TRIAL OF STRENGTH
151 DAYS, "official history of Ghe éreat waterfront lock-out and supporting strikes, February 15-July 15, 1951,’ by Dick Scott; New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union (deregistered). Price, cloth 16/-, cheap édition 10/6. MR. SCOTT is a_ propagandist of 19th Century notions of class warfare. He sees the wharf dispute in a
context of high emotionalism, and conceives this book in the tradition of New Zealand labour literature of 30 to 40 years ago. But this is an unreal atmosphere in which to treat a comparatively cool-blooded affair. Mr. Scott in his association with the watersiders’ journal, the Transport Worker, was close to his subject, and will have known that by 1951 there remained on the waterfront few of those crusading Socialists of an earlier generation; there was simply a body of working men who had compromised with capitalism and were selling their labour for as much as direct action could command. The contest of 1951 had none of the ideological flavour he gives it. As a propagandist out to build a legend Mr. Scott is entitled to colour his facts. But it is a pity he has this approach. Everyone’s interests would be better served if the truth could be told plainly and if unionism in its modern environment were more closely examined. Nonetheless, it is possible to discern here some of the essentials, of which these may be the more important: (1) Here was New Zealand’s first-hand experience of a modern State’s trial of strength with a union, on chosen ground. (2) It demonstrated how far the administrators of the State will go to ensure the survival of authority. (3) Here was a reminder to unionists that the theory of complete "unity of the working class" in industrial action is but a dream; put into practice it would produce revolution or anarchy, for neither of. which the New Zealand worker is at present inclined. Looking at the detail we find in 1/51 Days some material, notably photographs and reproductions of pamphlets and cartoons, which belongs now as much to history as to propaganda. Mr. Scott deserves thanks for preserving
this.
Philip
Hewland
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19530417.2.29.2
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 718, 17 April 1953, Page 12
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355TRIAL OF STRENGTH New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 718, 17 April 1953, Page 12
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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