Strike and Lock-out.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 8 November 1912, Page 1

Strike and Lock-out.

News and Views.

The report from Ngkawau in another column was refused by the "News" with a saintly sniffle that the speeches were not quite suitable fur its tender constituency. But the objection didn't debar the saint from inserting a low-down, caddish and anonymous epistle of slurs upon Federation organisers—oh. dear no I

P. H. Hickey is now in Queensland

Our libel actions have attracted some notice in Australia, and before they are through will bo the talk everywhere.

Meant to apply to the Federation, how much truer are these words of Professor Mills to the Mills crowd: "They have everywhere adopted the general watchwords of the international Socialist movement, mixed them np with the phraseology, the doctrines, and the tactics of the anarchists, and, pleading for solidarity, they have promoted disruption. Asking for unity, they have spread dissension. Pretending to wish to unite the whole workingclass against the exploiters they have deliberately and persistently spread dissension among the workers."

Some good friends of Johnsonville are circulating a sub. list for the women and children dependent upon the strikers and lorked-out. A few are giving a set amount weekly. The subs, will be acknowledged by Mr. Glover in his list.

An Auckland reader writes: The pickets here meet every boat and every train, and have stopped some from going to Waihi. Scabs are informed by the local office of the company thusly: "Go to Paeroa by the steamer, announce yourself to the first policeman.

The Campaign for Workingclass Triumph.

If you cannot find a policeman ask the guard of the train and he will drop you at the Waihi siding."

"Where the vanguard camps to-day the rear shall rest to-morrow.*'

Another postcard from Tom Mann (Sweden): "Syndicalism is making rapid strides in Sweden; a systematic propaganda is kept up; the young in mind are with us. Good luck to The Worker and the Federation; greetings to Bob Semple."

Thus a bush correspondent: Comrades of The Worker. You' have put up such a splendid fight iv this crisis —you have fought the fight of the people against the might and arrogance of privileged vested interests on such straight, clean and clear-cut lines

that I have been proud of the role of defender of Worker sentiments and Federation tactics, which I have had numerous opportunities of filling during the last six months; although regretting the occasion should be so significant of such lack of comprehension of working-class economics on the part of so many who stand so sorely in need ef the revolution and the new order.

That the last U.L.U "Organiser" (Melb.) says, under the heading of "Remember This":

That P. H. Hickey, representing the New Zealand Federation of Labor, explained to the Melbourne Trades Hall Council last week the cause of the Waihi strike and the Reefton lock-out.

That, • after hearing Hickey, the Council unanimously desided to ask affiliated unions to render financial assistance to tbp Federation of Labor That this paper congratulates the Council for the stand it has taken. That whatever may bo the differences in the ranks of Labor as to tactics, policy. vt< ... on"" war is declared Labor must hang together of I * hang separately. That we hope the response of the Victorian unionists will be such as to show the enemies of Labor that tho boundary lines of State are of no concern to us. * * * At the Citizens' Band ball in Greymouth on the evening of Labor Day, the ladies' prize for the best fancy or poster costume was awarded to Miss Grace Fry, who represented the Federation of Labor. Congratulations. •>•• ••' * A conference took place at Reefton on October 31 between Messrs. A. W. Evans and T. H. Lee (representing the mine-owners) and Messrs. M. Fagan and J. Dowgray, representing the Federation of Labor. The latter two, with Mr. Evans, visited the Globe mine. The unrest in Labor circles was referred to by Mr. E. Ford, chairman of the New Zealand Shipowners' Federa-

tion, at the annual meeting on October 25. Mr. Ford said that the secession of many unions from tho Arbitration Act and their enrolment under the Federation of Labor had been the means of frequent • interruptions to business. Ho advocated a strong cohesion on the part of tho Shipowners' Federation. Feeling all over the country was against the Labor Federation, and concerted action would eventually defeat it.

"If I had the power, I would settle the Waihi strike right awny," said Mr. A. W. Hogg at the Wellington Single Taxers' dinner last week. "And I will tell you how I would do it. 1 would put every one of those men and every one of those women on a nice little section of land and give them a few cows to milk. Then they would not want to go back and work underground in the mines."

Industrial unrest was referred to by Mayor McLaren at the dinner of the Land Values League. "I :an understand and appreciate," ho said, "the action of some of the men in the Federation of Labor in getting mad when they see the prevailing industrial conditions. Compulsory arbitration, as we have it now, with highly judicial findings, if I may call them so, is not going to touch the fringe of the economic problem of the country." Many of the men in the Federation of Labor,

lie added, were driven mad by the cruelty of industrial conditions, and the only thing ho regretted was that they were hitting the wrong man.

Mr. Hickey, tho New Zealand delegate, wrote thanking the affiliated unions of Murchison District Council of the A.W.A. for many kindnesses. He could conscientiously say that he met with more genuine comradeship on the Murchison than in any other part of Australia.

"We have been twitted by the press," said Mr. J. Dowgray in an address at Wellington, "that we have not played our trump card, but we will play it when the occasion arises. We have not got only one card; we have 20 cards, and we are playing them all the time." Ho said they did not wantanybody connected with the Federation who was not with them or who did not understand their organisation. Rather than have such people act as a drag, they would welcome their withdrawal from the Federation's ranks. As truth and justice wore on its side, tho Federation would be victorious in its efforts.

At a well-attended meeting of the Otago Shearers' Union, held in Oamaru on October 11, it was resolved: "That this meeting pass a resolution of sympathy with the Waihi strikers now in jail, and we strongly protest against

their imprisonment and demand from the Premier of New Zealand their immediate release."

"M.5.," in letter to "Otago Daily Times": "Tho Waihi strike will live in the history of New Zealand as one of the greatest revolts against capitalism ■and capitalist Government, assisted by a reactionary United Labor Party and trades councils."

"I see the'authorities are still prosecuting the Waihi miners, and charging them with that modern offence known 'following-up' (writes "M.S." to the editor of the "Otago Daily Times"). If the Government thinks it can coerce the men into submission by these ridiculous prosecutions it is reckoning without its host. Men who will enter a mine filled with poisonous and deadly gas, who are prepared to ■sacrifice their own lives to save those of their entombed comrades, cannot bo cowed by being kept in prison at the pleasure of a capitalist Government."

Combination is the keynote of progress. The right of the workers to unite for their mutual good, and their right to knock off work in mass when they deem it essential to their interests, are the very foundations of freedom.—Brisbane "Worker "