SOCIALISM IN OHINEMURI.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 44, 12 January 1912, Page 18

SOCIALISM IN OHINEMURI.

Sir, —Anotlio* election has conic and gone, and still tho majority of the elecbut when 1 think of the great tight put up my mind goes back to tho first meeting of Socialists held in this district, and who of those that were present would have anticipated the marvellous growth in tho short space of three years. It was August 25, 19US, that the first mooting was called for the purjHise of forming a branch of the Socialist Party at Waihi. Comrade Johnson was elected secretary, and Comrade Males the first president. Shortly after Ihe formation of the branch the objective of the N.Z. Federation of Labor came before tho Union, and mainly by the tight put up by the party the' objective was carried. Following this the elect ions of 11)08 came on. Comrade Way standing; in tho interests of Socialism. In spite of terrible opposition our comrade, polled 720 class-conscious votes, and I must say in passing that a h>t of the seeds of revolt sown at that election by Comrade Way have since sprouted, the writer and inanv other comrades in this district first' hearing the doctrine of Socialism from this comrade. After the electiou, things were very dull, many of the comrudes leaving' the district, and others failing out. About this time Comrade Hie'koy came this way, when tilings were'in a bad state, in the union. For speaking Ins mind in an uncompromising manner he was soon forced to lea-'c the district, along with Comrade Williams, the President of the. Union at that time. Tho party, therefore, practically became defunct. On July 18, 1909, a meeting of the party was called, and attended by live enthusiastic comrades, and it was resolved tltat while on© remained the red flag of Socialism would fly in Waihi. A while- after this the animal conference of the N.Z.F.L. took place. Comrade Parry was a delegate, and first saw the light there, and "from that time on has been an energetic worker for the cause of Socialism. Gradually from this time we began to grow, and a ballot was taken in the Union to breakaway from the C. and A. Act. We were defeated, and let it drop for a while; when it oame up again it was carried by a big majority of the voters, bnt not of the Union. Another veto was taken, and this time we succeeded, and from that time the revolutionary spirit began to take solid root. We began to get speakers of the stamp of Comrade Bennett through this way, and things began to gradually improve until the election of 1911 drew nigh, when Comrade Hickey was chosen to be the standard-bearer by both the Socialist Party and Union, and well did he carryit.

I think that tho New Yonr will sec us with a membership of a hundred—not so bad for three voars' growth.—Yours, etc. ' WAGE-SLAVE.