AUCKLAND'S MAYORAL SKIRMISH AND THE STRIKE.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 61, 10 May 1912, Page 14

AUCKLAND'S MAYORAL SKIRMISH AND THE STRIKE.

Sir.—Permit mc to say: Bravo, Auckland, you did well! My congratulations aro belated, but they aro not the loss sincere. You threw down tlie gauntlet to tho capitalists' hosts, and scored one-third as many votes as tliey did. Nowhere in tho country was tho.ro such a fight, and you did well against their combined money, jwwer and influence. Well done. Hurrah for tho future fights I—wo arc going to win in spito of their jubilation. Truly it was made plain to the veriest dullard that it was a skirmish in the class war. The hundreds of messages of congratulation from all parts of tho country to tho representative of monopoly, grab, and force was a compliment to you — congratulations from tho rich parasite who toils not, neither does ho spin, the wealthy business peoplo, tho struggling business men who have overdrafts at tho banks which they have no hope of reducing, but thoy think their interests aro identical with those of the rich, whoso catspaws they are. There wore messages from farmers on whose farms there are such big mortgages that they aro in constant dread of a bad season or a fall in prices; but these farmers fight with might arid main to lower wages and worsen the conditions of tho workers, so that when they need a few weeks of labor they can get it a little cheaper. But, worst of all, the capitalist representative was congratulated by renegades from the working-class. We need not despair about tho renegade, but when we have the opportunity we must smite him. All tho messages were congratulating their man on winning, but they made a mistake —ho did not win, he merely retained the position for tlie capitalist class. That position was being threatened by the property-less workers. Now the skirmish is past, what is your position, Auckland? The 1 enemy say that you threatened to striko if defeated, and they are inviting you to carry out thr.t threat. Why? Because at tifo present time they aro strongest, because tliey have been preparing, because tlie winter is on us and scab labor possibly may be got. Tbe cockatoo farmer would be at liberty to come into town and assist to break down a strike. "Come along with your strike," is the cry of the press, pulpit, and renegade worker. The chorus sounds throughout the Dominion. How they love to degrade and starve the worker. How they are longing in their strength to smite the workers of Auckland. But gently does the trick, my boys; ynli know a trick worth two of theirs. You aro going to take a lesson from your past experience. You recognise that the strike is a crude weapon, but it is the only weapon you have got; therefore, crude as it is you must not surrender it, but when you do use it, use it effectively. Tt is as a stone to your opponent's rifle: don't fight him when he is four or five hundred yards away; get cover and wait for him, and when he thinks you are sleeping and creeps up to surprise you, use the stone on the soft part of his head and knock him out—that ,is your only chance. You must use the strike when you have the employing clafis at your mercy. when labor is scarce and work is plentiful, when the crops are out. when tho sheep need shearing, when they cannot do without youthen, if you have a grievance, strike; and whenever you strike, if you seel that it is going to be a prolonged fltruggle go in again; don't stay out and suffer. Go in and come out at a more opportune, time—irritate them until you finally win. Tha capitalist and)