Organiser's Notes.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 41, 15 December 1911, Page 18

Organiser's Notes.

By EDWARD HARTLEY.

Stili electioneering, but I think at the same time making Socialists. i> • ■ « On the Thursday we had a fine meeting at Waihi. The hall filled to the doors, and many people tihere who have never been to a Socialist meeting before. • • • • * These are the people we want, and the people I like to talk to. To see their bewilderment at first as Socialism is shown, to be something verj' ' different to what tfoey had believed; to watch their faces when they are told their supposed opposition is because they don't know what they are opposed to, and therefore based on ignorance; then to watch the same faces a,s the truth begins to dawn upon them, and at times to see the faces which looked very glum and sour at the start begin to smile ; then watoh the beginning of understanding, and at the last see them applauding with evident satisfaction — these- things more than compensate for some of the hardships of an agitator's life; and I've seen this more Lhan once in the Ghinemuri hills. * • • All that is needed to make Socialism a success is that people shall understand. Elections-are most useful times for Socialists., because then people who would never listen before hear and •often understand and believe. * * * ; Friday saw mc off to Auckland, while j Scott Bennett came to Waihi. A good i ])V€-i':ting was held in the open, and i S.v.-gge made a. most effective speech, j a heavy shower bringing my remarks i-o a. sorn-r-wjat short conclusion. * * . - ! On Saturday Auckland welcomed us with a clelnge of rain : in fact, since our arrival in "God's own" we have j almost come to the coiiclusion that ■•the rain it rainetSi every day." « - » « The temperance friends h®<cS $rreag;<S& a ' demonstration in favour of prohibition, raid jio-iio-ense, but the rain came down in fvoeds, spoiling what otherwise would have been a very fine show. The children's voices, shrill and sweet, and appealing to the-voters to "strike out i-he top line" were' very effective, and a group near us, obviously hostile to prohibition, never once interfered with the children, the clear, sweet voices and bonny, bright faces evidently impressing even these rough men. We want more of t-ae enthusiasm and hard work of the tempers nee movement jin the Socialist ranks, and we want I j rare of.their organisation as well. * «■ * Another thing the Socialist movement can do with is a little more Jramann-esiS. It is quite right that we .should be angry with the wrongs of society and quite right thai we should always keep in mind that ours is a class struggle, and tliat we can make no terms with the enemy until we have ■established industrial democracy, but that is no reason why should always be cross and awkward. * * * ! Tis true that great wrongs exist > and must be put right, but the san. does shine at times and Hi-Q flowers smell sweet and look beautiful. The lovely trees sway to and fro -in the gentle breeze or bend and struggle* as the heavy gusts seem to threaten to uproot tliem. The blue of the sky and sea at times is glorious to Jook upon, and long streamers of lovely clouds are a ioy for evermore. All is uot black and gloomy, and while, we must never ! forget our work and duty, life has many joys and pleasures which even Socialists cannot afford to neglect. Let us show to the folks about us that our i message and our doctrine i~ not one j of sourness and bitterness, but one of joy and hope. C w »• "It's war we're in, not politics, It's systems wrestling now." But the other fellows are j".!sf- as much the creatures of as we are. being only opposed to us from fear and ignorance. The- passion for inamjirj*ty must Hiake ias ira»}»a3«&.

The magnificent meeting in the Opera House on the Sunday night made orer 20 ye«rs of spade work for Socialism seem a comparatively little thing, while the joy of knowing that our growth is little short of marvellous filled mc with thankfulness and hope. * * # * Thirty years ago Socialism was almost unknown, yet I left an audience of from three to four thousand in the Old Country, and found here in the new theatres and opera houses filled with crowds of people anxiously listening to and believing in the new gospel. • • • Two meetings in the open air on Monday, then back to Waihi on the Tuesday morning,, with a train journey of hours and a crowded hall in tb« ©veaißg. « • * To-day is the last one for meetings, and I'm to go to Waikino for a meeting otitside, then to Karangahake inside. I know the latter will be a success, for the speaker has made himself a favourite there. You should never prophesy unless you know, but I think we are sure to have our man in the second ballot, while, if all the workers in the mines were class-conscious :*nd voted as workers, we should win easily without a second vote. • • • However, at the time of writing these r)hings are -on the knees of the gods, and if our men are at the bottom of the polls Socialism will be just as true and the need for organisation and unity of the industrial and political fields quite as urgent. Our work must go on until the working-class arise in their might and dominate the wovii. ■-■ • • If we have the second ballot at Ohinemuri I shall stay until the second election, afterwards going to Auckland for two months. « • •• I am arranging for visits to Huntly, Hamilton, and Morrinsville. I want Socialists and unionists in the north to write at once to let us know where they are, and if a visit to their district will do any good. The timber workers, the gum workers, the cement workers, fishermen —in fact, workers of every kind—must be brought into line and joined up with the Socialist as-d industrial movement. I will go anywhere where work is to done, but it will be much hotter if we. can link the movement t©gel&«r au.d work together. * * * Don't let anyone think he is of no u:;e or not needed. If you are a Socialist write and let us know. Become a member of the Socialist party. Send on tho biggest subscription you can, and if there are other Socialists near you collect theirs to save them the trouble of sending. We shall then knew where to set to work and shall ■bare funds to do the work, and in 12 months have an organised fighting force, while before the- next elections, with growth of the Federation of Labor and the Socialist party we may be the dominating force at the future elections. ' . . • » •. All things are but real success depends on every man and woman, doing their little' bit and doing their very best. " * * ■ • Letters may be sent to mc at the Federal Hall, WeJk-sley street, Auckland.