The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1913. YESTERDAY'S STRIKE FEATURES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1904, 12 November 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1913. YESTERDAY'S STRIKE FEATURES.

The most interesting feature of yesterday's strike happenings was the arrest' of a number of the strike leaders on various more or less serious charges. Messrs. Holland, Semple, Frasek, and Bailey were taken into custody by the police and will appeal' at the Magistrate's Court this morning to answer to the charges laid against them. No doubt they_ will be remanded and the hearing' will eome on later. In. the House of Representatives the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Joseph AVard, again questioned tho Government respecting the strike. His efforts may bo well meant, but he has a most unfortunate habit of saying injudicious things at inopportune times. He must know that the strike is collapsing—that the men aro disheartened at tho blundering of their leaders and are most anxious to go back to work. He can sec, if ho only troubles to go to the waterside, that cargo is being worked and that an increasing number of men are joining the new Arbitration Union each day. He must be aware that the steamship services between Wellington and Lyttelton has been resumed in spite of all the efforts of the strike leaders to prevent it. He has seen that the attempt to call a general strike here has proved an utter failure. , And yet he geta up in Parliament and in alarmist terms, which can only havo the effect of encouraging the strikers to hold Out, urges the adoption of procedure which could be of no effect even if it were adopted. No one in their senses wishes to see the strike prolonged for one day more than is necessary, but the end is not going to be hastened by politicians rushing about with anxious faces and alarmist utterances urging peace at any price. Tho best service Sin. Joseph AVard cau do the country at the present time is to avoid as far as possible giving the impression that ho has any sympathy with the lawless methods of the Federation of Labour; and to refrain from mak'ing spccchcs which are liable to encourage tho strikers to uiis-

takenly believe that if they hold out long enough he can find them a way out of their difficulties. The Phime Minister made it quite clear yesterday that the war which is being waged against the community by the Federation of Labour can have only one ending. That iaw and order will be preserved at all costs, and that • tho foreigners who are leading the watersiders to disaster will got their deserts if they transgress the laws of the- land in which they _ have created so much 'mischief. As- to the strike itself: the drivers alone have responded in Wellington to the call for a- general strike. Their executive has foolishly brought some of the rank and file under the penal clauses of the Act which provides that where the supply to the public of the necessaries of life is concerned fourteen days' notice must be given before striking. Tho drivers of coal carts come under this clause. The storeinen shirked the "call" and the tramwaymea are said to be very shy of responding. An attempt is being made to prevent the tramway employees taking a- secret ballot on the strike- issue. The Federation of Labour knows that-it is unlikely that a single union would. support' them oil a secret ballot. They rely on intimidation and that is why they hate and misrepresent Mft. Massey's proposed amendment of the law to provide that before a strike is decided on a secret ballot must first be taken with an official of the Court as scrutineer. The majority of the watersiders would go back to work tomorrow if they could' see a way of doing so. They still fear the men who have taken control of their affairs. If they were assured of reasonable protection against possible'intimidation, the strike would collapse almost at once. In a day or two thoy may be Better. able to appreciate the foolishness of sacrificing themselves for leaders, who have already sacrificed them to serve their own personal ambitions. Then thoy may pluck up the courage to act for themselves.