Page:"Red"·Fed·Memoirs-Hickey-1925.pdf/24



We hold that all men are created to be free, and should nave equal access and opportunity to the enjoyment of all benefits to be derived from their exertions in dealing with the natural resources of the earth, and that free access and equal opportunity thereto are absolutely necessary to man’s existence and the upward progress of the human race. Since it is self-evident that civilisation has, during centuries, made progress in proportion to the production and utilisation of minerals, both precious and base, and that most of the material prosperity and comforts enjoyed by mankind are due to this progress, it is highly fitting and proper that the men who are engaged in the hazardous and unhealthy occupations of mining, milling, smelting, and reduction of ores, should receive a just compensation for their labours, which shall be proportionate to the dangers connected therewith, and such protection from law as will remove needless risk to life or health, and for the purpose of bringing about and promoting these and other proper and lawful ends, and for the general welfare of ourselves, families, and dependant ones, we deem it necessary to organise and maintain the N.Z. Federation of Miners, and among our lawful purposes we declare more especially our objects to be:—

1. For the purpose of securing the return of members to Parliament pledged to support and carry out the policy of Labour. The objective decided upon is “The socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange,” and the method at present adopted towards that end is the return of members pledged to support a Labour group, which shall be quite distinct from any other political party. All members returned to be controlled by a Labour Representation Committee. The attitude towards any other political party shall be that of independence, unless the party or the government is engaged upon measures likely to affect the interests of the workers or the objective of the committee, when, of course, the measure will be supported or opposed accordingly.

2. To cultivate an acquaintance with our fellows, in order that we may be better enabled to form an undivided opposition to acts of injustice, and that immediate steps be taken to bring about a Federation of Workers of the whole Dominion, and that it be incumbent upon the Executive of this Federation to carry the same into effect.