In Our Opinion

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 48, 9 February 1912, Page 1

In Our Opinion

TTNEMPLOYMENT is not so inu.-h a ■' problem to man as an auxiliary to a eyfitciii. + 80A.IE so-edled Ministers of the Cupel ac( as if the Prince of Peace had a Catiing {rim concealed in his garments. nrilli: comlry that is governed lea-t is -*- fct..-i-i-i iit tl best.—Tims. Jofl'or-oii. We have Uil guvcrued picay nu.ch ii. 1-*.'/.. this pa-t .Ni years. -♦ IF (he \wuke.3 are (o progress they must show that thc L v possess: back bone. These is a type i f the vvorkingclass wlio. when in the presence of ihe boss acts as if he had a soU-closing apparatus hidden in his v.rteb.re.o. and a pair of hinges, in his knees, it's a bad habit., and wants to bo discarded. ♦— SfiTIALISTS seek to abolish profits. They recognise that through the harrowing chase alter profits, Society is; enpaged in an internecine war. Because 1 the Socialists wish to end this war. they are acciu-.ed of every crime in the decalogue, from the disrupting of marriage vows to atheism. * — TVTOEMAX AWEI.L. the author of XS "The Croat Illusion," is the Pans Dianagei- of the "Daily Mail." "When his tliOiight-eeu'.iH'lling work was published a couple, of years ago the great papers met its appearance by n respectful and significant 'silence which lasted many days. In a. few short weeks, however, it 'had been translated, published, printed, road and discussed in nearly every language spoken from London to Tokio. * TO be "mentioned in despatches" is deemed to be a great honor by military officer*. And the more men the recipient has slaughtered, the more, is he deemed to be entitled to "special mention." But of late the anti-militarists seem to he more "mentioned" than any ether—which seems to point out that humanity is "cumin's to its own again." And that "coming" will come all the Booncr tiie more we all help to that end! So get mentioned in the anti-niilitanst despatches. * ME. F. ELLIS, the hustling secretary of tho conference of freezing Works and allied trades unions recently held in "Wellington, is tho secretary of the Musicians' Union lately formed in Christehuroh. Mr. Ellis informed us that the musicians arc .going to "conduct" a vigorous campaign, and immediate steps are fo be taken to linl-r tb-m up right throughout tho Dominion and tho Commonwealth, so that there will be cno mowr: fnl organisation for the whole of .AusC.xlasia/ It will le a' "slur" on them if they do not "beat" downfall oliftcc'!'. 3 on their "march" in very ouiok ?'ti'oo" They are "shari>" fellows, these Musicians—-no "flats" among ''c-m—and they will not "pause" or "rest" till th«y have swept all "bars" away in tho accomplishment of their purpose, oven it they liavo to use "staves" to lanove *ho '\>caW from the eyes of those who eannofc "B natural" and see that tho 'Troy note" to all success is organisation, "And co gay all of us."

fSTIfE annual conference of the 1- Socialist J'arty oi New Zealand will be held in Welliugton at Easier. We understand that the branches have been netified that all remits for consideration m iiwt bo in the hands of Secretary F. R. Cooke. by March 1. Wo hope that branches who want business transacted and organisation bettered will not be remiss in attention to remits. To get proposals considered they must be on the conference agenda paper. While -speaking of the Socialist Conference we desire to state that the impression abroad as to the Federation of Labor Conference taking place at Faster is incorrect. The Federation Conference will not be held until later in the year.

npiTE reputation of the bulldog saves -3- him from many a kick. The Federation of Labor is the bulldog of Industrial Unionism. It is the Watchdog of Ihe Worker, and when it bares its teeth tho cohorts of Capitalism withdraw sullenly but alVrightodly from their preimMiitatod attack. They would kick it if they dared, but they dare not. Workers of New Zealand— organised and unorganised—join tho Federation, and so help to strengthen its reputation to save you from the. kicks oi KupiialiMic Juurts and ICombines. V'LL tho wealth in the world to-day has )>efu created by Labor. The complex tool of the modern factory is a icsult of tho knowledge and experience detained from those, who have lived and labored in the past. Recognising this fact, it is diliicult to understand why the idle owners of the means of wealth produition become so very agitated when lin.se who labor speak (■£ owning 1 hat which their labor Ims produced. Tf the workers of the, world oi.ee utilised that labor-labor of their biefathers find of themselves—created all the wealth, Capitalism, in about 40 seconds, would lock like a cyclone-strick-en plantation. 1 MRS. MILLER, the Labor woman who led her sex in the recent strike procession in Brisbane, is a veteran in the movement, and has ever been (o the fore where the fighting spirit was demanded. An avow eel Socialist, she is a militant worker for fin cause, and has striven fearlessly throughout her long life loi the advancement of her sex and her class. We could ieii of many a brave act on her part—could tell a story of self-' aci'itiee. earnedness and volcanic energy exhibited by Mrs. Milter, however desperately assailed and bitterly vilified. Brisbane has a sterling band of Labor women, and among them stands Mrs. Miller, wearing the. end of her strenuous life, but undaunted in courage and firm in conviction. Honor to her!

I\ "Tho Case against rVinscription." Mr. C. E. Ford is at his best. We are glad at being the medium by which Mr. Ford's series of articles will circulate throughout New Zealand. We ask a wide and careful reading of the articles. The author is dignified, reasonable and logical, and even the most enthusiastic conscriptionist must acknowledge the strength of tho "Case." During this week there wero to bo further prosecutions of youths for refusal to register for compulsory military training. We urge prompt and determined action by way of protest against this infamy. The people gouerally and tho workers specifically can tolerate conscription only to the endangering of democracy and the hurt of humanity.

THR Wellington Chamber of Commerce, at a recent nit-feting, after discussing tho agreement arrived at by the. Federation of Labor and the shipping companies regarding work cm the waterfronts, passed tho following resolution:—"That this Chamber desires to affirm its confidence in tho principle of tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and regrets that the existing law of tie land has not been fully supported during recent negotiations." The Chamber, you see, "affirms its confidence" in the arbitration wtfcliod! Whyf Bacaoso it pays. What pays tho employing class does not pay the workingclass, conbeeiucmtly "Away with Arbi-

tration!" should bo the rallying cry of organised labor. The citppling effect of arbitration upon unionism is recognised by the capitalist class, hence their desire to see it maintained. « HILAIEE BELLOC, tho great London publicist, has not. long returned to tho English metropolis from a visit to Germany, whither he had gone to review militarism in the home of conscription, and in the course of a noted review of the subject he comes to the following conclusions: — (1) Militarism is not nearly so popular as the outside world imagines. (2) Wealth and influence are two powerful factors in defeating the universal idea of training. It is the wo/rkejr that is toreed to keep the law. (2!) Germany's military prwer is over-rated. (4) Militarism is falling in Germany. (5) Germany has little of value to chow for her long term of military pnbation. It might be said that Mr. Deiloe looked upon tho sublet very particularly. and with tho eyes of an export, having himself been through the conscription regime in his younger days as a French subject. « CERTAIN New Zealand papers, usually regarded m being veil posted upon the Government's intentions, have l*«sn

hinting of late that Premier Ward will hand iv his resignation before Parliament assembles. This will mean the passing of the Liberal regime for a time at least. Since IWM, the Liberal l'orty has ruled supreme. Election after election only seemed to strengthen its position. Seddon. by his magnificent campaigning tactics, was- at once the admiration and despair of his political opponents:. The result of !hc election preceding- his death left him .stronger entrenched than over before. Then came Ward. Facing the country on the first occasion as Premier, he emerged to find tho overwhelming majority inherited from Iv'didon greatly diminished, but .-.till formidable. His .-ecoiul election left his party absolutely rented. Rarely has a political party, with the traditions and entrenchments of the New Zealand Liberal l'aiy, come to en eh an end. «. I'? the New Zealand Department of Labor impartial.? Tho official answer is Yes: tho real answer is T\o! Many instances could be quoted to demonstrate how the Labor Department leans towards the side of plutecuacy. It is noticed that when employers are summoned for breaches of award, evasion of the Factories Act, or such like, the Department is represented by one of its inspectors, and against him may be arrayed, arel often ie, the ablest legal talent. A suggestion by the ijresidL.j? magistrate or judge that counsel be engaged by the Depart-

nent is generally refused. But how diferently are matters arranged when men ire accused of breaking the provisions of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act! When the Merchant Service Guild vat summoned for an alleged strike, the Department was represented by able connsol, straining every nerve to secure .a conviction against the men. What is s'uice for the goose should be sauce for i*r mate, but apparently is not. Tho breaking of the Act by employers is a less serious offence than when the men do likewise, according to the point of view of the Labor Department.

THE trouble in the Brisbane tramway service has been brewing for months past. The ashes of discontent have been smouldering for quite a while, until at last the flames of rebellion have brol.on out with a fierceness all the stronger for having so long been keipt in cheek. Duly those "in the know" are thoroughly conversant with tho insult and intimidation, cnptiousno.-s and coercion to which the men in the service of the Brisbane Tramway Trust have been subjected ever since the inauguration of the local Union. Boss Badger, the autocratic Yankee manager of the company, v- hose shareholders are. mostly American ami English absentees, has a venomous hatred of unionism, and has re-orted to the paltriest methods to down the men's crganisation—encouraging pimping and "ratting." and victimising (he stnumh nut! steadfast by sacking tltviu on any and every conceivable (ami inconceivable) pretext. Unfortunately, tin re arc—

and always have been—a number of scabs and sycophants, toadies ami tii •o~ servers, pimps and parasites connected with the sen ice, and the.-c have been pliant tools in the hands of the uiun.v.'or and his satellites; and seemingly liit'o difficulty was experienced at first, in running the trams with their assistance and the help of such other crawNomu creatures, as were secured in place oi the strikers. However, tho motto ut 'he Three Musketeers, "Each for all, and sll for each," is now the guiding principle of organised Labor, and a general strike was precipitated, with the result that at the time of writing the trams were ln:ng up, steamers loft unloaded, newspapers appearing in reduced size, and geneiMily all was chao-s and confusion in (he civ ie and commercial life of the city. No selfrespecting body of men could submit to being bullied and "Badgered" as tW Brisbane tram employees have been, They have right on their vide. Public opinion is with I hem, and they must win, for if eve* a cause 'cried aloud for justice, that cause is the cause otf the Brisbane tramway'men; and if ever a body of employees needed the support of all lovers of freedom and haters of tyranny, tliat body is the Brisbane Tramwaymen's Union.