BEGINNING OF THE END.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 6

BEGINNING OF THE END.

The action, 0 f the Central Strike Committee at Auckland in permitting a general return to work, with the exception of the transport unions, may bo taken as an admission by the committee that the so-called _ general strike has proved the fiasco the public already knew to be. • The fact of the matter is that the. officials of the federation of Labour arc no longer aiJ-e to conceal the plain fact that Hie back-to-work movement is 'increasing every day, and they have now decided to make a virtue oi necessity by formally declaring that tho men in certain trades may resume their work once more. 'They are, of course, merely accepting the inevitable, and trying to make the best of it. The brilliant idea that it is 'good strategy" t-o let tliese unions return to work in order that by their contributions they may keep the remnant of the strike alive is too obviously an afterthought to deceive anybody. If it, is good strategy that they should go back, it wn's plainly bad strategy that they should I have been called out. The men have been made to suffer loss and hardshin for nothing. The strike orators will probably tell t heir credulous followers that the fati that a largo, number of the Auckland unionists have had enough of the strike is an additional proof of the "magnificent solidarity of Labour" in conncction with'the present trouble. The solidarity of some unions is so greatthat they even refuse to obey the Strike Committee's order that they should again earn their living. It is to be reared,_ however, that some of these recalcitrant unionists. are not going back to work because they realise that their jobs have gone. This is the case with the hotel anil restaurant workers, the places of those who have not already gone back having been filled by others, and a new union formed. It is also stated that some of the Harbour Board employees are still on strike, simply because they have lost their jobs. The latest developments at Auckland should indicate to those strikers who want their old places the wisdom of getting back as quickly as possible. The position for the strikers is plainly more hopele'ss than ever, but, judging by the Federation tactics at Waihi, the strike leaders may now be expcctecl to shout, "victory" louder than ever.