THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC OPINION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 9

THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC OPINION.

; Sir,— It -must be very gratifying to tne member's ol the present Government to know t'liat the firm stand taken up 'i.v the Ivimo Minister in connection witn the ns-escut unwarranted strike is Iroiu day to day receiving heartv support from the strongest and most hitter eppnneris 0 f the Reform iwrtv. Your rcadcrswrll conclude from the facts mentioned (jolow that many of Sir Joseph Wards M.iu.iohest supporters are now "up liim" over"the attitude he has nirpted in connection with the strike* ; Here is an illustration. At a meo-jitg of the Palmerstoii North Chamber of Commerce, held on. Monday even"ig Jast,' the following resolution was prnjKisod bv the chairman (Mr. M. A. F ; w,t) (extract from "Mamiwatu Daily limes"): —

• "TUB INDUSTRIAL CRISIS. 1 "The chairman proposed the follpw(Jlig isiotion:_ 'That this Chamber desires ; to express its great appreciation of the ' firm action shown by the Government ill the present industrial eiisis, and behoves the issues to the ummtry ure of ■ too vital a nature to permit of any compromise; that the special thanks of this Chamber be given to those farmers and others who have so ably responded to {the eall for assistance to maintain law alnl order and to carry on the nciaesKar.y ivnrk of the Dominion; also that the executive of the Farmers' Union deserve every credit for the manner in which it grappled with the situation.' " This resolution was seconded by one of the strongest supporters of the (socalled) Liberal party in the following terms (extract from the "Maiiawatu i Daily Times"}: — "Mr. J, 11.' Johnston, in supporting; tho motion, said that no man who bad any stake in t'ho country should leave a stone unturned to rid the country of those undesirables, lie hoped that legislation* would, bo passed to prevent this class of men from being allowed to ride roughshod over tho community. They should also he prevented from getting up in places like the Square and preaching sedition. Any industrious man.'in this country could get on well if bo 'had the ambition and was jiot afiaid of work.' "Both resolutions were then carried unanimously. "A copy of she former is to be sent to Hie Prime Minister, and the latter to the Farmers' Union executive and Employers' Association." It is pleasing to know Mr. Massey is receiving such oii-co'iiragonient from tin-' expected quarters. He lias already gained hundreds of new supporters in this town during the past month. —I am, etc., ANTI-FED. Pnlmersto". North. November ! J5,1013.