Page:"Red"·Fed·Memoirs-Hickey-1925.pdf/13

 have failed to do, it at least was responsible for broadcasting among the mine workers pamphlets and booklets dealing with various phases of the Labour Movement.

Our favourite pamphlets were those of Kerr and Co., of Chicago, dealing with industrial unionism, being mainly reprints of speeches by Debs, De Leon, and others; and so, for the first time in the history of the West Coast, the doctrine of a bigger unionism was made known.

In due time I left Denniston. I had commenced an agitation for the abolition of the degrading system of medical examination of workers before employment, which was in force at that time. Not only was the system attacked through Union meetings, but I had also written a number of letters to the press on the same subject; and these activities aroused the ire of the company’s representatives, and they naturally looked forward to their pound of flesh. In leaving Denniston I did not have any choice in the matter. I obtained work with the Westport-Stockton Coal Co., and after being employed there about a week the manager handed me a letter which had been addressed care of the company, and intimated at the same time that “my services were no longer required.” Evidently the word was being passed along.

I next secured employment in the State Mine at Runanga. Here I met for the first time one who is now New Zealand’s most popular platform speaker—Robert Semple. Like Webb, Bob is an Australian, his native State being New South Wales. He came to New Zealand as a result of the part played by him