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The Labour Press.

The resolution passed by the Wellington Trade Council: « That it is necessary in the interests of the working classes of the colony that first-class daily bonâ fide Liberal newspapers should be established in the principal cities of the colony, » is significant. Hard things have been written and said of that section of the press that assumes—on the rule of contraries—the title of Liberal; but nothing half so damaging as this deliberate repudiation, by the chief representative body of workmen, of the entire shoal of « Labor organs » that have been struggling for their support. Its full import can be realized when it is remembered that not only every large city, but every town, and many a small village, has a journal professedly published in the interests of the laboring classes. And now it is on record that not one of the organs in question has a bonâ fide, claim to the title. There is plenty of denunciation of landholders and capitalists, much loose socialism, crude political economy, bad logic and worse English; but working men now recognize that the aim of the Labor Press is not the welfare of the toilers. Realizing the fact, the Trades Council casts about for a remedy, and their suggestion, affecting as it does the interests of every journalist and every printer in New Zealand, deserves consideration. The resolution goes on to affirm: « That with a view to obtain one such newspaper in Wellington, a committee be appointed to ascertain and report upon the guaranteed measure of support that will be accorded by affiliated and non-affiliated bodies to such newspaper if established. »

We fear that the proposal, if ever carried into effect, will prove a grave and costly mistake. It is true enough that the « labor organs » are incurably bad, and generally discredited. Ostensibly published in the interests of workers, they are generally absolutely controlled by some trading politician, in or out of Parliament, and conducted to further his private ends. If he can gain the united labor vote, his seat is safe, and the perquisites and pickings to be secured during a single Parliament will repay his outlay. It is notorious that the papers which bid the loudest for the labor support are printed at rat offices, and in defiance of Union rules.

It is not easy to see how the proposal of the Trades Council will remedy the evil. The N.Z.T.A. has long deplored the multiplication of unprofitable offices and badly-managed newspapers. The scheme, if undertaken, will aggravate the mischief. Even if the hearty support of labor, organized and unorganized, were obtained, ؟what would be the result? It would not kill off the newspaper fungi at present drawing a meagre sustenance from the labor party. Such papers, as a rule, are not run on a commercial basis. They would not survive year after year of chronic insolvency if they were carried on, as ordinary institutions are, for direct profit. Nor are they established by enthusiastic men who are prepared to suffer loss in maintaining a cause or principle—they have neither principle to maintain nor character to lose. They are the trade organs of political speculators —men prepared to sink a certain amount of their own (or preferably, of other folks') money for the sake of present or prospective gains to be made in the political field. Naturally, the concern is run on the cheapest possible lines. Dark, dirty, and unwholesome premises, worn-out presses and types, foul-smelling ink, cheap and flimsy paper, constitute the outfit; boys and turnovers do the work, with one man, by no means high-class, to superintend; and the literary staff, if it exist at all, is quite in keeping. Papers of this kind would be scarcely affected by the establishment of the proposed organs; but considerable injury would be inflicted on all the « fair » newspaper offices. These are the strength of the Craft, and almost the sole stay of society men; and in the present state of things, with illegitimate competition, and vexatious and ill-adjusted taxation, they cannot often show a balance on the right side at the close of the financial year.

In the last place, ؟what kind of newspapers would the Trade Councils give us, and how would they be carried on? Avowedly class organs, they would not appeal to the outside public, and would fail to receive the support accorded to the public press—their sphere would be limited, and their sources of revenue contracted. To compete in character, appearance, or enterprise with established journals, to maintain an efficient literary staff—which ought to be an essential point—to employ skilled workmen and pay standard wages—they must be carried on at an appalling loss. It is to be hoped that the committee appointed to consider the scheme will include one or more men who have had some proprietary experience of journalism. The general run of working printers have but vague ideas of the cost of running a newspaper-concern, as is sufficiently shown by the speedy shipwreck so often made by sanguine men who go into the business on their own account. The idea, we suspect, originated outside the Craft. The labor column which for some time appeared in the Press showed manifest signs of the hand of a novice; and unless men of journalistic training were secured, the proposed organs would compare very unfavorably with their rivals. Again, ؟how is the tone to be maintained, or the policy dictated? Judging from the past, the editorial control is just as likely to be committed to some wandering agitator, of unknown antecedents, as to a qualified man. Should the enterprise be entered upon rashly, it would injure the Craft seriously, and only discredit Unionism.

There is a better and more satisfactory method open to the Trades Council. Let them use all their influence, regardless of political parties, in favor of that independent section of the press that practically encourages Unionism by paying fair wages and turning out high-class work—those papers that accord a fair hearing to both sides, and are respected by all parties. Nearly every large town has one or more of such journals already, and they will be found after all—politically as well as from a business point of view—to be « the bonâ fide Liberal newspapers. » It is not by following political and social will-o'-the-wisps, nor is it by starting new and risky schemes, that trade and wages will be placed on a sounder basis. It is by giving a loyal, liberal, and patriotic support—apart from considerations of creed or politics—to the employer who deals justly and honorably with those in his service.