nonsense. They ■ don't thiuic you will swallow such nonsense as o\w opponents are dealing "out to you. Thej« do not ask, and no Socialist asks yen tcf*. swalloAV anything—they merely ask vctjl> to think. ' ' Tliey appeal to. your, common'cnse. io your reason, to your, instinct, for light, .tea your love , of sweetness and light and hap- „, piness. And in order , that these lost' sliall be at the coinmancl of all theyarai offering themselves as candidates for your, , suffrages at the poll on the sevextit cw December. Remember, socialism is TKiat ONLY HOPE. ALL ELS_E : IS* DELUSION. So? Vote for the Socialists. Ye workers, awake! There is much a,t stake', And the figlit must be well fought; For if w© would drive The drones from the [hire, We must strike "while tlie iroii's hot?

08, dark is. the Niglrlv ' ■''■ But the Morning light Will be'streaming soon, I wist;. , For heart and hand, A united band; We will vote for the Socialist! We have battled long - Gainst' the rule of .Wrong, Oppression to eschew ; . When the weak would yield To the foe the field, . . Our songs would their strength' rener^We know their needs, And the heart oft bleeds The afflicted's cry to list.; But a cause so just We may well, entrust To a sturdy Socialist! Let them curse or kiss, Let them ban or bliss, Let the cravens turn awayj For ours in the Right, And ours is the Might, And ours is the Fight to-day. Now our.course is clear, We have nought to fear, Let the traitor turn and twist, With undaunted will We'll march forward still, And vote for the Socialist!