FEATURES OF THE STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 6

FEATURES OF THE STRIKE.

The little group of extremists who have tafem control of organised labour and are guiding it to disaster have decided to _ hasten the pace. The general strike has been plunged into at Auckland, and last evening at the Opera House here the intelligence was conveyed with many flourishes of rhetoric that Wellington to-day would be smitten in the same fashion. It is quite in harmony with the blundering stupidity which has characterised the conduct of the leaders of the Federation of Labour from the time •of the commencement of the Waihi Strike until, to-day. i It is really very surprising in view of the repeated blunders of these men that they have been able to retain their hold on their following. Still more amazing is it to note the easy fashion in which many of the more intelligent bodies of organised labour have allowed themselves to fall into the trap laid for them by the Federationists. A few -months ago they were quick enough to sco the danger of association with the extremists of tho lied Federation and held aloof from its violent and aggressive policy. To-day they snap eagerly at the bait laid for them by the Federation—the palpably dishonest suggestion that the fight is between labour ' unionism and capitalism—and are being dragged into perilous association with the ignorant and lawless spirits who want to make them their tools and who have a keen eye on their bank balances. There is not an intelligent man or woman in the community who after reading the facts of the present dispute can honestly say that there is the slightest evidence to show that the employers are opposed to legitimate trades unionism. On the contrary, the wholo of the evidence goes to prove that the employers want unionism under the Arbitration Act—that i-8 to say, unionism which is agreeablo to setile disputes by eonciltatioti and arbitration, and which will, honourably adhere to agreements arrived at. The strugglo which is • now proceeding, and in which the Federation of Labour is exercising all its cunning in an endeavour to embroil the more reputable unions, is a fight by tho community against tho lawless methods of the Federation, which threaten the peace and prosperity of all classes. Strangely enough, however, as wo have said, the leaders of the Federation appear to exercise a kind of hypnotic influence over some of the unions, an d are able to induce them to swallow the most glaring untruths and to associate themselves with and lend assistance to an organisation which has dragged the name of Labour Unionism in tho dirt as it has never been dragged before in Eew Zealand. A good many people no doubt have been wondering what has become of the leaders of Jlie United Labour Party these times. What are they doing to prevent their followers being involved in the inevitable smash towards which the Federation of Labour is hastening.. f Mr. Rka.rdoN, it will be seen, has' the courage to warn his friends, but where is Mr. David M'Lares these times, and Mb. Carey and the Hon, J, T. Paul, and all the rest- of them? Are they hypnotised .or terrorised by the Federation.?

Quite <t number of interesting developments are recorded_ to-day apart from the general strife announcement. The general strike, it may be mentioned before leaving the subject, is not likely to be so general \js the Federation o! Labour would, wish. The more general it is, howwef, the more quickly it will collapse. There will be ample labour ottering from the country for positions as storemon and . drivers and like classes of work should those unions decide to obey the mandate of tho Federation, and no doubt many of the country people will be glad to retain the positions when the strife breaks down. Offers are continuing to pour in from all parts of the,country from farmers and from workers who are willing to art as special constables or do labouring work on the wharves and steamers. An arrest which caused a : sensation was made on Saturday. ■ A waterside worker who is alleged to have fired several shots at the [Commissioner of Polico during tho progress of the Taranaki Street | riots was taken into custody. Several other arrests were made, and it is ' understood that moro are to follow. It is anticipated that the handling 1 of cargo at the wharves will proceed I to-day' more rapidly than _ at any ■ time 'siftcc tho strike, additions to the ranks of tho new union having taken place. A section of the seamen have come out at the call of Ms, Young, who goes- blundering on dragging more and more of Ilia dupes into trouble. The Hew Zealand seamen havi> tho best >seaiucn s agreement in the world, and they are being asked to break it to save the face of tho Bed Federation officials. They by coming out will simply add to the increasing numbers who Will be- demanding strike pay. A little point which is worth mentioning is that the members of arbitration unions who strike have a double penalty to face. They not only have to bear tho brunt of the loss of wages 'and position, but when the strife is over they will Be called on to face the Court and pa> the penalty for their breach of tb. law. In conclusion it wight bo mentioned that tho feeling in the country districts against the holding up of tho business of the country by U)<j Federation of Labour in nrov .»>s. ia thoro is, an in-

creasing determination, if that were possible, to "see the thing through" at all costs. Tiro employers in the City arc equally determined nob to submit to the intolerable' attempt o! the Federation to dominate tho Community, first by mob violence and then by the tyranny of tho general strike. There may bo a little additional inconvcnienoe to tho public for a. few days, but it is a- small price to pay for the casting ofi of an organised tyranny which lias been <t perpetual source of unrest and a constant menace to the steady progress of the trado and'business of the Dominion.