THE BEST DETERRENT.
(To tlio Editor.) Sir, —With tlio words of Lord HcrBcliell before me, "the acts of to-day becomo the precedents of to-morrow," I dm moved to refer to your sub-leader of November 11, under the heading, "Tlio liiglrt To Work." The sentiments expressed therein may or may not appeal to tlio pmployer or tho employee, but there can be no question that they aro responded to, in llnison voice, by that "great third party" who nro too often- ignored by the malcontents so-called "Capital and Labour." It has become notorious that in our legislation, whether it bo_ land, labour, liquor, or any great principle, tho voice of'tlio people, as distinct from tho agitation of the principals, has been contemptuously brushed aside. For tlio' first time, that silent, sleeping power is beginning to assort .itself, and not only realise its strength, but, more potent, its duty. To say that a man at tho dictation of an irresponsible oligarchy shall not work is uncivilised, barbaric to prevent him doing so by force or intimidation should bo repelled at all hazards. Your penalty for this is contained ill tlieso words: "Tho least it (Parliament) can do is to assure a penalty which will act as a wholesome deterrent on tliose who follow the vicious pracJ 1 tico of attempting, by threats or violence, to rob men of tho right to work. Twelvo months' or two years' imprisonment, without tlio option of a fine, would make it clear that tho State is determined to protect its citizens against such intimidation." With every respect, I cannot agree with you that tho fear of incarceration 13 tho great panacea for this trafficking with tho liberty of tho subject There appears to me a far more efficacious means of bringing tlio illegal union striker tiio intimidator of honest toil, the obstructionist to law and order, to human common-sense reason And that is that any person convicted, oi any, union working under an ?f J® Arbitration Court, convicted of these offences, should be disfranchised from "otiuß at any Parliamentary or muni-
cipal election for a minimum term of I four years. By such. punishment (wo mote it out to our negligent Territorials) the offenders aro struck in a far more vulncrablo part,, than by depleting their treasury or' curtailing their liberty. The shcep-stealer, in tho eyes of tho law, is a dangerous criminal, a menaco to society, and if proved guilty, is imprisoned and consequently disfranchised. Tho sheop-stcaler injures, olio man; the striker, who ignores and ruthlessly dislocates tho law, cannot and will not comprehend the devastation ho scatters to distant horizons; tho injury he forces- upon those who arc not, even indirectly, a party to his real or assumed grievance. Sir/ may I repeat myself by saying that the' punishment for tho wilful union striker,' tho intimidator of tho conscientious worker, the obstructionist to law and order, is disfranchisement for a period of years.-j-I am, etc., ! LIBERTAS ET NATALE SOLUM.' Hastings, November 12, iSJiy. *
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Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1906, 14 November 1913, Page 10
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499THE BEST DETERRENT. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1906, 14 November 1913, Page 10
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