THE REIGN OF LAWLESSNESS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1896, 3 November 1913, Page 6

THE REIGN OF LAWLESSNESS.

We had hoped that the Federation of Labour had learned its lesson, and that it would endeavour to check any further outbursts of mob violence amongst its following. Such has not been tho case. Its leaders, after a brief respite, again yesterday indulged in that wild and inflammatory Bpeechmaking which seems to act as a spur to the passions of tho more ignorant oi' those who follow their guidance: and from various quarters oomo reports of cowardly acts of violence by large or small groups of members of the Red Federation and thcif friends. Stonethrowing has become tho favourite method of attack, the cowardly fellows , who practise this dastardly means of venting their rushing for shelter at tho first sign of reprisals from tho mounted men. At Tokomaru a mob of flaxmill hands is reported to have stoned a train sup r •posed to contain special constables from tho country districts, and to have behaved in a perfectly outrageous manner, even going tho length of placing an obstruction on tho railway line. These various offences mean a lengthy term of imprisonment for those committing them, and it is satisfactory to learn that in tho eases at Tokomaru, as well as in many eases in the city, thoro is every prospect of many of the offenders being in duo course made to answer for their breaches of the law. The misguided moil apparently are foolish enough to think that because they are not at once arrested thoy have escaped detection and punishment, Their time will como.