ALL SORTS

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 2, 8 December 1911, Page 3

ALL SORTS

Situations wanted. —A few highlyftrained gentlemen are anxious to near »f suitable, openings. Poultry farms preferred—experts at goose step. *t * * Overheard in Hagley Park, Christchurch.—First drill instructor: "Where ■ahe mischief are all these kids we've got to drill?" Second drill instructor: "Goodness knows. I don't know what 4he youngsters are coming to nowadays." First drill instructor-: "They're mot coming *to us." * » w Drill sergeant (te raw recruit on •parade for the first time) : ' 'Have you fcvedl in this town all your life?" Raw recruit: "Not yet." * * * First Weary Willie: "They say as 'ow they've got a lot of big guns out from the Old Land to teach our kids soldiering." Second W.W.: "Yes, that's so, and it looks mighty like as though they'll be fired soon." * # * Mr. J. M. Dale, secretary oi» the United Laborers' Union in South Australia, has heen, in Melbourne for the past week to undergo medical treatment for an internal complaint from which He has suffered during the past couple of months (says the Melbourne *'Herald"). _ Mr. Dale has had experijfince of union work in America, and eince he took over the secretaryship of the Adelaide organisation it has grown immensely. Its members now number over 5000, and before the end of next year it is expected that ,the roll will contain fully 8000 names. The Melbourne "Herald" forgot to say that $he U.L.U .stands for Industrial Unionism, hence its wonderful growth in little more than two years. *■ * » "Oroweater" writes: The "Daily Herald," Adelaide's Labor daily, contains in its issue of 2nd ult., good news to all militant unionists. The Trades and Labor Council of South Australia is reported to have carried the following' motion :—"That the Council disapproves of Part 5 of the Industrial Arbitration Bill (Attorney-General Denny's measure) prohibiting strikes, as it considers that the'right to strike should be retained by the workers." The Adelaide unionists have been regarded—with the exception of the militant U.L.U. > now 5000 strong—as chicken-hearted mem, therefore this •writer is pleased to see them finding courage a*b last. They will soon learn that Industrial Unionism will save, while arbitration will degrade, the workers. There can be no lasting peace ■between the exploiters and the exploited—only an armed truce." » .- . * * In China, as elsewhere, the social jyroblem demands a solution. A loud cry as rising from the bosom of humanity: "Why are there rich men and why are there poor men? Why are there those who are prosperous and happy and those who are distressed and miserable?" To give answer to this voice the philosopher comes, the economist coanes, the reformer comes. The revolution—that also comes, but the solution of the question never conies.—Ly. Chas. Pee in "La Revue." » » » The West Australian Timber Workers' Union, formed four years ago, estimates that it has secured an extra £25,000 a year at least for its 2000 members —something over £10 a. year oil the. average—and all that it has had to pay out over strikes and lockouts is about £18,000. The Union recently provided scholarships for the sons and brothers of members, at a. cost of £1600. * * « Mr. Elijah J. Carey is becoming a smore unconscious humorist every day. The other day he said he was glad the litJfclo Labor party's programme hadnet been criticised! "Woe unto you when all men speak well of you," Elijah! One is not surprised at the absence of criticism of the half-loaf party's policy, when he reads that the ''reforms" demanded include "electoral reform, reform of the Upper House, industrial reform, the principle of the weekly day of rest and full political rights for all civil servants. « » » "Vorwaerts" reckon® the total cost to Germany of the "armament madness" at £250,000,000. All this comes out of tho labor of the German wageearners. * * • The -Federation of Laborers' Unions, pepresenting 25,000 members, throughout the Commonwealth, has been formed. Politicians are rigidly excluded from holding office in the Federation executive.

"There is no Christian kindness about your trades unions. They are out to fight. Success for them means so many shillings a week extra —just that, and no more. They do not consider how arbitrary increasing of wages may influence the cost and means of production. They look forward to a time when, by the terrible weapon of a general strike, they may enforce all their demands. It is no iise appealing to reason where these unions of workmen are concerned. They clamored for courts of arbitration and conciliation, which stand for the appeal to reason in its best form. But arbitration has failed. The unions will only tolerate courts that will give them everything they want, without respect to the rights and needs of the employing class: The unions are without any strict sense of honour, and never hesitate to repudiate an agreement." This is the opinion of Mr. Frank Morton, a successful journalist, who can write entertainingly on divers subjects from food and drink to broomsticks. But he is out of his depth when he gets on to economics. tt a » Under the heading "Labor in Revolt," the West Coast "Times" says: "Never before, in the history of New Zealand politics, has there been such Widespread revolt against the party in power. In labor, progressive, reformative, socialistic and capitalistic circles there is an almost unanimous opinion that the day has arrived for a political spring-cleaning. There is truly, little in common between many of the dissatisfied: they (iuv/e different objects in desiring a ch'tii.ge; in fact, many of them have aspirations diametrically opposed; but the fact remains that they desire 1 change." • SI * War is a game which, were the workers of this wantry wise, their rulers would not i>l'j.yat. « « # The Social Democrats of America are putting "recall of judges" in the forefront of th-iiv lighting platform. There is no doubt that they have plenty of reason ta »ta .aa.

The following chunk of wisdom is from that press oracle, the "Inangahua Times" : —"Let men strike if they will —it is, or was, a free country—but they must not use force in order to compel subjection. They have a perfect liberty to strike. But to strike means, far too often, killing the goose that lays tie golden eggs. If we strike to mend an industry we may do more than. mend 1 . Newcastle is a case in point. Were we sultan, or czar or emperor we would allow no man te strike unless /he had either studied Euclid or learned chess. Especially would ; we instil the learning of the latter." a * ss Tlie Acting-Minister of Defence stated, in answer to a question re the prosecutions, they they had all the lads they wanted for training. This is decidedly rich, seeing that they can't muster a parade. He also said that New Zealand was not yeb ready for universal compulsory military training, neither financially nor otherwise. Strange they couldn't discover this before rushing into the expense of importing a lot of highly-paid officers. We knew it long ago! « * *5 A Chicago lady, suing her husband ; for alimony, claims that the following items are "reasonably necessary" for a lady of fairly good position: Perfume and toilet water, £120; face powder, £90; manicure bills, £40; hairdresser's bills, £70; all other cosmetics and ; miscellaneous, £55. Wonder if these items ■ are counted in the "living wage?" *t * * Rev. Charles F. Aked, who preached' the gospel in a church in New York that was attended by John D. Rockefeller, in a recent sermon in San Francisco expressed himself as follows: — "The great Socialist movement with its red flag typifying the blood of the martyrs of every nation, is the expression of human hope and zeal for human brotherhood. I see ml this great movement of the masses an- evpression of the new spiritual life of the world, which refusse <to be satisfied with less than human solidarity and mutual justice among bk -i\J^

; Archdeacon Bartlett, president of the 'Goulburn (N.S.W.) Diocesan Synod, referring to the relations of the church and the working man, said: "Would to God we churchmen could come in closer contact with the working classes." The working men, he added, wanted tlie initelligent services of a hard-working, sympathetic priest-—a brother man, not a ritualistic faddist. i* * * ' Thus "La Voix dv Peuple" (Paris): , The "Labor' party of New South Wales ihas introduced a Bill interdicting I strikes and providing for the imprisoni ment of strikers. It is neither more nor less than the absolute suppression •of the right to strike and the most despotic coercion. Fortunately the workers are beginning to wake and oppose the tyranny of "Labos" politicians. _. ''*».' * At a mass meeting of men and women held at Queenstown, Tasmania, in connection with the Mount ; Lyell strike, attention was called to the fact that amongst those present was a , man who had been lately writing letters to the press. He was requested to leave 1 the hall, but he claimed he was j,usti;fied in remaining. A suggestion was ) thrown out that the police should be | called in, but a connter-nroposal was ; submitted' that the man should be left ;for the ladies to of. They imi mediately approached him, and as he did not display any willingness to leave they laid ungentle hands on him and at ionce ejected him from the building, amid much laughter from the men, who jwei-e standing up on seats. _. * * . "I think the time has arrived," declared Mr. J. A. Frostick to a "Press' .representative,, "when a very careful analysis by independent people should" be made in respect to the increased cost of production of local manufactures, and the effect of the increase in wage-s, l the shortening of hours, and the restriction of output. "I firmly believe that if an impartial investigation was made by competent people who thoroughly understand both sides of the question 'there wouldbe a rude awakening." We are surprised to find ourselves in agreement with Mr. Frostick.

The" real "scab" is not the man;wEoy driven by the hunger of wife and children, accepts work during & strike at a lower rate than his fellows, but the; man who, with a full stomach and a' union card in his pocket, calmly walks to iihe ballot-box and ooclly votes against working-class candidates. Those, who are most given to . cursing the "scab" on the job are often the very ones who by voting for anti-labor can* ' clidates every three years are thei" maintainers of a system which drives men to "scabbery."—"Barrier Daily; Truth. 11 * * *X 8C We know it at last. According to _'£ country paper: '"The derivation of ths word "wowser" is a little doubtful; posy sibly it is from the Wow--wow, a lof ape which is very common in thjjj Malay Peninsula. Tlie Wow-wow chapters a great deal, is of no use, and is not overburdened with brains." « *» * There is no sort of wrong deed cr" which a man oan hear the punishment 1 alone; you can't isolate yourself audi '■ say that the evil which is in you will not spread. Men's lives are as thoroughly blended with each other as tho <air they breathe; evil spreads as neoes* j sarily as disease*. Every sin causes suffering to others besides those who commit it.—George Eliot. '•.-■■ • * ■ * ! From the agony column of a W«l» lington paper: Inquiry wanted for ladss to accept position as housekeeper i«i ;Blenheim; about middle age; trustwoigfr 'thy references required, but reCOmmen.•dations from clergymen or not received; Scotch preferred. I * - '* j Breathless, they stood at last upon: ithe towering mountain peak. ■ '"" 1 "There," she said angrily; "we Eav.S ( ! climbed all this distance to admire the i beauties of nature, and we have left thoi ; glass at honie." Tranquilly smiling, he shifted thef lunch basket bo the other arm. \ "Never mind, dear," he said, \it won't hurt us just this once to drink out of the bottle."