WHAT THE N.Z. CO-OPERATOR SAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1921, Page 11

WHAT THE N.Z. CO-OPERATOR SAYS.

LABOR LEARNS A LESSON. Advices from Rome state that after exhaustive investigations into the Socialist and Labor processes of the last two years, the secretary of the Italian Labor Federation has come to the conclusion that “the principles hitherto followed have proved to be wrong; that the (frequent strikes proved more disastrous to the workers than to the employers; that the strikes in the public services only inflicted hardships on the public without damaging Capitalism; that when wages were raised, the laboring masses, who were the largest consumers, were the chief sufferers.” What a wonderful blessing it would be for the world, if Labor generally appreciatiod these vital truths. It has been following a policy of negation and despair, and has left almost untouched, the real practical issues of life.

The future for our Italian brethren is distinctly promising. They have come down to bedrock fundamentals. If now, they will go forward with unity of pur. pose, along the constructive lines of practical co-operative enterprise, the day-dawn of full emancipation will soon arise on their horizon. BUT NOT IN WELLINGTON. A section of Wellington workers also have been busy “taking stock.” Their balance sheet apparently is as unsatisfactory as that of their Italian comrades. In this instance, however, the feverish concentration on the item “Wages” seem. to have blinded the vision to other items of far greater moment. Our local friends admit that there is no sting in their industrial organisation and that there is no punch behind their advocates, but they are making a huge blunder when they conclude that what is required is to make more noise.

If they made a little less noise it might be better for them. Noise will neither give them a punch nor a sting. Work, down-right hard graft, by the whole of the rank and file, rather than the agitation of advocates, is what is wanted to secure for democracy the place in the Universe to which it is justly entitled. It is passing strange, how disinclined the average worker is, to seize on means whereby he might help himself. In spite of all the professed Socialism, he takes a lot of persuading that he can best help himself by working for a movement that aims at the good of all. We live in hopes, however, that the growing accomplishments of co-operative effort will soon convince workers generally of the effectiveness of this weapon. The above is very much on the lines which the N.Z. Welfare League has been stating for the last 18 months. Now we wonder what the Trades’ Unionists will think when they find a paper associated with their own movement presenting the same matter in such Very plain terms.—Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League.