In Our Opinion

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 45, 19 January 1912, Page 3

In Our Opinion

jjDETTEU be without a swil than bo made a coward hy one. VyHY not Socialism now? The worst of this "near future" business is that, like to-morrow, it is alTiays coming. f |l() become a " self - respecting " worker in I In , , eyes of tlie bti»=s. you ■nniKi. first xervu an apprenf as ft toss-respecting worker. "IN connection with a letier sent by J. Grown, Auckland, to the ■'International S'oci.ilisfc I'evi w," "So'.iilantv" reprints the following: "I*'ivo hundred lighters, can go further and do more than 5,000,000 crawlers.—,l. Grose, N«nv Zealand. Correct on this side of the globe also." And here likewise. rrUIE decision of the Diinedin Wharf Laborers' I'liion to join tlie N.Z.F.L. means that practically the whole of the watersidcrs in New Zealand have declared for the Olio Big Union. It is remarkable that wherever 6 ballot has been taken on the question of joining the Federation it has always ioen carried. We welcome the- Duu-edin Watorsiders to the ranks of industrial Unionism, and trust that their presence in the organisation Avill be a, factor for additional strength. ,

AN outstanding feature of tho con■ferenco of waterside workers was the unanimous decision of delegates that any agreement arrived at with the shipping companies would not bo submitted to the Arbitration Court for ratification. That this powerful body of men should have repudiated the Court of Shackles is an endorsement of tho Federation's policy and that of this paper. Except to tlio.so blinck-d by prejudice, it is apparent that tho doom of tho Arbitration Court is sealed.

'ANOTHER powerful organisation, ' tho Canterbury General Laborers' Union, has decided 10 join the N.Z.l'.Lilt is very significant that wherever a union exists blessed with wide-awake, progressive officials, the rank and lUe Lavo always demonstrated tluir dosiro to movo with the times. The chief thing wrong with tho New Zealand Labor movement is that, for tho most part, tlio union officials —hemmed in as they fl-ro with red-tapoism. a natural corollary to arbitrationism —are unable to rccogniso the desire for progress in the 2'auks, and instead of bring a factor for advancement, aro a barnacle upon the Ship of Progress.

nnHE Federation of Labor stands for tho collective ownership oi' tho means of wealth production. Because it is directly concerned in the bread-and-butter question, it is endeavouring io hasten the day when tho world's ■workers shall own the world's wealth. .This is only possible by tho inauguration of Socialism, and for that reason •the Federation members are, or should 'bo, Socialists. Not Socialists "to a certain extent," but Socialists to the ■backbono and spinal marrow, recognising that anything short of complete (collectivism will fail to overthrow the "wage-system.

fTXEE frenzied attempts being maclt* by tho jingo capitalist press or Germany to arouse a wa\o of "patriotism" that will flood tho Sc-ialist sentiment is a feature of t)n> parliamentary {struggle of that country. Throwing ieyio and argument to tho winds, tho pcoplo trcro called upon by tho ruling parties "to annihilate," "to sweep away for over' , the Social-Democrats of the Fatherland. It is because tlw Socia!-ljGmccrat9 of Gerxnaiiy lore their Fatherland fchivt they strivu t-o freo it frcui iho bondago of capitali&ai. Tlw mythical etihmy in Morcoixj ci Euy!<uiil has no terrors for tho Gorman Socialia'u. Ho is concerned ftbout that UvjigiUo ihirg called capitalism.

J£ J. HOWARD, in a letter to the ""Lyttolton Times," reprinted elsewhere, makes it abundantly clear that tlio repeated assertions of Professor -Mills and his followers as to tho numerical strength and number of organisations which have endorsed tlio "unity campaign" are most misleading. In an interview with tho Professor which appeared in a recent issuo of tho "Lyttolton Tinics," he is reported as having .stated that three-fourths of tho unionists in Now Zealand have- endorsed his scheme. Tho Professor has an elastic arithmetical qualification. An issue of tlio same paper, a. couple of days previous, contains a report stating that a meeting of unionists addressed by Mills was unablo to carry any motion, as tho.ro was not a quorum present. Evidently the Christcliurch unionists are not widely enthusiastic over the American's proposals. the advent of the public school there came into being a factor for progress against which all else 13 infinitesimal indeed. Tho outcry against Socialism, which is now loud and long in the land, is an outcry against tho public school. The country iv which tho most perfect educational system exisLs la where tho Socialist movement is deep-rooted, Juet in proportion as the masses become educated dora Socialism progress. Capitalism roared itself upon tho backs of an ignorant people; it prospered and grew fat whilst darkness obscured tho mental viaiojn of tho toilers; it trembles to the foundations as <iho masses recognise truth und justice, and it will fall when tho iorch of knowledge is placed into the hands of tho world's workers. Tlio public school is a beacon j which will guide our ship into pw 'l I

rjiHE active propaganda carried on by tho Federation of Labor has caused a marvellous awakening among the workers of New Zealand. The progress upon the industrial field has been stupendous. Upon the political Gold, similar progress, except in a very few localities, has nob been made. Tho discontent aroused by the Federation must find a political outlet; for so mo reason or other that outlet has not been niado. Tho Socialist Party of New Zealand has a glorious chance, bu pushing on with an earnest, enthusiastic propaganda, to doublo and treble itself and become tho political expression of tho industrial movement. If it fails in this respect, it will fail because of lack of method and energy. The N.Z.F.L. will triumph upon tho industrial field. A similar triumph \ipon tho political field means New Zealand leading tho world for working-class emancipation.

nr\HE agitator is the saviour of socioty. To-day ho is tho personification of all that is ovil; to-morrow he is tho sainted saviour jukl the people pay homage to his name. Tho world has ever crucified ita greatest benefactors, their names are anathema in their own day, but a later rises and calls the l blessed. The agitator in the Labor movement, liko his great prototype <it two tiiousand years ago, is tho despised and rejected of men. Today his brow L not crowned wifcl , thorna nor is ho impaled upon a cross; but upon his head is heaped the concentrated fury of capitalistic hatred and working-class Itovilod and spat upon by those he would Ecrvo, it needs the courage which a high eanso of 3uty alono can givo to proceed with tho task of enlightening and assisting

the halt, tho lame, and the blind in the ranks of Labor.

TOURING the la to elections, the workers of the Dominion spent money like water to back up their convictions J and return their chosen representatives. The struggle., now that it has been launched, must, never bo relinquished ono iota; the fight must go on and on, until tho toilers, masters in the political arena, take and hold for social uso the land and the machinery of production and distribution. .At the present time tho politics of the country arc in the- cruciblo; a sudden appeal to tho electors may be made at any time';- ,- therefore it behoves all election committees to reassemble, talk ovecr and mark out a plan oi campaign for one more effort—a lnoro matured one this lime—on behalf of tho cause that can nover die —suffering, exploited humanity. It is almost impossible for the present Parliament as constituted to run its full term. Tho Baronet, in his braggart style, told us it may be necessary to liavo another election soon —and still another ono if tho second pro Tod unsatisfactory. Tho moral is: Let us bo ready. Tho money that has been spent by tho people in the people's causo hna net been spent in vain. Tho propaganda work which lias accomplished throughout tho elect .in straggle has mado its uiaork m a marvellous manner, and it is \\p to all concerned to make good the stop to h -,\o advanced and prepare to take anot ior one in the very near future,

TTPON the 6vo of this general t 'notion in Groy, certain ovilly-dispi J- cl individuals, in their fear lost P. '!'. Webb should receive the support of fcLo majority of «loctoj»j oirtiuatcd a v ,v.i-

cioiis report against him. These traducors, recognising that to dump their verbal garbage into the ears of men would meet with little or no success, sent an emissary among tJie women of Greymouth with the report that Webb liar] stated from the platform that the majority of the women in the district wore living a life of shame. Such a report, spread at the door of the poll-ing-booth, had the result these veterans in the foul art of slander expected, scores of declared supporters of the Socialist candidate voting against him. After the poll, when these nefarious practices were brought to light, considerable feeling was' aroused, and Webb. in order to clear his organisation ar.'l himself, replied to his traducers from the platform to a packed meeting, unanimous in its condemnation, of the baseless charges, as he, with convincing proof, pinned the foul lie upon its originator. Closing an able speech, the Federation President said lie hoped the ''respectable girls" of Greymouth would recognise that they formed pa it of the great working class and that their emancipation could only bo obtained by their organising on class lines. Hβ advised them to listen to things first hand and not rely on tl.e statements, of an over-developed publican.