Organiser's Notes.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 80, 20 September 1912, Page 2

Organiser's Notes.

By E. R. HARTLEY.

Cooke(d) Tourists. FROM CHRIBTCHURCH TO OXFORD EAST. NOTES BY THE WAY. The last days of our visit draw near. We had a good timo in Christchurch. We did not get anyone to accept the challenge to debate.; our opponents prefer to put up bogeys and knock them down when we are not there. i** * . I I never will forget a man at-Reading, the famous biscuit town. He was,well dressed, and his accent sounded as though he had been educated. He kept interjecting: "Will you tell us what Socialism is?" - «. * I gave a definition of my own, the S.I).P. definition, the I.L.P. definition, th© definitions of the Fabian Society and Church Socialist League, then two more of my own, but in vain. "Will you tell us what Socialism is?" came with almost startling regularity. . • • At last I saw the way out. and in my sua vest manner asked him if I might ask him a question. "Certainly," he said. "Are you opposed to Socialism?" "Of course I am." "And you don't know what it is?" There was a-pause for a moment, then the crowd laughed loud and long. • m. 4 But, my comrades, and all ye opponents of Socialism, that is exactly the position of all those who oppose Socialism. It would be impossible to be apposed to anything which meant "the common good" if one really understood. These benighted editors, parsons, profitmongers, rent and interest-mongers don't understand. In their fear that they or theirs may sometime suffer as many millions do to-day under the system they are trying to uphold, they make it certain that many of their relatives and friends, and even their children, shall fall into the slough of poverty; tmd in their very fear bring about what they fear. They don't understand, and it is our business to make them understand—our business, please romo-v' "■>*. *o drive them further away, but tc make them understand. , • • My comrade, how did you come to Socialism ? Remember, the other fellow will come much the same way. He won't be a Marxian to begin with. It may take him a good while to understand the difference between Collectivism and Socialism; ho will get fogged as to the difference between Nationalisation and Socialisation ; he may get befooled with that outrageous fraud, the Single Tax, but it is our business to make him understand that Socialism is the only remedy. | As between the Single Tax and Socialism, why, an elementary knowledge oi Socialism will show that where the people are robbed is in the workshop, and a short study of the Arbitration Court will show that if ient goes down the judges would at once lower the u-ages because cost of living had gone down. Tho Single Taxers also don't understand, and again'it' is our business to make them! # « ■» Fred. Cooke was delighted with the result of the Recital and the "Lyttelton Times" was quite eulogistic of my story-telling powers, The treasurer smiled the smile beautiful as the takings were counted up. Sunday saw two good meetings, one in the Square, where I made hay of the Bible-iu-schools fraud. How I laugh when some solemn editor or sub. writes about the wicked agitator and especially when he's paid. '» * * There is not an editor in New Zealand —bar The Worker's —who dare tell us what Agitator Canon Garland is getting to try and mislead the people on this-. fraud of Bible-in-schools, and as for h : expenses, of course -(hey never mention them. They dare not This man will get many times as much for trying to mislead the people snd lead them further into the bondage of capitalism than amy mere Labor or Socialist agitator would dream of receiving. • » Sunday night I showed how, in spite of the great efforts and splendid service of the Salvation Army, it was a huge failure both on its social and its religious side. * * * Cooke was so pleased that he determined to go with mc to East Oxford on .he Monday night. Oh, sir, these personally conducted trips age mc visibly. I know too well the way to find out trains. Cooke, airily said: "Train goes something past eight." I looked it up and told him: "It goo*; at 8.50." | i: Oh, I thought it was 8.5." » . * * We were both at the station in good time. This was ominous. Two Socialists, and both in good time. No goo.l could come of such a combination. B • • j Fred.' went and got the tickets, and I bought two newspapers—only two. The man who says "more" is about fit for Parliament and a place. On we went, serene atid comfortable. Our tickets were punched, and we read and made notes. * • » Again the guard came round. Pausing ati Cooke, he looked at tbe ticket offered, then looked at the secretary. "Where are you going, my pretty boy?" he asked kindly. "To Oxford East, kind sir," he said. j "Not much," said the guard. ' "Oh, yes, if you please, kind sir," said Cooke. I "You'll get out, at the next station," 'said the guard; and this being close Ia t hand, he bundled us out without j ceremony, but with a plentiful lack of respect. I trusted to Cooke liecause he lives in i Christchurch. Cooke was suro I should 1 know how to get to Oxford because I'd i given a good lecture the previous night. ,As the song says, "'Twas all in vain" in both eases. # * * \ The general secretary asked a man standing by: "How far is it to East Oxford?" "About 30 miles," said the man.

Then, oh, sir, Cooke became eloquent. Men are seized that way at times. >, * » There is a story told of a man who was travelling in the tram Iroin Newcastle to London, and who told the guard h* must b.» put out at York. "I am a very sound sleeper," he said, "and I shall "probably object, to being waked and put ott the train. Take no notice. Put mc off, whatever 1 say." He gave the guard half-a-ovown lor his trouble. When the train reached London he waked up and wont to the guard. "Why didn't you pui. him out at York:- , " he asked. Then hi* language made the windows shake. Wh;M he paused for breath the guard said: "Well, sir, you've a gift for language, and I'm sorry not to have put you'on". But your swearing is not a "patch on that of the mau I dicl put oft at York. ,, But', sir. at Sefton it was more sulphurous than the best'of Rotorua. The statiommister gave a ■•jump, then a shout. Then they got out the hose and two little fat men might have been seen trying to run. The secretary would have beaten mc easily, but he'd used up most of his breath in language. Right before mc, too, and mc so young and innocent, comparatively speaking. • * * Fred, talker] of engaging a horse. I spoke to.him kindly, but firmly: "Comrade Cooke. you have misled a man of some \ears, and grossk deceived him. You knew—or if you did not. you ought to have known—that passengers for Oxford change at Rangiora, yet you have brought mc two stations past that place. Comrade Cooke, sir. I now take charge of this trio. We must have no more fooling. Wo must get to East Oxford. Why, they have advertised with tiooci posters! You will walk with mc eight miles to Rangiora. It is. now 10.30; if 1 leave it to you we shall not reach Rangiora to catch iihe 6 o'clock train, even if we get there at all. March, sir. march, and if you offer to disobey orders again to-day FIl brain you—or at least I'll try!" •':■•' ' . '..""■ .■"•' ' *. ■ '■■"*. He wilted and turned pale.. '-'Remember my wife and Iwys, 1 ' 'he; stammered. And I remembered. » « k What a beautiful morning it was. Tho sun shone bright on tower and tree, at least on the trees and gorse, and the golden beauty filled mc with joy and peace. On wo went, and even Fred's anger died down. We talked organisation. We discussed finance. We talked of the movement, both at hime

FAREWE6.I!

and abroad. We talked of the first election at Bradford Moor 20 ' years ago, and the wonderful growth of Socialism everywhere. * * o "» The sun got into our blood and life, and joyfully and cheerfully w<3 marched on and into Rangiora. Fred, wanted to look up an old Bradford comrade who lives there., but he didn't know exactly where. * • * Right in front was an inviting contraption with "Dining-room" in big gold letters. "Fred." I said, "I'm in charge now. Edward Fay left instructions to all Clarionettes, 'When, in doubt, dine. . We will do so." We did! t • • What boots it to tell the sequel. Comr!K> R<niP» had a horse; Comrade Rouso knew where there wa3 a gig. * # # Bring forth the horse! Tbe \\ot?p wns brought, likewise the gig, and wVn Cooke made an attempt. I said: "No. I'm in charge. I mean to get to and &hall drive myself." And I did. * « * 'Twa<3 a sood meeting;. "Is Socialism practical?" was the subject. I compared the present system with what we wanted nnd whet wo meant till every anti-Socialist in the room was ashamed of his side. I felt I could havo talked for hours, nnd fill went as merry as a marriage bell. I coulc) tell the few Socialists present by their smiling; faces, and the first case put up for Socialism in East 1 Oxford was a success. The scoffers and doubters were unable even to frame questions. An hour with the comrades, then to bed almost, satisfied. * * • Wertiics/Inv we said farewell in the Socialist Hall., and my hand remembers the hearty grip of the comrades. The women, heaven M"ss them ! pro alxrtivs kind to mc, and ithev caused a little bird to hop up in my throat more than once. I hope to be remembered in the days to come for some good road-mak-ing in New Zealand.