JNF-The-Working-Class-Struggle-of-Half-a-Century

Q: Will you tell us as how you started this orgnaisation? How did
the idea grew that you should have such a body?
A: We felt it was necessary in the interests and general welfare of
the community to have an organization of the kind for protecting
the interests of the people as a whole, and in particular the
people of the working class – that is, the manual working class.
Q: And would you say that your organization is substantially composed
of them?
A: Substantially – 95 per cent.
Q: You do not exclude other people, but the organisation does in
fact consist of people who are mainly of the agricultural labouring
class?
A: Yes.
Q: What had you at the back of your mind in forming this association?
Did you want it to pursue some sort of political purpose?
A: Yes.
Q: Have you formed any sort of programme other than that which
you have put before us today?
A: Yes.
Q: Perhaps you could supply us with a copy of that programme so
that we may know just what you are aiming at? Is it part of
your desire to see workers here properly protected as to conditions
of employment?
A: Exactly
Trade Unions
The Commissioners wanted to know what kind of machinery existed in
this territory for looking after the interests of the workers. Perhaps they
had heard of the notorious law passed here in 1917 when the legislature
headed by Governor Vane Best, passed a bill prohibiting the formation
of trade unions. The Commissioners, no doubt were aware of the
awakening of the underprivileged masses to the necessity for organizing
to promote their general welfare; while on the other hand, the natural
reaction of the well-to-do classes was to strive to preserve their position
of affluence and economic power. The investigators had before them
several delegations representing sugar interests, the Chamber of Commerce
and other bodies. When the delegates of the Workers League
146