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The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1921

Revolutionary Memoirs

page 44

Revolutionary Memoirs.

("The Spike" has pleasure in presenting for the first time the following extraordinary and absorbing narrative, printed direct from the original historic documents.)

To the Editor, "The Spike."

It is now two years since that second notorious excursion to Samoa of the New Zealand Parliament, and in view of the remarkable reports concerning the Labour Party's share in this trip which have been circulated at recent elections. I am taking the liberty of forwarding to you these papers for publication in your enlightened paper-free as well from the debasing taint of Capitalism as from the personal animus of party. They are, as you will perceive, parts of the diary of one of our greatest Labour pioneers, and they throw a revealing light on the noble and self-sacrificing character of one who may well be described as a Napoleon of Statesmanship.

Yours faithfully,

John Johnsonson,

Literary Distributor of the Official Labour Party and the Real Opposition Party of N.Z.

17/7/32.—Am writing this in the lounge as the ship lies at the wharf. From the porthole I can see sweeping in a turgid mass the charnel house of N.Z. Capitalists, where year after year, day after day, yea, night after night, the downtrodden democracy, with his sleeves rolled up and his honest eyes alight with a vision of better days, wrings an honest livelihood for his wife and children from the sinews and bones of his stalwart frame. (Note for speech purposes.) We are leaving to-night for an isle as yet barren of the higher thoughts, but where I and my party hope to sow the seed of greater things.

20/7/32.—Unavoidable circumstances have prevented my attention to the diary for a few days, but little has happened since the last entry, and I feel better now. Am more than ever convinced that the current systems of transportation as exploited by the Capitalist. Governments are quite inadequate to the present needs of civilisation. (Humble suggestion for further plank of Labour Party: to institute aerial services in place of the present obsolete methods of conveyance.)

21/7/32.—To-day has been one of much endeavour, and I look back with pride on the work accomplished. Started with the steward, when he brought my breakfast in. Gave him the six Communist Articles on the Conservation of Energy, and delivered what I could remember of Trotsky's famous lecture on How Capitalism Must Capitulate. He seemed very impressed, and is evidently busy studying the pamphlets, as I haven't seen him since and get no answer to my rings. The purser is a capitalist of the worst type, and am afraid that he will prove very hard to enlighten. Several times I approached him on the subject of the Liberation of Labour, but beyond accepting my pamphlets (which I suspect he is saving for shaving paper), he remains obdurate. He shall yet be one of our greatest disciples, and the doubting Thomas shall yet become the most ardent believer in the inspiration, the enlightenment, and the message of Socialism. page 45 25/7/32.—Converted the purser to-day. The captain is evidently bulwark of the capitalistic system. In my arguments with the purser we had occasional recourse to that curse of the working-man which is yet of great medicinal value, and which is of aid in the intricacies of argument for the clearing of the brain. For this reason the captain imputes to me the cause, the result of which is the purser's regrettable present state of intoxication. In vain I maintained that a secret store of whisky was perhaps responsible for the circumstance, and pointed out that my Party's views on the liquor question were incompatible with the unfortunate state of the purser. The captain requested that all my medical stock of liquor be immediately disposed of. The principles of my Party on the subject of waste forbid any course other than the consumption in a medicinal manner of this supply, and as to-morrow we enter an anti-cyclone region, and the beverage being of great value as an antidote to mal de mer, immediate steps will be taken to-night by the Party with a view to its disposal.

27/7/32.—Two days have elapsed since my last entry. A lingering headache, no doubt the after-effects of sea-sickness, restrained the activity of my labours. The Capitalist members of the party have devised a means of spending the money earned for them with the sweat and blood of the workingman. Each day a sweepstake (a name which is a vile calumny on one of the most thrifty and honourable sections of the labouring community) is held, the object being to decide who can guess the nearest to the correct number of knots travelled by the boat in the day. I determined to endeavour to wrest from the plutocrats some of their ill-gotten gains, and guessed within 17 knots of the correct distance. William Ferguson Massey guessed the number exactly, but I, with the aid of the Labour Party's statistical index, which has proved of such comfort and inspiration at election times, proved that, inasmuch as it was the exact distance he had guessed and not the nearest, to me was due the stake. As usual, and because two Reform proselytes held the money, I was compelled to bow before the bludgeon of the majority.

1/8/32.—T and Peter have been busy upon the Party's new pamphlet, "Soap Allowance for Miners: Its Justification and Necessity," and we are convinced that there is good cause for complaint in the present system. After working for hours in peril 'midst the darkness of the nether regions, hewing the ebony mineral which is the source of such wealth to his grasping employers, the weary miner returns to the welcome light of day and the toil-lined furrows of his better half's smiling face with his honest countenance soiled and dusted by the uncongenial colour of his servitude, and in the efforts to present to the world a face as pure and shining as the soul beneath, must perforce use his own soap. (Note: For speech at B. S.'s rally, re "Coalition of Coal Miners," to be followed by Miss S.'s singing, during collection, of "Don't Sink All the Beer, Daddy.")

6/8/32.—To-day we made a quiet inspection of the engine-room and stokehold. A stop-work meeting was held, and several resolutions, which appear in the Party's Bulletin, were passed unanimously. Just as it was being moved that "In view of the unfavourable effects of the heat on the complexion, beer should be provided page 46 at each meal for the stokers and firemen," the captain again proved his enmity to the cause by interrupting the proceedings. It seemed apparent, though, from the expressions of approval shepherding the motion, that the same would also have been carried unanimously.

7/8/32.—We have arrived at Samoa, and to-day has been one of great moment in the annals of Labour. While the Capitalists gave themselves over to receptions and speechmaking, I, armed with Peter's carpet bag (the red one patched near the handle), full mostly of propaganda, and the other members of the Party, have been enlightening the banana-gatherers as to the progress of International Socialism. Three stop-work meetings were held, and I am pleased to record that all the resolutions were passed unanimously. Afternoon tea and bananas were supplied from Nature's luxuriant surroundings and the carpet bag, and, judging by the happy expressions of farewell accorded us by the workmen on our departure, they now look at the future more hopefully, with vision, seeing at hand the bounteous and easeful days of the Red Flag.

14/8/32.—I set this down with aching heart—aching at the thoughts which I know disturb the soul of my worthy pal Peter. Does he not know-is he not aware—that at home in fair N.Z. ray wife waits faithfully for me, patient as she has always been, and bravely bearing up against the foul and calumnious attacks made upon me by the Welfare League during ray absence? Enough! I will state the facts. Let history decide. Last night, as anticipated, the representatives—true and false—of the people of N.Z. were entertained in state by the Samoans. The opportunity was seized by me and the other members of the official Labour Party, to instil into the natives the doctrines of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Following a large supper, we were entertained with native dances, which were a revelation to all. When these were over, we mingled —armed with propaganda—amidst the assembly. 'Twas then I realised that we were faced with no mean task for few there were who had more than a smattering of our tongue. With a hasty surveyal, I singled out one whose luminous eyes and broad, smooth forehead betokened a quick intelligence. A babel was arising from the crowd sufficient to drown all attempts at conversation, and. upon my beckoning, the pupil willingly (the natives are very docile) retired with me a short distance, within sight of the assemblage; whereupon I battled in my well-known eloquence to convey to her some of the elemental Marxian doctrines, and am satisfied, after two hours of interesting dialogue (mostly in signs) that she will prove a staunch supporter of the Socialistic principles. Alas that my comrade should think that I was "dallying with Amaryllis in the shade!" Knowing the fair-minded character and conscientious nature of Peter as I do, I am sure that the right view of the situation will shortly smite him.

18/8/32.—Our brief stay is now at an end, and as I write I can descry, mottling the distant horizon, the pall-like cloud of Samoa's sunny mount fading in the distance. Am convinced that a firm foundation has been hatched amongst the toilers of Samoa which will in a not far distant future bear the fruit of prosperity and happiness for the World's International Workers.

R. T. D.