THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 February 1908, Page 4

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Definite particulars of tie grievance of tlie Blackball strikers, and of the merit of their contention that the employers have selected for dismissal certain miners, who have been proMnent in. the Union, are unaccountably difficult to obtain. The absence of: these 'details,. however, in no wise affects the great principle at stake in the, affair. The grievane'e of the men may or may not have a justification in facts, but that is a matter, entirely irrelevant to' the issue. , However unfairly a body of' workers may be' treated, they cannot quote the hardships "of their Case as an eacuse for taking. exactly that step of protest which the Arbitration Act exists to prevent and to punish. The Act has been broken. It has been defied beyond endurance in the last three months. It is declared by the Government to be thoroughly efficient as a preservative of industrial- order. In the face of these facts,' how can the Minister for Labour do other than immediately issue instructions to the proper officers to take proceedings against the men, and test the position? What is the Government going to do about itP| Not only are the reputations of Ministers at stake, but the very life of the Act depends upon the decision of the Government. We might sympathise'with the Government in its unpleasant dilemmi, but it is a dilemma of its own making, and sympathy must grow a little cold when it is remembered that , the Government lias over and over again sought to confound its critics by the loudest possible assertions of the efficiency, the safety, and the stability of the Act. What possible security would there be to public order ifj the present attitude of the Government were to govern the administration of all our penal laws? The Minister for Labour has'! stated that the Government is considering the position! What consideration is re; quired? There is no greater reason for hesitancy and Cabinet meetings in

this matter tliaii tliere is in the case of any 4 ordinary offence against law aud order. The truth of the matter is that the Government, despite its declarations in the past, lacks the courage to see that justice is done. There are two possible courses open to the Government: the enforcement of the law, or a further 'flouting of the Court in favour of a Ministerial intervention that will induce the mine-owners to let the men have their, way. The second of these courses will bean the deathknell 'of industrial arbitration and the flouting of justice. What does the Government intend to do ?