THE CLERGY AND THE STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 7

THE CLERGY AND THE STRIKE.

(To tha Editor.) Sir,—Anyone who has made himself acquainted with lie stops which liave lea up to tho present labour upheaval, cannot but doplqro tho condition or things as thoy exist, and, however much ono would keep; clear of things during tho present crisis, a side must be chosen—tnero 'is no neutral ground.. As I read tho paper this morning, I received a tremendous surprise when I saw tho attitude of a section of the Protestant clergy. Since his arrival m Wellington, I have had an opportunity of hearing Hey. Brainsby, and it is beyond my comprehension how ho managed to get tho other ministers to follow him on tho doubtful course, taken. _ In tho course of his remarks Mr. Brainsby says: "I have heard both sides of tho question," If ho has really heard both sides his inability to grasp tho situation is deplorable. No ono will deny tlio right to Btnko should any ono bo so minded, hut they have no right whatever to interfere with those who will work. If Mr. ilrainsbv's motion was truo, why do tho men not go back to workp Why will they not lot those of tfioir number wlio aro willing to atari work go back, if thoy aro as oagor us tho reverend gentleman pretends they aroP'' Tho "unnecessary invasion. tWaddlo iJIUBt niako sensiblo peoplo smile. You may as well ask "why our huge navy? " We do not wait until war is declared before we start building our ships, "o, by being prepared for war, maintain peace. Theso men have been summoned to our city to maintain order and end tho lawlessness that everybody except the reverend gentleman has Been.*—l am, etc " WORKER, J