In Australia.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 79, 13 September 1912, Page 3

In Australia.

WESTRALIAN UNIONISTS. HELP FORTHCOMING. STATE HOTELS. ADMIRATION FOR NEW ZEALAND MINERS.

ADMIRATION FOR NEW ZEALAND MINERS.

P. E. Hickey writes :— The organised workers of Ihe western goldfields will support the New Zealand miners. I have just completed a fortnight's stay among the stalwarts of Kalgoorlie, Gwalia, Leonora, and district. Everywhere I went I was well received. With every body of workers I addressed I had the satisfaction of knowing financial assistance would be granted. There is a spirit and a comradeship existing in those sun-scorched mining towns that cheers one J There is a response that helps. And there are union officials and parliamentary representatives who, thank the Lord, have not become "respect-able." Practically the whole of the unions on the fields are affiliated with the District Council of the Australian Labor Federation. Practically every union in that-Council will send money along. The unions range in membership from nearly 3000 in the miners to the humble 20 in some of the trades. The night of my arrival I addressed the miners. The response Was £100 sent right away, with, a levy struck that will realise that amount fortnightly. Then came the Surface Workers. They also voted a sum, £50, and a levy will be imposed. Other unions responded with various sumi. Saturday evening I addressed a large meeting in Hannan street, Kalgoorlie. G. McLeod (secretary Miners' Union, and president Labor Council) presided. At the conclusion of my talk a resolution was moved by A. E. Green, M.L.A., seconded by J. Cornell, M.L.C.. thanking mc for my address and wishing the striking miners of New Zealand every success. Tf there wet« a few more of the goldfields type of politician in some of the Labor parties possibly many of the flaccid, lukewarm, and indeed traitorous actions by alleged 'friends of Labor" would be missing. There is a fine group of men at the heart of tho industrial movpinent of the fields—G. McLeod, Miners' Union secretary: H. Millington, secretary A.L.F.; H. Glance, general secretary Federated Miners; H. George, Surfaco Workers; and others equally able and sincere. One remarkablo fact in connection with the workers of these goldfields is their solidarity politically. Every position, elected by the adult franchise in the State or Federal Parliaments is filled by workers' representatives. Mostly it is a. case of the candidate being returned unopposed. When a contest does take place it usually results in the Liberal candidate forfeiting his deposit. Yet there is really no fundamental basis to this political solidarity. It is mostly a case of instinct or custom, as far as I could judge. Men voto the Labor ticket, nt the same time being ignorant of the basis of that party's objective. That is to say, the Labor Party receives the support of thousands who really have no economic knowledge. Sentiment or instinct or i-ustom would appear to be the motive

rather than reason. Even the business people vote Labor. Generally speaking the business man on the Westralian goldfields keeps his views, if he has arty, to himself. The average miner would no more dream of supporting the business man who opposed the Labor candidate than he wo\ild of taking a scab for a mate. To him the political scab is as loathsome as is tho industrial scab. Both are fit objects for wholesome contempt. In addition to the meetings at Kalgoorlie and Boulder City, I journeyed to Leonora and Gwalia, and addressed a couple of meetings. Leonora lies west of Kalgoorlie some 140 miles. The Gwalia miners (including Leonora) will impose a levy in aid of their New Zealand mates. Whilst in Gwalia I stayed at the famous State Hotel. This is an experiment in State control. Since the establishment of the Gwalia experiment, some five others have been started, making six hotels in all directly under the control of the State. The principle will be extended in the very near future. What I saw of the Gwalia hotel convinced mc that the Westralian Government can manage the hotel business quite as well as Bung. Furthermore, there is not the same inducement to supply liquor When it should not be supplied. Incidentally, I made the discovery when paying my bill that the privilege of staying at the State Hotel is 12s. per day. And the State has a monopoly, no other licenses being in existence. I arrived back in Perth yesterday, after a strenuous time. I leave this evening for the Murchison distinct. This entails a continuous ride in the train for over 30 hours. The prospect does not enthral mc, but stern duty calls. I have shown the list of subscribers to the striko fund to many prominent workers here, and on every hand the magnificent response of Granity, Blackball, Runanga, Denniston t and other Miners' Unions calls for admiration. It is universally admitted that there is no body of unionists in Australia who would be. able to owtrival it. Thero is a solidarity that counts. There is a loyalty and comradeship that is unshakable. Perth, August 22.