Letters to Editor July 27, 1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, JULY 27, 1895.

Mail Bag.

WANTED – (to prepare the way for Socialism in our Time):

One Adult One Vote.

Land Tax.

Income tax.

State Bank.

Shops and Factories Act.

Eight hours day where practicable.

Referendum and Initiative.

Taxation of every person according to ability to pay.

The State to find work for unemployed.

The State to fix a minimum wage.

Free Railways. Free administration of Justice.

The WORKER does not hold itself responsible for the opinion of its correspondents.

___________

CLARE – Later.

P. LUFTIO – Thank you.

THE POSSUM, H.B., M.J.C., and GEORGE JACKSON, - Still unavoidably held over.

BROOKEILL – Returns last Burke election: Glassey, 313; LITTLE, 81; Informal, 2 each.

J. L., Cambridge Downs – Hardly of public interest, -Writ- to the man personally, and tell him his game is known.

Jas. FREDERICK – Your letter has been referred to the joint executive of the A.L.F. And Parliamentary Labour Party.

Blackall Correspondent – The best we can do some of those who are at the back of the old man might put him up to attack as for libel.

H. Rat – Referred your letter to Secretary Kewley, Longreach, who has made inquiries and cannot find anyone to back up your statements.

J.B. (Swagman) – In admitting that the union raised wages 5s. per week you destroy the force of contention that unionism is too costly. Why, in two weeks a man received the 10s. his union ticket cost him.

To Various Correspondents – If you find your letters out down or not inserted at all you may rely that the cause is one of the following :- 1. Not sufficient space; 2. Not of general interest; 3. Of a libellous nature.

Rock Adler – As it was necessary to curtail Lizzie Orchard's letter reiterating her statements, yours must be reduced to a line: “Objecting to Unionist, Mount Morgan, rushing into print before he is acquainted with the facts of the case.”

Democrat – Your letter on the British elections would embitter the unthinking and perhaps offend a number of earnest men. If that section of the community will not vote Labour next time, if they go solid for the fat Man, we must only wait until better education shows them the error of their way. Adverse criticism are useless.

ED. WORKER – A lengthsman who has been in the Ilfracombe district something over twelve months filled up an electoral claim and asked the resident J.P. To sign it. The J.P. Refused to sign the claim unless the man produced a Bible to be sworn on. This the man would not do, and he is still without a vote. See the difficulties the other side are putting in our way. - UNFAIR J.P.

ED. WORKER – As the bushmen contribute largely to the hospitals in the West I do not think it is fair to turn away without due advice and medicine those who suffer from certain disease. All bushmen, I believe, give donations to hospitals when they can afford to do so, and I hope in future that destitute bushmen requiring treatment will not be refused proper attention. MAYLIGHT (Wellshot)

ED. WORKER – I don't believe Michael Balinger wrote the letter, purporting to be signed by him, which appeared in the Rockhampton Bulletin. Michael denies as a carrier that he had been coerced into signing a requisition to a squatters' nominee, and considers Mr. Richard Newton is a better man for the Barcoo than Mr. George Kerr. Arrah! Mike, it's not many years since you supported the Labour man. What's come over ye, at all, at all! - ONE WHO KNOWS.

ED. WORKER – Re. My remarks on Mr. Hamilton and his henchman's reply thereto. The Bendigo People's Party were represented at the conference, where the labour platform was formulated, consequently should have abided by the decision of the majority – that is if their desire was to have a united party in Parliament. I can count almost a dozen different Democratic bodies in Victoria, each animated with a desire to do good, no doubt, still doing anything but good by the methods adopted. If any platform should have the stamp of approval it is that of the United Labour and Liberal Party. There were 110 bodies represented at the conference where it was drawn up. Mr. Hamilton will probably find with more experience that to have unity in the Labour ranks will require a little sacrifice occasionally. It is not altogether a question of each member, by his individual action, securing his own seat for the future. Mr. Hamilton is undoubtedly conscientious, but why not let the rending power against Labour be applied from without, not from within. I forbore answering the above in order to find out the reason for the existence of a separate party at Bendigo, so please excuse delay. - S. S. S.

ED. WORKER – The Warrego Watchman, of the 13^th June, clips from an obsecure Brisbane weekly a comment on my letter which appeared in the WORKER of the 1^st June. The editor of that publication says he has been constant in pointing out the advisability of ridding the bush of “two-up” players who take the rouseabouts down. As it only about two sheds in 100 where a coin is spun now that class does not do much harm. It is the tea and sugar bushranger and scab that I referred to in my letter. He also says undoubtedly the strike of 1891 brought a lot forties, thieves, and vagabonds into the camps. Not into the camps, obscure one, but into the bush, having been imported by the P.A. At the expense of the Queensland Government. I have heard a good many talking that letter over, and they all come to the one conclusion – that the squatters and not the workers brought these men into the bush, and if they wish to remain in the bush it is to the squatters they should look to for their keep. Certainly they cannot work like the old bushman, but they served the “master's” turn and ought not to be forgotten. Waggoner’s started on the 4^th June. The push were there, of course, and whilst the men were at work in the shed the hut was ransacked and clothes, etc., stolen. But the worst of all there was the cook affair. The cook, I may say, is always very obliging and attentive to travellers, as also are the men shearing there. But, through the way this worthless “push” behaved and the remarks that ensued, H.E., the cook, threw up his billet and is now on the track. Some of this push “pulled” on rations enough to do them for three months. Had I been there and seen them I would certainly have done as they do in Parliament – I would have named them to the speaker (the rep) and, according to Standing Order 166, God knows what would have happened to them, and they would get no redress by appealing to Sir Sammy or Judge “Harden.” I notice X. Y. writes in the WORKER of June 22^nd in reply to my letter of the 1^st.

He has quotes Morrison Davidson in his “Book of Lords,” about branding offenders with a V, but that is not suggesting a remedy for the growing evil of which I wrote. He says he thinks if I were in power I would use some very harsh measures; but as I am a thorough bushman (I have lived and worked twenty years in the bush) X. Y. should be satisfied that I would not resort to harsh measures. I have a remedy, I think, but I will wait and see if somebody else cannot propose something better. I would like to hear a proposal from either of the above mentioned to cope with the class I have referred to. You know I bar branding them. - E. Y., Cunnamulla, June 27, 1895.