*THE
WORKER*
BRISBANE, MAY
18, 1895.
Labour
Day in Melbourne.
Notwithstanding
that the mayor of Melbourne refused permission for the May or Labour
Day demonstration to march in procession, on last Sunday thousands of
people assembled at the top of Bourke-street, and, accompanied by two
bands, proceeded to the banks of the river Yarra, where rousing
speeches were delivered, and the following resolutions adopted with
much enthusiasm: -
“1.
That this meeting declares itself at one with the workers of every
land at this time engaged in celebrating Labour Day; agrees with them
that the workers everywhere desire peace and are opposed to
militarism in all its forms; and hereby congratulates the Social
Democrats of Germany on their recent attempt to convert the standing
army of that country into a citizen militia.
“2.
That this meeting is in entire accord with the International Labour
Party in demanding the legislative enactment of a normal maximum
working day of eight hours, a minimum wage in all trades and
occupations, and the settlement of all trade disputes by courts of
conciliation and compulsory arbitration.
“3.
That this meeting of citizens hereby declares its conviction that no
Victorian Government is worthy of support that delays in establishing
adult suffrage without restriction as to sex or residence; in giving
to proposals passed by a chamber so elected the force of law by means
of the referendum; and in levying taxation on the rental value of
Victorian land, all improvements being exempted.
“4.
That this meeting holds that the subjection of the labourers to the
monopolisers of the means of labour – that is, sources of life –
lies at the bottom of servitude in all its forms, of all social
misery, mental degradation, and political dependence, and declares
that the economical emancipation of the working class is, therefore,
the great end to which every political movement must be subservient
as a means.”
*
* *
Longreach
Letter.
ED.
WORKER – Westlands roll was called on 1st May.
It
seems strange to me that the present Government state they wish to
settle the people on the land, while the Premier and pastoralists are
doing all they can to block men from earning enough money to take the
land up.
I
have seen in the papers that Philp stated there were few unemployed
in the West. Now, as far as Mr. Philp's statement goes, how can he
tell anything about the state of labour in the West? I do not believe
he went one mile off the road on his travels, and while here passed
most of his time pleasuring with his friends the pastoralists. If Mr.
Philp wishes to see the state of the country let him get a horse and
ride about the billabongs and creeks and he will see, not hundreds,
but thousands of hardworking men seeking work.
To
give the southern people some idea of the state of affairs about here
I may state the date of a shed starting shearing is advertised, men
write for stands and get a reply that names will be taken on a
certain date, men travel hundreds of miles to be at the shed on date
named by the squatter only to find that the shed has been filled long
before the date named. I leave the people of Queensland to judge
whether this is right.
It
seems strange that the electoral rolls cannot as yet be procured at
the court house here. Surely there has been plenty of time to procure
a supply. I hope some of the Labour members will inquire into this
matter when the House meets.
I
have received very good reports from sheds now shearing in reference
to the trade union shears. For the information of members I may state
that Walter Reid and Co. are the agents in Rockhampton, price 42s.
per dozen. These can now be sent by parcel post to all inland towns.
The price of these shears seems very high, and if we only had a
co-operative store here these could be got direct from the makers at
a big reduction on the price quoted above.
I
hope the members of the Longreach branch will take into earnest
consideration the starting of a store in the Longreach Branch A.W.U.
W.K.
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