CHRISTCHURCH COMMENTS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 55, 29 March 1912, Page 10

CHRISTCHURCH COMMENTS.

ft Clerlo and Conscriotlon — Unity Scheme—The Heathen ChineeReflections. 'Flic Christchureh Socialists are uwknig some tremendous headway those times. The- gentleman who contributes the alleged "Labor Notes" Ims recently discovered that some of tho Socialists aro getting sense I I plead not guilty, Mr. Editor. As Boon as a capitalist paper discovers that I belong to the school of "Sane Socialists," it's time the Revolutionaries asked mc to get out—at all events, they ought to ireducG my wages | We have had glorious times lately. Big anti-militarist meetings, and our friends of tho "I'resa' have tried all they know how to cast ridicule upon us ; but it's tho old, old story: first tlie.v ignore us, then they try to show it's only a few agitators, and when wo turn out in thousands they call us names.

We hii.vo sumo curious pooplo hero in this village. Ono is a parson, and he is a front-ranker in the Prohibition army and whon lie thought there was jzoiug to bo a likolilinnd of canteens beitip: permitted in camps, "ho talked sonic wild and woolly talk— \nt\t liko tlio ■nffra^nttos —about passive resistance end bust low and order. New this follower or' the. Son of Man, whom the anti-Socialists crucified some few years »go bocauso he was advising tlio people not to pay taxes to support a- lazy nittwd of I won't works, br-licvcs that it is necessary to train our linbiea to ehoot almost as soon as they drop tlio dummy. So lie told Hs i.lie other Sunday night that tlio boys who woro refusing t<3 promise to loam to protocfe tho kiri£! were wrong; that they on .ah t to talco tlio oath and then buck at it .iftar. Put he isn't shiftinc

any of our passive resistors. Strange to say,' the son of this was ono oi tin* mosL prominent figures in tho riots at thu L'horul Hall antiniilitarist nicotics, v lion they smashed the Socialist's windows; now, 1 inn told, lie is one chosen to uphold tin , anti-compulsory side at the iutor-iini-vwsity U*'bato- that is to tako jilao , shortly. This vagabond can enjoy v joke like that.

Our friends tit the Unity Sflinme are slowly realising bhut thi'y have got to talk Socialism ii tli-cjv want to bo taken seriously, and there aro groat hopes that the rank ami filo of tho Trades Unionists are slowly awakening to tho fact that Socialism is their only hope. The local Labor column is filled weekly with cuttings from Socialist papers, a,nd of course the Socialists of tho world (except the N.Z. Socialists) aro all Labor parties! I am still of tho opinion that we must follow Prof. MiUs' advice when ho says, on page 606 of his book, that we must not fuse, compromise, or enter into any alliance with any other party, or elso we shall lose- altogether tho Revolutionary spirit. If we were to join our friends of the pure and simple trades unrion party, all revolutionary methods would be barred. For six solid years fchev have been talking federation, and nothing done yet; at all recent conferences they have put up a solid fight against Socialism. One gentleman said Socialism was confiscation, others said it couldn't be described, it was up in tho clouds and so on. Then they got a Federation going, and the first thing they did was to engage a gentleman from America to come and talk, andhe came and told, them their organisation wasn't worth a .damn, and he'd fix thorn up a scheme that would admit the devil himself if ho would only sign a pledge or something; now the rank and file are beginning to jib and the leaders are studying tho Compensation Act because they are afraid they are going to get hurt. However, we mustn't get disheartened—the Flat City is in a glorious state of discontent f The bottom dogs think they aro entitled to as much comfort and luxury as Lord Islington or even General Godley. Now I call this dowitright blasphemy. Genwal laborers to think they are as good as General Godley 1 If I was G.G., I would put that clause of the Defence Act, 1910 (otherwise known as Ward's Conscription Act) into operation and have them shot. The people here arc supposed to be afraid of a Chinese invasion, and so some of them are having their babies trained to smite their Chinese brethren or dig a bayonet into them when they come. These people are so busy watching the Socialists and trying to piovpnt them from doing some good work that they haven't noticed that our friend, the gentleman with his head and tail the samo end, is rapidly sneaking into this country through every crack in the Constitution. A Chinese syndicate has quietly dropped into our midst with the firm intention of capturing tho fruit business. The Chinaman is a "heathen." of course; doesn't understand our Western commercial principles ; never took a course in any advertising correspondence school —and so John is to be pitied. There has never been a business started in this city that has rooked the local papers for advertising po much as this simple Chinese syndicate. It didn't have a band, and yet the crowds went in thousands; it didn't pay a penny for advertisements, and yet ft got columns of it. Wo have heard of tho tricks of the lending "lady" having her jewels stolen, but John boats them all, and I venture to say is hero to stay.

And some of our mates of the pure and simplo trades unions will pass resolution upPii resolution condemning those who dnre to buy off the Chow, and then veto for a Labor man who is out advocating a living wage. The poor fellows don't see that this is what forces the workers to buy iv tho cheapest market, whether it bo Chinee or blackfellov/ market. A living wage!— why a blooming horse gets that, arid yet he kicks sometimes, lhit we poor human beings must be satisfied witJi horse pay, raid if we dare to kick we are told we are wicked and ought to know better; mustn't break our agreements, a.nd aa for striking—-well, that's out of tho question. I personally have no quarrel with the Chinaman. I know some good tradesmen who learnt their trade off a Chow. What I have a just grievance against is any fellow—white, black, copper-colored or Chow—who will work for less than I am setting, because there is always tho fear of them dragging mc down to their level. On the other hand, I like. General Godley, Judge Sim, aJid tho Governor because they can drag mo up to their level: and tho best is quite frond enough for me.—THE VAG.