Are We Ready?

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 51, 1 March 1912, Page 7

Are We Ready?

By ALBERT HOOKER (Millerton).

In your issue of February 9 appears an article under the heading, "Lest we Forget." Now, Sir, are wo to take Mr. Mickey seriously? Mr. Hickey states how the Federation of Labor was formed, and for what purpose. That purpose is being fulfilled. When we consider the state of our Federation today wo have reason to bo proud of what has been accompli shod. Well do I remember the first meeting held here at Millerton in connection with tho above. I was chairman at Messrs. Semplo and Hickey's meeting here. It was poorly attended, and their reception was not of the warmest character. But a great change has taken place since then. Let any matter come up lor discussion now that is in any way connected with the Federation of Lalior, and the meetings are crowded with eager listeners. But I am digressing. Mr. Hickey is quite right when he says that ''the Federation of Labor has become a power which is feared by capitalists and timeservers alike." He speaks of tho uncompromising and the. revolutionary attitude of its members. Then ho asks: "Are wo to desert those principles now?" He tells us there is danger ahead. In all organisations such as ours there is danger ] ahead, but I don't think the danger lie's in the direction pointed out by my friend Mr. Hickey. On tho other hand, I think Mr. Hickey's advice to your readers is very dangerous advice indeed. Mr. Hickey would "to hell" with all our agreements. Then what is the good of making agreements at all? Is it not an attempt to carry out one of tho purposes for which the -Federation was formed? Mr. Hickey says: "At the same time, the fact was recognised that the material needs of the people hero and now must be recognised." One would think from reading Mr. Hickey that we were ready now to dispense with all agreements and take the means of production and distribution into our own hands. But are we? Certainly not! And wexo all the unions that are working under agreements drawn up by tho Federation of Labor to do as advised by our friend —well, what would happen? Our cause would be put back for years. According to Mr. Hickey, one reason why we should break our agreements is because tbe employer will keep his part of it just so long as it suits him. If wo have men of backbone at the head of our unions, they will see to it that tho employer keep* his part of the bargain. Mr. Hickey seems to bo afraid that to could not have a general strike because of agreements. I understand that in all our agreements tho unions never signed away their right to strike. So, in the event of trouble, wo could still make "tho injury to ono tho iiiiui-v of all." No, Sir, we must go on wonting uneler our agreements, and in tho meantime so organise our forces that when we are strong enough we shall demand and receive (without a strike) that whioh is out undeniable right—<tho wealth which we produce. But that time is not yet. Let us not forget that wo must be thoroughly organised. Then—and not till then—shall we march forth as a conquering army, and none shall withstand us. Let us learn lessons from the Brisbane strike, fizzling out for lack of organisation. Better, in my opinion, had the tramwaymen suffered the indignity for tho time being, and set about a thorough organisation of their forces. Doubtless the employers saw tho weakness of their forces, and indulged in pinpricks in order to bring about trouble before Labor was so organised as to ma.ke its demands felt. Had Labor been less organised in Now Zealand than would tho Wellington tramwaymeit's trouble, have been settled as promptly as it was? Certainly not! Thoro is not ih--> shadow of a doubt that capital or the capitalist is becoming alarmed at the growth and strength of Industrial Unionism to-day. AVc aro strong, but we need still moro strengthening. And I, for one, contend that the way to strengthen our causo is not for the unions to accept Mr. Hickey's advice, and every time we think wo see a chance to better our conditions te say: "To hell with our agreements/ They may not bo all that we desire, but they aro stepping stones to something very much better. Every agreement made in which we get higher wages and better conditions is but bringing tho great crisis nearer. The riso in wages is nothing to us so far as present benefit is concerned, as : the employers put it back on to tho consumer. Lot them continue to heap up the price of commodities. They aro only committing self-destruction, as tho climax must sooner or later bo reached. When that time comes, wo ■must bo ready to seize the opportunity and demand and obtain a return of the means of production and distribution into <our own hands. Then shall bo brought a great deal nearer the time when "peace on earth, goodwill toward man" will be the rule instead of the exception.