The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1915.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4001, 6 August 1915, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1915.

U was viwv pleasing io note how dearly Mr Coleman indicated in the course of his remarks at the Declaration Day function that the workers as well as other sections of the nation had not failed to realise the necessity for doing all in their power to assist in crushing the common foe. Move especially were his views gratifying on account ol the fact that it showed that in the Socia Democratic party (ol which ho is a prominent local supporter) there are at least some who think sanely in regal’d to this very important matter. This leads up to the point that the public generally may not be aware that at the Labor Congress which was recently hold in Wellington—and which we believe was attended by Mr Coleman—some very wild and ridiculous expressions of opinion were made in regard to various questions arising cut of the advent of the war. It was for instance proposed'by one delegate that, as a number of “legitimate

The Sociai Democrats and the War'.

workers of good character’ were allegedly being prevented from joining various new Arbitration Unions (which came, into existence consequent on the great Labor upheaval of IDL'D tin' Conference should bo asked to recommend Unit, “as the action of these “bodies is supported by the Govern“meat unionists generally be “advised to refrain from enlisting un“l.il tlie closed unions are thrown open “to all legitimate workers.” The discussion (as reported) was responsible for this statement by Mr Semple: “Volunteering was a purely personal matter. It was not a thing to be proud that the trade unionists of the world had Hocked to murder one another.” Mb Semple quoted approvingly the statement, alleged to have been made by a newspaper, that “the wealthy people had not gone to 'he war. They had remained behind to rob the wives of the workers who had gone to the front.” Me added that “when the story of the war came to he written it would he found - that not only would the Kaiser be hold guilty, but quite a. number of people who wore non- eulogised, and who were flag-flap-ping also.” Then, again, a Mr Cooke (Christchurch Tailoring Trade) said : “The employers were willing to sacrifice workers in the war, but not themselves;” whilst Mr E. Hunter .(Wellington District Rural Workers) said : “Ho objected to. tho Conference sanctioning unionists going to tho war.’; But to the credit of the" Congress an amendment excluding the advice to all unionists to refrain from enlisting was finally ■'carried. The margin, however, was exceedingly small: 2d

votes being cast for the original motion and 30 against it. Further evidence of the divided feeling of the Conference in regard to the war was apparent in the discussion upon the ; remit from the State Minors in favoi i of the Peace movement. In the ! course of that debate a Mr O.’RourJco { said: “Whether England won or Ger- j many won the workers would gain ; nothing.” Mr Roberts (Wellington : Wharf Laborers) : “The question was j not King George v. the Kaiser, but whether the workers oi the world were ; going to doc-laro peace.” Mr Hickey: ! “There was greater political liberty ■ in England than in Germany, hut it i was hotter in Germany since the war than in England.” An so on. Mo do not know what some of his co-dele-gates may feel disposed to think in regard to Mr Coleman’s personal views on the subject of the war (as given forth at the local function on Wednesday) hut in so far as they referred to the justice of the Allies’ cause they wore undoubtedly very sound. .Nobody, WC should say, would need a great amount of intellect in order to realise how very badly off- all classes would bo in these Colonies in particular if Germany should succeed in i smashing tin our great Empire. And vet. as we have shown, there are, unhappily, some people even in this Dominion who profess not to understand that they would fare very much worse if the German Flag instead of the Union .Jack were ever allowed to he hoisted over this country. As for the past, the treatment that was accorded the .'Natives of German .South West Africa by the Huns is surely a sufiicieut indication oi their brutal methods of colonisation ? What the position would he if all the British . ('ninnies now had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the Germans may, perhaps, best he judged by what has taken place, and what is still taking place, in Belgium. There need, however, he no fear Umt, even if soino of the Social Democrats are so purblind as to fail to see tin? advantages of helping their Motherland to assure for humanity its common rights, any large- nun?her of the workers of this Dominion will he misled in the matter. In view of win.l transpired at the reel nt Labor Congress Mr Coleman’s remarks at the Rotunda must, therefore, have been received with great pleasure by the- large crowd that was in attendance and we congratulate him or, the- fact that he did not permit- the revolt!ntionary delegates at the Conference in question to alter the sound opinions which he holds in regard to Britain’s duty in connection with tho great struggle.