The Fight with the Goldowners

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 67, 21 June 1912, Page 8

The Fight with the Goldowners

And the Workers with Capitalist Minds.

'j'lm.tp is a st-rikc kikos pbeo without it teiM-hiirg ninny valuable l<s- v.so.is. For this reason aiono a slriki; is lint' to be (!<>sjii*»(l. E\eji in the vory thick of tho Wiiibi trouble on:- frieml.i and our oncniies. and those win) blow neither liot nor < - cJ'l, iii'c hi'i.'iL 1 ; .-.oil-t'd edit for nil "lo S'"v find know. :\i the v,.vl;. piiss l,y i!:o ;i.i;uin.>i "I lii> ii:f)]if>;!o!ia(-ir f;ol<l owiktr l;:w':s in si",vnt.V, }iiid ih-c f:gb(<'!'K ;il \V;ii!;i ,uid KwlU'n , urc Inaviiisii' in i'.iifi'.'riii!2; urn! yf rniij;!n 11>a t-ver-presoni iiili-iisih" »f I'h;- ("mss W<ar. 'I Jo?V'Ti.T '"wynil" ;; enrt'' ih<? ]\.<'cfioii liiiii'.'is :\vv suicl tn have, and however ■'!>'»l'' a i-!u» Wwilii ininoj-s iin> ■■•..'i i<! i<» liiivi\ l'l-'it'ior the goodness i;or h.i'iih":- weighs <>ii'<K'i wil-h tin* liiiii.- ,- iv.\ni'!'.s or flu , jhv.s-'. Mor, indcvxl, do th..v «ii,li i.'k' jiul'iK'. To cai'li ;"i!i!;-' iii'iuslriii! dislurlwiiKvo is bad in.■! ■■■}\ l;''c;iii.s" ii is inrin.-il.fi?.! disdirli'{'in- Wiiiki'is wjl! find vi ilif linnr of i!:cii .«■( [■on.pjvsi, need they si nil'! fil'ire. 'D.v ijuisi stand alone, i> ■■wviiiii all who will to foliow tlioin. Ami it' mvir- foll-.ni', ('hca runii'K to tl'n.;" who iiii' able k> stand :iloii,<. Sl. , ;' u'i-'i f.i.')<i!in-« id Mio slroii?,. t'lif, r.'MI ■■■••;. 0' ■.•!(■-,■. is t-lliO. liopo. A s(rik,- is H , ■ -,>. \ .N'ttliiiif, ■,■ .'i! 1 bo ir.nro eloquent of | tli' , .itiil!i':\iiiy; liiu-.s (.he workers of Now 7>al:u](l have f'ol'owed for a score :>f years than l-lu , nUiluiita of ibho work- , 'is ;is a v.'liolo (o tho W.iilii strike anil ReefLon lock-ots*. T«-f»ty .wars of iia«ifef-painbyisin, j vf political p»f>, of socia! sop, of "pro*rcss" la<l!e<3 oml .»r feaaisJffli out. on a' ihovJ ;is a fpi\, fr»itt euppiwr to ixi-e-rior, 'bavf. feagefttva. a treriving-cless ipirit ;<apiKMj <t$ wrfflity, |>rJde, edf-'i*-iaiKo and indopcrnlpiioo— in ahort, a ij)irit wii<csi t'-s n< wifefaieake. i

. Not- (.bus will gel btiilded a class- . rharaeter ready and able to force elass*<upremaey. Truly, the workers their own prison wake. Only when tln-y lyake instead their own I'orl fcss nhall they lie free men instead of servile erealiues of capitalism. Tn New Zealand I hoy would appivir id have been dinged into iiidifiVrriic , , li \ pnot is-x-d iiiiu atrophy, Lent into spiiwicssiicss, eoaxod and flattered info i'oiiclJcvl fiiinkeyism. TlifHT relief tin:is arise as we note tlio pnthetie and trie;io readiness of I In , workers In hoed I he sireii-son.u ol' the satellites oi their master*- which soini; is the- soup, thai. leadelh to disaster and death. Tn other words, the workers Kw>in ejad to he euwjied into ih" lilijii] belief thai strikes arc- no longer ik--f-essjiry in a land wlipro hare .sneli estimable mvncK, and v.liere all lhai. i.s needed \h mist of the Couri. And so the btilk of tin , ioik-rs of N<".v Zf'aliiiirl lroiild appear to he well satisfied with the opinions and views of Ihf pitifoeralir p;>pi p> i , s--lael{<> ] vs of !h<> land and lnoii-ey lords—and perhaps :;J:id of ihe f'xr-nse in £ f, l out. of stanclini!; to their awn, <'.sj)ffially as the pror-ess implies solidarity and self-denial. What Dew) of wor!;inii-class solidarity in '■;.> eiiuTitry without strikes,' , and so Ix'isr'fireiilly and pal-ernally ro-i2;iiiat,-'d jib to i!i.nke ihe worlierx all eoii{.<>)ilef] and haj)|>v, and Uieir rulers "Jiealtliy, w-aliiiy aii(i wise"? Aw-iv Willi the speflre of •;( rike.-i! aro tl-ey who si :-ik.- --for all's -.veil in Ne;v Zealand-a;:d nc-or s!:;tll WE ,'i.ire, (!(>e;ision t,; slrike or Jieed of our I'fi.ir.v-worker.s' lieip! This flab').v altitude it'e !"(»•■ ii]>iii'."v»! tyiui-ator iual !;i-.t fui-ed In i(-i-." [ il;o .situai.ioif. Vi'itloii,. ii-'lit no'.iV-t avail'-lii. ■ v '!n>po:L of oil 'irike is ii-if o;:!y hiiicl-'Ui-iit.d v. or];i,-,j.;--l:vt=! j>n>- | fv-:le;-.., l,u; is :,:-i <w;rk-r:-..;-ela-.s || is ;i si:i ; . ~v:< •■•:•>:! <>!' wo,-k::!M,-e!-)-i:i n< : - t(io:i. j:. is pi '.\>i.a\ ; )l ti:e l,ah..r liioveineMl . '•\i i'uvl this i!(,i ui:dersfo'i(! in ,\eu /Zealand, or iviVkrdly i^n0: , '. , ..!, is cause lor :/i-;q;iiflii.!e, a:i-i. i v f .):-■{-. a /-.tiiiiuI'.!is ; .-ii aftiviiy. Tl;.-'!-.' i.-, work in he <krx'. Vp. b:;ys, and :-i '<<in ! V|K'ii the-:., a:-.;>M..s cif ''<]<■!' presentei~.".i-/' ny may have oecasi vi 1o i'.:r>.;l.!i!'>T ireH in [\ t n fmiro, hut e:ni- ;)'>{.• no?; forli";i!' n:ir ainazenie:il wit'i Walvrsiders and Auckland Trannvayineii- 'xilh hranrhe': of [h<- i-'ed.'raiion ol' T,:ib:>r- un.-m their scii.iii in their <•<![- ---e:;-:-v, l on .strike aiid 10-ked-mif, and l.!e.'i; ad/.'/! their eurimis cnuiiict to M:e \v-n](\. r -:'l;n is tut tin o for M-inder or aiiosiyey of t! R i lun.l, ;,!id that it tnok plmi' proves hoiv much has to.he learnt in to wa.c;e warfare. Tlie vote, in vhe one ruse vvd Uw ha Hot in thfl olli.-r i\er« a!>wiiutely iuescusablo, fji-'.Tiots.s as tactics, avA rolrogrado in ij*rJMci»le. 1 It we aro amawd in tlris iiiatf/or, , •wrd* faiiil «« in Hip linurgo-tHa icUm of the Trades and C'<nm- j cil of Wellington, whioli body, to bile' i<ij *ad appJause of tho daily jpapere.

«t \\a l.isi- !r"eli))j, r.-irrioii this rlUivnm , - I'lil riMiil'iii'Hi : 'That thin Council ranDot roni.tnnend its federated unions lo render financial support, to the Waihi miners as r<-f| iH'-stc(J by I he dejiut.il ion II lid tile I'Vdera lii'ii circulars." TNiirt, ii! I !,.'■ conviction lli:il. Nil-li '_\:!i') unionists !>i-;i v f-1 \ battling I'm , unionism ;i!J uniisnisU should In- willing to assi-,i ill the biililc, tile Federation of Labor had issued a in;ii!i7rsU) to Organised liiilii-.r, :iii(l had followed this up wjlh a circular to ii number of unions, asking ■■ til: , same, io lic.'H , ;i deputation (ill tin , W'i'illi iind -Revi'lou disputes. Til*' Wellington, Trades and Liilmr Council had courteously enough a;.';r'''od to hoar Messrs. l>. C. Webb and U. S. lioss. Tlicii cumo U.:' re-iolutioii printed. \\ Imti'vcr it si'parnti* union is or isn't, it is ;i!j;rft>d tluit n l.alior C'oiiiicil o!u;ht io !„■ licttcr ivMiriiii'd und a'll'T I'l.iiicci'iiiiip; woi'liiiifirhi.ss j)i>licy ,iii(i principles—and thai ;i luilifir Ofiuneil is urn jiivpanwj l<> ;( id imionisU in indnsuiul difficulty, luit in tlif Jicight of trouble carric* ;\ <!.iuinSiiifj; rcsolutifin, warrants ihc Klooinif>si pes.-.iinism as to U,,. situation »nd standiird of tli.- Labor uioreni'-nt' in Lliis country. N a I ii rally, Hie rebuff was made tluMKist. <!f by ihe orfj;im.s o! Ok* rnlins "lass., .trid '"yellow" >md chortliiiif w)i]t<'i!intii(»is t'tlit'iriuls were tbn order of th" jnbibi- ion. The deJeSntion -aha depico'd ;l .=; having f>;rn;o c:i]i ill band t-o its "li.rlcd rivals" ai;d rrO'irinjf a iiierili-d ship in I lie (m\\ wliilo (be C-'iMiii'-il wiis cxii-H\a£;ruVily coinplirii'TilH upon its s;uiilv ;n:d s'« fortli. lint if ihc delegation did f,o with cap in hand they at least wenl in tlm tradition anrl spirit of H-m-king-daßs solirlnrity, realising thai wliilsl divisions of the- liiovpiiiont had iilway.s differed in niotliofls and ■.•■rcii. attacked <\ir.b other .strenuously, .-.elcloin or never iiiid di/ferences prevenied a .solid front to the common enomy in the common industrial danger. This implied .-,nd actual jiosiiii.lll luis been th<' slrono;tli .■'.ncl j'Jory of Ike habur niovcuicnt. Mislukenly, unionists not of tiic I'W-. cr;i(io)i arc <:ojiceivmj{ the a.Tair at Waihi to lie a questimiof arbitration' or ;ui!>i-;i.rbitrati<in. ]t is not s> [ i iiriarily, necessarily but s:.itl scrondariiy) it is mad.' so by tin- arbitration systeii: {.-.'(luiny; to the rc.-jvue ci the Ihi;j;u.s iinion. iitU ili;it 'f, is at ; >o!l<nii a ijut'stion of unionism's iirofep; i.m ci.d pres.Tralioii is <-le;tr wljcu siii/crlieij'ii- ] t'ie.s are brtisited aside and it is re-<-o»-nise.:i t.h.it, with firhilratiun joncxistoul the sinne situation -.'onld \\;n<\ arisen, as if Juts arisen lYco/iemlγ in the [iro;ircs.s of iiiiioiii.sin. Siripped of nil coiifusion, \b.<> p.eU at Waihi i.s liic for ib» ri;;lit of i<.v orij;auisiiiion to safeguard As solidity and obje-cis by prev(>nting mi inlnii: -sinal ivctiiui from hrt-p.kiny; tnvay to the delrimont of (he whole, partic-u----larly when the section has no economic grievance as a section, and is playinj; the of the bosses, iieloiv arbitration Rich trickery und folly proved inn;l'i- :;oine in union ranks. Tho only disiincl ion between ilif-n and noiv is that, \v!,erc 'formerly capitalism had lining weapons—loi- capitalism Jias ■ever ralliiHl i:i its pels- it v.uw bus one extra weapon in ihe shape of nrbiir.iiion laiv. Wo \\Mnlf.i point out lo unionists of Ihe 'J'r.u'es ,i)h] Laboi' C l, nuicils thai they :v.ny a:',;;iu. as they luivo in (lie i)T-;l, r'.'jifirc to i!iciii.S"iv<\s oppose ;irIjitrntiou. You, «-Ji() t.,iiik you are Arbii r;U inn-■• do ve,u <'V<>r cfiiiik thai iiinc-lciiiiis ,ii' Hie strikes of .New Zcalanu' in I'D >e;-.rs liavr been un (lev ;-,r!iiii:;,ioii., s>,ml >ii (]:.. ParC ~f ar!i:-.r:iiion unions; 1 Wiiy. there would :■•!-(:-iy b'- no I'Vf'.Mutiuii. ,>l' i.-ilior /'•jliiArhilrai ion luil for iirbil ration ! As ti:..-. bee., ; .' r ik l , ; ], y . H .],j. ti-iirien i!!iions. so there mc suni to be in l.'ie i'u'tire : ;-:n.] wiien lf L v.,Uy son;'-' oi the :>rbiiralinn unto , ''; :i<'i'i:!c 'ijK.u i, .■.istratioji n ;der tlie Act ihey will i:;.t relish bomback under tlie Act, ; -s I bey certainly may be i t!u; Wiiiiii iigbt is lost. Why, with all file arbitral ion mania, unionist ban- iolt the paramennt; nr-cd for lvlMinino tbe of -canei'llation and llu> 10 strike, knowing that rircunisUinecs mi.nlit Jiwessitalc tlio use of both the last avenue of or-' cape from intolerable conditions. Both arc to-day in jeopardy. Lot unionists ponder upon these facts and tk'.y will understand that att-er a]\ —on this question alone, and saying nothing of the issues—i tlicy ;u-e inextricably involved in tlio \V,'ti},i slrusg'Jo, and i-hat i« dehuU ! fcJwniselvos that they are fighting for, old arbitral'ioij r. the wrotoliedl «trtlw in iuMping to <MetA, tSio Wai'lii own is bitlw «t»d W*ck st«jMdity-»ii« to trjulwwjs tossrtion of ttioir own interests and poopla, I

Th.» hour v inevil.ible wlinn tli» • , ujiiwiK who are to-day ""ttirninK 4f»wi" ' ! Waihi will need ,-nd ; W AViiihi nuv I imhvls aid. KcDiioiiiic l;.nv will α-issli nrliilr,'!li(ni if the I'Yderatiou <ii' Labor dr..\s nob To saeriiiee the la tt CI- at i (Ins stage in order to t .hunl (;i i-t iind then Inn-,. '•I'uii.y" will '~!!i be t» sliackli's ;iioiii)(l liiiioiii.sii:'.-, !i-.;h tli.it will Jii.'ikc "I'nily" tin- >!i:iii;«> ;inii .sj;n'c ill tho systciu. !V-rli;ii)s in ilm lust nnalysis ihe ,| fi)i:iiicial test, may prove [h<\ rcnl lest ol w orkiiiLC-class ciu'iM'stiicss ami Tlii.s firowlinK and RiOiUitiv; j n boil I. a levy—this iiiiscrabl" iik'hm''f<ss, allowing for all liurd-iipncss and ik'v 'r-iM!<iiiio; '.vjmt and tlio fiar vi via ii( —Hi is ]>ortf!iilous signal n( ifialiility to rJHo to n orisis, ni.ty be tin , sTiptvMiw oV Now 7/c».IsnicJ'h nr))it.i'atk»n uuioniani! The at tli<> hour is not only tin- liiiiKMiv.'ii'rs, \y,\t asjainst tho workers with <-apitoJ:tf't niiiuls. • i'h<« more row-ton, then, for as never before, (Jari)ic; as 'b'-fore, standiivj; shoulder i* .vl'innldi-r as never before, in d"tesbiticm and d.fiiuice of 'ihe fearful odds" fljsri]>!:n«(l liy eapiialisni *o nnd'i rtio lijilior niovciiient and pa use — yet n avp-i^l-j* 1 i-*i;i bound to fail while.the niili<tawt proletariat never surrenders but sath>"rs increased strength from its opj>nsiH'ivi the more formidable the opposition is. To .ill for Waihi and for Ueol'toii -- ■and "-iixyially to iin> strikers fliid (!>,■> ]iK'l:.>d-oiit —we say—tho conflict f.lviß Moi !>e M'Mlevl ji.'ilil H is sei/iled and tint in Ilii=; faith mid ,-i fore,, may be sta.rM-d i;i Xciv ZcsilxnH that must' brim; eimnicipstkm frnw iv,i2.e-.sbivery and tli" .lustiee. t.tat iriil or.d strikes because it has omlefl ti:c< can so of slrike.s.