In Australia.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 73, 2 August 1912, Page 14

In Australia.

LETTER FROM P. H. HICKEY.

Sydney Trades Council—Northern Miners—Webb's Movements — The Weather.

Since last mail I liavo met tho executive of tho Sydney Trades Council. I found that body, or a soctioii of i<<, exceedingly hostile towards militant unionism. Further, I found thorn in possession of a letter from ono Michael Rcardon, of Wellington, urging upon tho Trades Council to turn down any appeals for financial assistance to tho Wailii or fteofton miners.

In this request, Heardon found a consistent backer in a person, named Sleat.li, a momltorof tlie Trades Council executive. It might interest Mr. P.eardon to know that his peculiar ideas upon unionism are/ shared and advocated by a type of unionist of which '•Dick" Sleatii is a shining light. Anyone at all conversant with Australian working-class liistory- must be acquainted with t-lio records of Labor "rats" like Ferguson arid Skath, now- champions of "Mick , . , Reavdon's strike breaking policy

The report submitted by the Trades Council executive was to. the effect that thoAuddand'Trades Council bo communicated with for further information. This savors so very rauoh of going to an infant to ask of its faiWs worries ac to bo positively amusing. Strange, is it not, thafr alleged unionists should squirm and slnifflo in snob a manner to put off supporting com-rades-in-arms? 'Twas riot by measures such ns this that Australian unionism was built.

I have boon nearly a week in th© Newcastle, district., addressing various lodges upon the trouble in New Zealantl. Everywhere, though Ms meetings have boon small, I have been well reccivod. This, despite gross misrepresentation in tho daily press from "special New Zealand correspondents."

One lie in circulation is to the effoct •that tho State- miners at Runanga have re-fused to grant support to tho men involved. This in tho toeth of that -union's splendid response to any and all Federation calls.

Another littlo story that has found its way into the Australian press and is finding ready believers is that I have been paid £100 and expenses to visit the Common-wealth. It is always with the deepest regret that I am forced to contradict tho statement whenever asked.

Notices of motion have been put into the Delegate Board to double the levy. That wiil bo backed np by an appeal from myself at Maitland on Thursday, when the Board assembles.

At a combined meeting of Standford Morthyr and Pel aw Main Lodges at Kiirri-Kurri, which I attended, tho following resolution was unanimously agreed , to: —"That this combined mooting of Pclaw Main and Standford Morthyr Lodges convey to our N.Z. comrade l ! our appreciation of the stand taken and that we extend to them our sympathy in their trouble."

After addressing the Delegate Board on Thursday, I return to Sydney., and on Friday evening tako train for fobar. After addressing; meetings there T leave for Melbourne, on rouro to South Australia and Broken Hill.

President Webb is in the Ilhnvarra district, and after completing his errand there visits Lithgow. Thence lie will proceed to Victoria tind tour that State.

Australia's minny days and its blue skies widowed mc upon my arrival, and I thought with regret of the inconveniences New Zoalanders had to put up with in tho way of rain, wind, and fog. But during tho past few days the weather hero has outrivalled that of New Zealand, and to be quite candid I am becoming just) n little tired of people saying to mc: "This will remind you of New Zealand." To have tbe same expression repeated 47 times a day for nearly a week jars one's nerves. Anyhow, do our Australian friends imagine it doe.s nothing el.so but rain in New Zealand ? July 16, 1912.