CARTOON - LABOUR REFORM

Cartoon
The cartoon shows Alex McCallum, who at that time was the General Secretary of the Australian Labor Federation (ALF), auctioning off a volume of “OLP Labour Patriotism”, trying to sell it to the highest bidder with the line “Gentlemen how much am I offered for this magnificent volume of Labour patriotism? It’s your move next”. Above and behind McCallum is the ghost-like but threatening image of the Trades Hall Boss, suggesting the heavy hand of the unions is behind the actions of the ALF. The audience includes men, and a woman, from a variety of backgrounds including a business man, a soldier, and a bushman.

The words beneath the cartoon read:

Regarding the position of the Australian Labour Federation in relation to recruiting, the secretary (Mr A. McCAllum) said that the attitude of the body he represented was practically one of “your move next.” They were now waiting for the State Government to take action in relation to the matters which were indicated by the Labour delegates at the conference as being obstacles tor recruiting.

IN THE O.L.P. LABOUR “MARKET”
The Huxterer: ‘Gentlemen how much am I offered for this magnificent volume of Labour patriotism? - It’s your move next!”

The cartoon is suggesting that the Labor Party (sometimes referred to as the Official Labor Party following the Labor Party split that occurred following the conscription referenda of 1916 and 1917) is unpatriotic and willing to sell off its patriotism to the highest bidder. The O.L.P. therefore is not supportive of the war effort, especially of the need for recruits, and is instead beholden to the machinations of the Trade Union Movement and its desire to place workers’ conditions before anything else. Labour patriotism is dependent upon what it can get in return.

It is is important to note that the word ‘Huxterer’ (Huckster) refers to someone who sells items door-to-door. However, the term also has a more derogatory meaning of someone who uses devious methods to promote or sell a product.

Analysis
The context of this cartoon is especially important. Following the failure of the conscription referenda of 1916 and 1917, it is was necessary for the Nationalist Government of Billy Hughes to find other ways of increasing recruitment levels. Consequently, early in 1918 the Governor-General, Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson, organised a conference of “representative men of all sections” to be held, “to see whether a concentrated effort could be made to drop party differences and concentrate upon a general effort to keep the Australian armies up to strength”. Alex McCallum, along with the Premier of WA (Henry Lefroy), and the WA Leader of the Opposition (Peter Collier) attended the April Conference in Melbourne, along with other Australian political and industrial leaders.

Following seven days of discussion the delegates determined that recruiting would be supported by all parties. However, some delegates argued that particular war-time regulations and proclamations had resulted in great bitterness within the community and needed to be over-turned in order for recruitment to be successful. Frank Tudor, leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, sent a letter to Mr Watt, the Acting PM, in May 1918 outlining some of these changes. These included ending the victimisation of unionists and the re-establishment of ‘freedom of discussion and public meeting.’

In May 1918, Alex McCallum stated that

we are anxious that the [WA] Government should get a move on [in over-turning fines of ALF members for breaching the War Precautions Regulations]. We consider we have done all that could be expected of us, and that genuineness is shown here by the recruiting speeches made by our leader (Mr. Collier) and the deputy leader (Mr.Angwin). . .This morning I received a complaint from the Fremantle Wharf, and another to the effect that before applicants can obtain employment at the Naval Base. . . they are required to produce a rejection certificate. . . in direct contravention of the decisions made at the Governor-General’s conference.

McCallum was consequently criticised in local newspapers and by politicians for attempting to use the decisions made at the April Conference regarding recruitment to force the State Government to make alterations to its industrial policy. Thus the cartoon criticises the actions of unions and of the ALF and the OLP in placing their interests ahead of those of the Nation.