FEDERATION OF LABOR AND LABOR NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3597, 9 August 1912, Page 7

FEDERATION OF LABOR AND LABOR NOTES.

(to the editor.)

Sir, —In these refreshing days, when wisdom can be bought by the yard, it is good to notice that the Federation of Labor has hopped along with an antidote that may silence pseudo-logicians for a time. A correspondent, Mr. P. Fraser, in your Tuesday’s issue, writes the following: “Federation education is fatal to ignorance or mental' atrophy.” This phrase of Mr. Phraser’s has given me some concern, and I invited all my friends to interpret'the sage (?) remark, but they all baulked at the first obstacle —and also exhibited the greatest desire to be freed from any further harrafisment in that connection. The Yankee notion to do it right “naow,” which is reproduced by Mr. Phraser, might conveniently be replaced by the prayer for forgiveness for the sins of omission and commission, vide the Church prayer book. Jt is regrettable to- notice that the Federation of Labor is not prepared to accept into membership “a single worker in Poverty 'Bay who'does not agree with their principles.” I should say it is all the worse for the Federation of Labor, as the majority of the •woj'kors' in this district are imbued wifih 'broad ideas. It is hard to de-

scene! from the sublime to the ridiculous, hut “needs must.” Mr Phaser, in his labored explanation re his own efforts in perpetuating the present misery and discontent in Wailii, gave the whole show awav when he said ho was only getting “travelling expenses” from the Federation fund. 1 think it must have dawned on most people in these enlightened days that the item “travelling expenses” bears a. very elastic term—especially when the boss is the Government—or a. Trades Union—or the Federation of Labor. I have no desire to cross swords with Mr. Phraser in his guttersnipe denunciation of the United Labor Party, but 1 contend he did good service to the workers when he drew their attention to the fact that 1 rofessor Mills, of Milwaukee (U.S.A.), was engaged at a salary of £l2 a week and travelling expenses. I can now quite understand the anxiety of a certain clique of Trades and Labor Council officials of Gisborne to force the unions of this town tb affiliate with the United Labor Party—to 'keep a cute Yankee in a snug billet—at £L a week and travelling expenses. f Mr. "Puzzled” has a genuine grievance. He must be bewildered at die contradictory statements emanating from the numerous correspondents who have occupied the “Labor Fditor’s” cliair during the past twelve months. To give an illustration: It was nointed out one week that the late Werriwa. (N.S.W.) election uas won by Labor from a Conservative stronghold. The next issue contained a. statement that Labor secured the scat by* a very substantial .majority over tiie previous election, l ive true facts-of the ease are that six years ago Labor won the Werriwa seat by -mu votes, and three years Inter won by oqno The election two months ago was won by Labor by 300 votes. 1 am, etc., TRAPE-UNIONI ST.