PORTS OPENED

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 6

PORTS OPENED

TijAT'thc community as a whole is well able to protect itself against any attempt by the Federation of Labour or any other like organisation to_ paralyse the commerce and industries of the country is plainly demonstrated by the fact that yesterdespite the efforts of the Fed;-p-ration bosses, work was going on at three of the principal ports of New Zealand. The departure of the Athcnic from Wellington for London with its great cargo 'of 'New Zealand products was a very practical proof of the excellent work which the members of the new Waterside Workers' Union are doing. It was a plain fact, verifiable by everyone who has eyes to scfij and it was a more crushing reply than _ any words could be to tho Federation's boast that it would soon bring the farmers and tho shipping companies to their intses by sealing up the port of Wellington. That foolish idea may now be regarded as finally shattered. In Auckland it is estimated that in ten of the fifteen trades affected by tile strike nfl fewer than 2000 men are at work, including 1200 of those who had left their work at the call of the Federation. Cargo is now being worked at Duuedin, and at Onolmnga and New Plymouth shipping business is proceeding without any serious difficulty, while effective steps are being taken at Hokitika. to suppress any unlawful | attempt to prevent'the handling of ! cargo. These facts make it perfectly clear that the federation leaders have been defeated all along the line, arid the victims of.their reckless' and incompetent leadership can no lunger hide from themselves the bitter truth that they have been duped and deceived in tho cruellest manner. A large number * of the strikers in various industries have already realised that they have been misled, and have adopted the com-mon-sense course of going back to work before their positions have been filled by_ other p : e&j3le, It is

naturally very hard to admit defeat, but nothing can be gained by refusing to look facts Squarely in the face, Prompt action should now be taken to retrieve the position as far as possible. The best way for the men to do this is to go back to work while the opportunity remains, Every day the number of vacancies to bo filled will bo fewer, and if the men on wait * much longer many of them will learn by gad experience that it is sometimes easier to "down tools" than to pick theffi up again.