Organiser's Notes.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 83, 11 October 1912, Page 2

Organiser's Notes.

By E. R. HARTLEY

That Fool Thing--SoG ; alisin. *

THE DAILY LESSON. In the remoter districts tiie local newspaper is ofben a wonderful affair, often reminiscent of "Pickwick Papers." There are, .however, in tho larger cities one or two fairly reliable papers. The pity is that all of us are compelled by our environment to bebiased in our comments and judgments. As August drew rapidly near its close, during breakfast and afterwards I read the morning paper, I wondered how any thoughtful person — at least, any person who had tried to understand the Socialist philosophy—could possibly read such newspaper and not become convinced that Socialism is the only remedy for present-day difficulties—not perfection, but tlie next obvious system. The system of production for profit is so foolish, not to apeak of its horrors. I will pass with slight mention nearly two columns with the headings, "Beast of Prey," "Lashed to Death," giving part of Sir Roger Casement's story of the unspeakable horrors of the "Red Rubber" trade. Never in history has there been a viler story. Four thousand tons of rubber cost over 80,000 lives, murdered most .of them, murdered for Profit and Co. The horrors of the Indian Mutiny have often been told; they were child's play to these white devils' tricks. "The heathen in his blindness" cannot compare to the white man in his haste to grow rich. FOOD AND PROFIT. T. A. Edison's name is sure of attention. He has been considering the oost of living. He thinks there is no hope for betterment until we do way with the middleman. Why, Mr. Edison, some of us have been advocating this for 25 years, some longer. Socialism is the only way here. Furniture, he knows, is often double its real value and twice its cost of production. Some foodstuffs cost ten times the amount reoeived by the producer. There are five times as many retailers as are needed (who said officialism under Socialism ?). Trusts show how proper organisation makes for economy, but are a menace. It would seem that all this would lead any inquirer who really meant business to see that the necessary thing is that the trust should become national property, used for the public good instead of for private profit. But, no! Mr. Edison, seeing the evils, proposes- a remedy about as useful as trying to empty the ocean with a teactiD. KILLING TRUSTS BY MAKING STRONGER. Tlie American courts have decided that the Beef Trust must dissolve. The same thieves are to be allowed to rob the public as before, but they must do it in three bodies instead of one. The cost of the courts and the time wasted won't make meat one fraction cheaper to one working man in the world. This is the present method of the "practical men." Bnt Socialism is so foolish, you know! It would make the meat supply a pubfie service for the public good. The object would then be: The best quality and the largest quantity at the smallest price. AntiSocialists say it is better to have the smallest quantity at the biggest price, and quality does not matter. Really, Socialism is SO foolish I WOOLLENS. A woollen company had its meeting, and paid 7 per cent, to the idle, shareholders, putting aside about the same amount. The State railways made a profit of a little under 4 per cent., with a net profit of £1,210,613. But it would be absurd, says Mr. Anti-Socialist, to make State woollens. If you ask him why, he tells you that money-lenders prefer 15 per cent, to 4 per cent., and it is because we are all selfish that we prefer to pay 15 .per cent, wheu we might get better things at 4 per cent, I should scarcely have thought that giving four times as much as we need do to the idle and useless was a sign of selfishness. Mr. Anti says so, and most Deoule believe him. Some day— Aii, yes, some day. CIVILISATION AND CHARITY. Of course, Socialism is foolish. For proof fead your newspaper. The secretary of the'Apglican Home Mission Society, Sydney, gave a lantern lecture on "Darker Sydney." "They had," said he, "in that portion of the city known as 'Darker Sydney' a population of 200,000 inhabitants, and in it was centred the criminal element of the metropolis. For the children the only playground was the street. They pitied the people who had to live in those wretched hovels, but they should weep for the man who drew rents from them. A ttuiy civilised people would not let animals live In such habitation?.. Then there were Chinese opium dens. Whether or not they were known to the police was not the question. They existed in scores." Most people would have thought that the right thing to do was to weep'— if weeping is to be done —for the children. The proper way with the villains who draw rents for such dens would be to hang a few slum landlords, , I presume tho Rev. Yarrington is not a Socialist. He has a remedy. Hold tight! His remedy is "compulsory service." That's it. Degrade them with nifty surroundings, rubi their constitutions witi} rotten and adulterated food; then compel These ehiidreu. to become soldiers to fight for their native land which does such wonderful things for them. Compel them to fight for a country which brings them up worse than clegs and cattle. J. f.yy.-k T've reworked already that Socialism is >:.* fo-.lish! Socialism would lit !•.-:■ --. 4.x x.:.:..; the children But, you- •■-.*•:, '-" :.-:-i-iKsin would utterly and •-•: !.-.■•:;•;' 4:~ -d-astro? these HOMES (!"•/ Two h'-ii-iivd thou-*vm-1 people in hell, and we y-xxt </.*,-*. Hoci-slism yet! Two Ir.ni !!'•■] tii-rc.-.nil'.! living under these conditions pud nko the protection of the churc'-cs--with missions—and Australia in ue<*.d .-;f additional population ! Two hundred thousand people in a hell of slumdotn and honor-*;—a papulation equal to that of Auckland, Wellington, Ohristchnrch and Dunedin— degraded and debased, knowingly and willingly. Oh! yes, it 19 obvious that Socialism is foolish, but even Mr. Anti can scarcely say this is wisdom. The church and its missions;*' Yes, but this is 1912 of the church and its missions. COAL AND BLANKETS. "Ah, but that is in Australia. There is no poverty in New Zealand!"

The 'Christehurcli charity has only spent .C4(j_, ami dealt with 715 applications co-.-orii'... -ol;j cases. Of these. 141 y wot- ho -, 70 to 100 years old', 480 over 4), ai. I the great majority of all over GO How nice it must be to grow old and pour and know that your prosperous fellow-men will give you an occasional knob of coal aud every few years a blanket.

"One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethien."

Still, Socialism must be foolish!

The titbit of all is conveyed in a paragraph savin),-, that the King and Queen have sent a wreath, four feet in diameter, for General Booth. How many pairs of blankets would the cost of that wreath liave bought? How many children creep shuddering to hell in the slums of London, Sydney, a?id every great city? Yet ive can afford wreaths tor the dead and iicglect the living.

Socialism is foolish, of course! STATE COAL AND STATE FOOLS

There was a most interesting discussion in Parliament: about coal.

Mr. R. McKen.ris showed that seven years ago the prices of the State coal were (3s. per ton less in four big cities than thosr of private companies. He then showed that present prices in the same cities gave State prices as Ss. 6d. per ton les_.

Sir Joseph Ward assumed that £100,----000 a year is a fair statement of reductions in prices owing lo State mines. All in vain!

Mr. Bradney (Auckland Wost) would support State if in the mierests of the public, but it uMKieU-d uidiiirly with the private trader. Of course- it does

Socialism is foolish; and if the Si-ate had not interfered the coal owners migtit still be charging that Gs. a ton more they did seven years ago. It is just possible that if the Socialists get hold of the management the coal owners would have to take off that 3s. 6d. per ton they get to-day. It is just possible that no private individual would ever again be able to sell to New Zealauders their native land at so much per ton. THE REAL SAVING. Sir Joseph assumed £100,000 a year. The annual output is over 2,200,000 tons. At 2s. 6d. a ton saving, this i would mean'£2oo,Goo each year. If this saving goes on for eight years it will mean £2,000,000. The total paid-up capital of all the coal companies of Mew Zealand is £655,082. If there had been no unfair competition, as Mr. Bradncy puts it, the private owners of natural resources would have been able to charge the people of New Zealand the amount of their capital three times over; in other words, they would have been able to take — in addition to what they have taken — their capital out three times over and still have it in. Of course, to prevent, the coal brigands robbing you like that is obviously unfair —to the brigands.; But what about the people, Mr. Bradney? Does anyone still want to know where to find the capital? Where do they find it? And why, oh, why, do the people still keep losing it? And why. is it that Socialism is so foolish? .

Here endeth one day's lesson