OUTSIDE VIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 5

OUTSIDE VIEWS.

SHARP NEWSPAPER COMMENT. UNION GENERALLY CENSURED, As was to havo boen expected, tho strike has attracted the attention of tho newspapers everywhere ill tho Dominion. Practically oil of the editorial comments in those of tho papers that have reached us which deal with the strike aro condemnatory of the union's behaviour. "A Gross Offence," The "Preps," after commenting on tho tramwaymon's wanton disregard . for tho law and for the public's convenience, says that "tho action of tho tramwaymen will naturally be resented very strongly. It is possible that tliey lravo token the extreme step without fully calculating the weight of public opinion that mil inevitably be directed against them;." It refers to the losses inflicted on tho community by the action of tho men, and concludes:—"Of course, sonic of tho particular consequences of tho strike may soon be overcome. In spite of the threat that no coal will be carted to tho powerhouse, it should be still possible to secure sufficient for the city's bare needs, land the absence of the council's employees at the power-house nwd not mean that tho machinery will stop. There'are, no doubt, numbers of men in Wellington competent, under expert guidance, to do all that is necessary to give the city light and to keep the destructor going. The community will doubtless organise itself to meet the new conditions, and' may bo able to show that it is not so wholly dependent upon tho services of the men who havo struck as the hitter appear to think. They havo put themselves entirely in the wrong; their animus against an official who seems to have- onlj done his duty has led them into an attempt to upset the whole social and industrial life of Wellington, and to bring into contempt both the low and tho system of municipal control of public services. In this they havo committed a gross offence against the whole community, and events may show that they havo also inflicted serious injury upon the cause of Labour."

Surrender Would be Fatal. Tho "Ot.ago Daily Times" has this reference to the matter:—"Tlio issue ill Wellington is .so clear-cut that the attempts which have been _ made and will still be made to obscure it lire quite nillikely to be effectual. Tho question in controversy, when narrowed down to a point, amounts to this: Is the Wellington City Council, as the trusteo for the people, 'to manage tho municipal tramways system 01 is tho Triimjvay Union to do so? Are tho members of tho Tramway Union who arc engaged upon tlio tramways system to ■ lie the servants of the Corporation or are they to be its masters? Wo should think tliat the people of Wellington, the owners of the tramways, will prefer chcerfuly to sul> mit to 'such inconvenience as the strike inaugurated yesterday must cause rather than counsel'or aequises in a surrender by the Corporation that would be fatal to tlie future maintenance of efficiency and discipline in the service. The principle of public" ownership of utilities, it is further to 1)0 observed, is '.to some extent being tested' in this dispute."

"Arrogant Industrial Tyranny." Tho "livening News" deals with the fundamentals. Mr. Fuller, it says, ; "is merely a circumstance in the matter :— "If tho Wellington City Council stands firm, as it ought", it may mean a certain amount of trouble and inconvenience, but it would 1)0 striking a blow against _ a most arrogant and intolerant form of industrial tyranny, and the effect would lx> very wholesome.. On tho other haml. if'there'is any backing down, it simply means that the new unionism, triumphant and militant, will force another struggle on a large scale at no distant .date. It will then be.not inerclj; a finestion of whether a tramways union ,is to run a public service solely in the interests of it.s own members, but whether tho whole community is going to lie run by aj body of men who have organised a fairly lavffs number of ui-nnual workers, jukl who desire to prescribe the- terms and conditions on which the rest of tlio people will be allowed to live. Once the general public realises the full significance of the aims of these men who arc exploiting the unrest amongst the workers at tho present time, lroin that moment tho battle will be won."

Who Owns the Trams? The "Wauganui" Chronicle" says:— "The trams are not the property ot the members of tho Tramway Union j they belong to the citizens, and_ aro managed by their clectcd representatives. The tramway men, it may bo for good and sutlieient reasons, have quarrelled with a pant official who, liko themselves, is a servant of the people, and the whole trouble is due to tho refusal of tho City Council to obey tho mandato of the aggrieved men and dismiss tho inspector who has given them offence. In passing it should be stated that the City Council does not appear to have grappled with tho situation when it arose with' firmness and decision, and it may bo that tho vacillation of tho responsible authority has tended to foment the troublfc and caused it to assume dimensions altogether d-snropor-tionate to its real value. But at the present juncture tho responsibility rests entirely upon the tramway moil themselves. They alone will be responsible to the public if bv a rash and ill-considered act they plunge the city into the throes of an industrial deadlock."

City Can Worry Through. "On tho face of it," says the "Foilding Star," "there is every appearauco ot eithcy a desire on the part of tlio men to showthat it is unionism that is to rnlo the roast, or else times have been so good with the men that they aro tired of work, and want an illegitimate excuse r»y a spell." The "Star" has this comment on tho legal aspect of the trouble:- \Yil the Citv Council or the Department ot Labour 'prosecute tho union and its members for striking?, is an interesting question. Wo do not think that Wellingtons light, will go out or that the tramears will cease running, for not only havo the men to faco the fact that public s>;mmthv is not with them, but tho city s Chief Engineer will be found quite prepared to equip the cars and the powerhouse with the men to continuo the service. '

Fuller Must Not bo Sacrificed. The "Manawatu Standard" speaks plainly. "The men," it says, "liavc acted m unlawful and arbitrary manner, and few of the public can sympathise with them in their highly improper and unjust demands upon the City Council. Hnvinij an aversion to a tieliet inspoctor uaiued Fuller who, whatever his faults may be, has faithfully discharged Ins duties to the corporation, tliey demanded his removal aiul failing that a, strike ;was threatened. The council s final decision was that Fuller should remain ill his position. and for a dispute of that nature the employees have hung up the tram service, "seriously dislocating business, and caused inconvenience and loss to thousands of people in Wellington to whom daily trams aro a neccos;ity. If it had been a .question of hours and waßes tlio action of the men could bo understood, but a strike through dislike of an olhcial is an act. that cannot be condoned, particularly when tho employees fail to substantiate (heir chorees against llio official. . . . The Wellington tramway service is not a private concern.. It belongs to the citizens of the umpire City, and suspension mil moan a every section of tho community. In t the case of the cmplovees it is tho wives aim children who will differ the preatest hardships and on their account alone it ifi to be rarefied that the strike has taken place. If Inspector Fuller resigned the trouble would probably end, but it would also I>o an admission that he hnd acted improperly towards tho men. The prin-! ciple of pennittinp this man to bo sacrificed would be wrong, and tho council will be watched closely to wo if they have j sufficient backbone to adhere to their honourable decision. I

Unflinching Firmness Essential. Equally uncompromising is the "Wairnrapa Daily Times." "flvery man," it says, "who dors not wish to see this country dominated by arrogant Labour organisations will expect tho Wellington City Council to take an absolutely iirm stniul, and decline to negotiate with tlio strikers under auv condition except that they return to work. The thing has now Income something more than a squabble liotweon a trades union and ita employ-era. It ia a sbrossk babrwja a bodj of msn l

in charge of a big municipal undertaking who havo been appointed to their positions by a vote of the citi7.ens us a whole, and tho Federation of Labour, which comprises men largely self-nomin-ated and wholly tho representatives of 0112 class. . . . The strike may spread to oilier industries and public services, but if it: is met by the employers with unflinching firmness and united action, it must bo defeated, and Laliour will taught a lesson it will not readily foi«ot. We believo that those who, at this juncture, entertain sympathy with tho strikers aro only a very small section of the community: tho tramwaymcn havo put themselves'entirely in-the wrong by going on strike ifi defiance of tho law, and thu justice of their uriginal complaint may no longer hn considered. Tho reflection, however, that business in a cily like Wellington is disorganised and in danger of being paralysed liecausc a few Irani way hands entertained a grudgo against a superior ofiicinl, must excite the indignation, harden tho hearts, and strengthen the hands of every reasonable mail in the province."

Wellington Trustco for New Zealand. Tho "Southland Times" points out clearly what surrender to the union would mean:—"lt is quite plain that the question now at issue is whether the municipal tramways of Wellington are to be controlled by tho Tramways Onion or by thofio specially appointed by tlio citizen's to direct and control public business and enterprises. The tramway employees ask for the dismissal of this inspector because tliey dislike him. He is objectionable to them and tliey want to get rid of him. If thu council were to yield to a demand made upon such grounds what would the effect bo? The inspector's suaoensor would realise that his real mastors were not the members of tho City Council, with the citizcns of Wellington behind l them, but tho executive of ilia Tramways l.nion, with the tramway employees behind them. Ho would 'know that in order to retain his position ho must please tho tramway employees, and what his value as an inspector would bo under such conditions is not difi'icult to imagine. Furthermore, if this deimvid were granted, what gunrantco would tho Wellington City Council havo that it * would not be followed by others?" Tho "Southland Times" also points ont a fact not suiheicnUy appreciated:—"Tho Wellington City Council is bound to stand linn. Every other local bodv in tho Dominion is concerned in the''maintenance ot the principle which is at stake, and il a strike should occur there is only one conceivable issue."