In Our Opinion

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 41, 15 December 1911, Page 11

In Our Opinion

"jVTOW that Scott Bennett has Left Zealand it is fitting thai further tribute be paid to the very excellent work for Socialism he has done in this Dominion. It is beyond question that his stay in Auckland is largely responsible for the splendid growth and activity of the Socialist Party there, but his influence has extended beyond the confines of the party and right through trtldes unionism. Auckland has been made an able and militant centre of industrial organisation upon new lines and swayed by the new spirit. To a considerable extent, what Scott • Bennett has inspired and encouraged at Auckland he has aided and accelerated throughout New Zealand, as much by his .writings as by his organising missions. Many an individual, many a branch either of Labor Federation or Socialist Party, date their rejuvenation from the time of Scott Bennett's advent. Certainly, the One Big. "Union project has bad in Scott Bennett a foremost champion, and his ceaseless advocacy has materially advantaged the ,N.Z. Federation of Labor. We do not -need to lavish praise in-oidor to domoi3#&rale the value of Scott Bennett's brilliant work anion get jus- It speaks for itself/and- is Bennett's --memorial. We regret the loss of our comrade, for he is singularly sincere, able, and sound, his mind being of the order which grips the pivotal doctrine and utility of any philosophy or science m the working-class orbit. That he will do well in the United Slates and wherever he may journey wo have no doubt. That after a valued access of experience he will return to Australasia even better equipped for the Class War we believe. Our hope is that he irill return and settle in New Zealand. At all events, we wish him success, and commend him enthusiastically to the international movement.

TN a leaderette, the Wellington "Post" condemns, the conduct of anti-prohibition people who sought to break up no-license meetings. The "Post" waxes wroth on the subject, and says that while against the principle of prohibition, its advocates are entitled to British justice when they offer argument in public halls. "Even those who disagree with their views," continues, the Willis street oracle, "must admire their whole-souled devotion to their cause, their energy, their tireless fight against heavy odds." Strange that what is admirable in the prohibitionist becomes blameworthy in the anti-militarist.

" T HAVE for .many years knocked at the Parliamentary door for legislation for the good of the common mass. Invariably the knock has been in vain. When the door has been opened, we have had passed out by the political messenger something not exactly to our liking, and we are told to run away and play, like the child with the lollies. I now say to the workers: Secure the key and boldly unlock the door, and walk in. Oil the machinery of progress and manufacture your own legislation."—Mr. W. T. Young. The moral of this is that the workers should join the Federation of Labor. When that body knocks at the door of Parliament, it uses the big stick, and invariably the knock has not been in vain. Mr. Young should know this well enough, but possibly his reason and his interests point in different directions.

]y[R. DAVID McLAKEN is becoming ; a finished politician. Never remarkable' for modesty, he throw it to the winds during the recent election, as something likely to stand in the way of his career. He coolly told an audience of free and independent, but ignorant electors that last session he got the Minister of Labor to drop, one of these complicated clauses which, was being inserted in the Workers' Compensation Act, and hj simply amending the interpretation clause defining "worker," the dCo limit was deleted and now all classes of manual workers were covered by the Act. Now, the facts are these. The Federation of Labor, at the close of its conference .last 3 r ear, formed a deputation to the Government, and pointed out, among other things-, the necessity for deleting the- £5 limit clause from the Workers' Compensation Act. This was done in the interests of workers, such as shearers and slaughtermen, who might, for certain periods of the year, earn over £5 a week, but whose annual aggregate earnings did not average that amount. Several members of Parliament supported the deletion of the clause, including Mr. D. McLaren, who, like the austere man in Scripture, is reaping where he has not sown. The credit for the amendment is due to the Federation of Labor,, which, through its attorney, Mr. R.J. O'Regan; pointed'out the,'superiority of the British Workers' Compensation Act to" the Dominion Act.- In the former there is no limit whatever, and in many other respects it is superior to the Compensation Act of New Zealand.; . - -. , 6 TIjJEW ZEALAND has more petty, nagging legislation to the square mile than any country under the sun. The holding back of the "Dominion's" election issue is a piece of "bossism" that ought not to be tolerated in a free country. Such restrictions on the press are ludicrous and ineffective at any time, but this high-handed attempt to apply a silly law in so barefaced and (ino-sidfd a will only put a

weapon, into the hands of the Opposition, which is certain to make the most of it. Besides, it looks as if the Government is afraid of its press opponents, while loudly asserting that it fears no foe in shining armour. It is time the statute book was purged of freak and faddy legislation. In an educated democracy to suggest that mock ballot papers could influence the vote of any sane man or woman is a strain on the intelligence. Sanity is sadly needed in framing legislation, but so long as quacks and adventurers ar<> considered good enough to run the country, so long will we be cursed with niggling legislation which is an insult to the common sense and intelligence of the community. The politics of the "Dominion" are rotten, but the action of the post-office authorities cannot be excused on that ground, and calls for the severest condemnation of all lovers of fair play. _____ . npO call the Industrial Unionism advocated by the Federation of Labor syndicalism is a misuse of words. It is a method of argument much- used by the Auckland "Voice of Labor," which, quoting Ramsay Maedonald's version of syndicalism, states that "a minority, section is frantically striving to inflict it upon New Zealand." This is simply not true. Whilst we have) a lacae admiration for Continental syndicalism, and, indeed, little to say against it., still Industrial Unionism as advocated by the Federation of Labor is political industrialism, which is-ap-proved by Itamsay Macdonald in the article from which the "Voice" quotes. The aim of the Federation of Labor is to foster an Industrial Unionism suitable for this country. While insisting on unity in things essential, an open mind is preserved on the question of tactics, wihch can only be perfected by experience. There should be no difference of opinion as to the wisdom and practicability of the- One Big XTnion for Maori land. The broad principles- of

Industrial Unionism agreed upon, it remains for each unionist to give of his best thought and expedience to perfecting the machine, which will enable us to hold the balance of political power and eventually take the first steps towards the co-operative commonwealth. To do this unity is the first requirement, but unity- is only possible amongst those , agreed on matters of principle. We have much to learn in the matter of tactics, and welcome friendly advice and criticism, but of this we are certain: that there is no better method whereby the workers of Maoriland can secure their rights and reach the goal of their desires than by uniting in One Big Union. This country is ripe for Socialism, and the workers united in a solid body could bring about the new commonwealth in a decade or two. Nowhere has Industrial Unionism so clear and promising a field as in this young country. Let the workers unite and New Zealand will lead the way to Socialism. House rents in. Sydney have risen from 20 to 50 per cent., say witnesses before the parliamentary committee inquiring into the subject. While the land-lord and the food-lord are able to fix the cost of living, wage increases are of little or no use. Sir Chariois Macaira, English cotton magnate and perennial president of the great. Cotton Employers' Federation, interesting himself in industrial legislation, says: "It' is doubtful- if any legal enactment could be formulated which would compel large bodies of men to work if they decided not to work, and, ecjually, no law could be formulated which would compel them to keep an agreement entered into between representatives of Capital and Labor." All the cotton. lord'hopes for is to make it extremely difficult for industrial dislocation to occur. Phis representative employer at all events recognises that a, strike is a class war, and that there is no more reason to complain of industrial agreements being broken, than of nations tearing: up treaties when they go to war.—Sydney "Worker. ,, -