The Press. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1. 1913. NO QUARTER WITH ANARCHY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14837, 1 December 1913, Page 6

The Press. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1. 1913. NO QUARTER WITH ANARCHY.

The telegram sent by the Employers' Defence Committeo of Wellington, to Mr W. M. Hughes. M.P., of Sydney, explains clearly and succinctly why it is now impossible to refer the labour dispute to Sir Joshua Williams or any other arbitrator, simply because thero is nothing whatever left on which to arbitrate. In the first instance the employers offered to take back, the Wellington waterside workers after their breach of agreement if they would simply renew the agreement for three years, nnd agree to a penalty for a future breach of the agreement, There was no question then of not recognising tho Federation of Labour. The watersiders, instigated by the Federation, refused this offer. Subsequently, after the riots in Wellington, and when hundreds of special constables had been sworn in for the protection of life and. property, the strikers' representatives offered to accept these terms,,but it was too late. War bad been declared by the Federation of Labour against the community, and not only tho employers, but the public generally felt there must be somo substantial guarantee against a similar outbreak of anarchy in future. Subsequently, however, Mr Massey did suggest that the whole matter should be referred to Sir Joshua Williams for arbitration, and this was refused by the Federation, as well as by the employers, the latter of whom felt, even then, that the matter had gone too far for arbitration. Now, when the Federation "bosses" see they are beaten, and are desperately desirous of saving their faces, thoy are anxious for arbitration or a_y* other expedient which will stave off complete surrender. It is absolutely ' necessary, however, in the in-, terest of the people of New Zealand, that, these dangerous misc_ief_na_ers shall receive ho encouragement whatever to revive their malign conspiracy against the public welfare, at what they may consider a more favourable opportunity in the future. They have caused direct losses to the people of this country amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds. They have .compelled hundreds of public-spirited citizens to leave their homes, at considerable sacrifice, to band together for the protection of life, and property, and to secure the personal - liberty of genuine unionists who Jhav_ no . sympathy with, revolutionary methods but desire to earn their own livelihood in accordance with the laws of their country. There can be no better illustration of the despotio tyranny exercised by the Federation "bosses" than the fact that when the employers offoreJ to submit the question to a secret ballot of the Waterside Workers' Union it was refused. The cable message to Mr Hughes points out that all attempts at arbitration having .failed, new Watersiders' and Xh-ivers' Unions, registered under the . Arbitration Act, have been formed,, and the former has a membership of 1600 and the latter 250; -the whole wharf and cartage work is now being done by Arbitration unionists, and, therefore, it is urged, there is no reason .or Australian unionfets to refuse to handle New Zealand cargoes. The employers being definitely committed to support nnd protect the new unions, which are efficiently carrying on the work of tho principal Dominion ports, and as their registration fulfils the only condition required by the employers, there is nothing left to submit to Sir Joshua Williams or any other arbitrator. . Finally," it is added, "as the exist- •;" ence of the Federation of Labour is. "in the opinion of a very largo section "of the public, a menace not* only to "the business and industries of the " Dominion, but to the security of the " whole community, it is impossible for "the employers to recognise it in any "shapo or-form." This is the position in a nutshell. It is now a question whether employers shall recognise legally-registered unions of law-abiding workers, or an organisation which flaunts its opposition to law and to legislation, which advocates "direct "methods" of violence, intimidation, and confiscation, and which has given an object-lesson at Waihi, Auckland, and Wellington of its principles reduced to practice. That there has only been an exceedingly mild demonstration of the same methods here is due to the fact that the means taken to protect the community were so complete that any open exhibition of lawlessness was mado practically impossible. Tho public of New Zealand have been a little slow in awaking to the full danger of this alien intruder into our social life. Now that they fully understand what the Federation is, and what it is aiming at, the people will not tolerate any truckling whatever to such an impudent and unscrupulous organisation.