"STRIKE LAW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1932, 15 December 1913, Page 5

"STRIKE LAW.

(CRITICS AGAIN TO THE FORE fpiMIE IN REPLY, ))%■ LIGHT ON LIBERAL. PARTY > i^,:: ., METHODS.;,!.,;;; More discussion on tho Labour Disputes Investigation Bill took place in tho House of Representatives on Saturday, when the Primo' Minister (tiro Hon. W. F. Massey) moved the third reading of that measure. Sir Joseph Ward said ho thought that by legislation tho House could have insured the keeping of tho wharves open and the carrying out of tho strike in a perfectly peaceful way. It might not oven have boon necessary to liavo batons used. Mr. Mass.oy: Is not the strike being carried on now in a peaceful way? Sir J. Ward: Yes, but at enormous expense, the first indication of which wo have is £100,000 on tho Supplementary Estimates. Ho said that ho had several times asked the Primo Minister to proceed with legislation to deal with it, but tho Primo Minister had refused, Tho Government had never tried anything but forco in tho settlement of the dispute. Would Have Been Laughed At. Tho Hon. W. Fraser said that had tho House intervened in the dispute the mob in the street would have laughed nt tho legislation. Tho Government had done tho right thing in bringing in special constables into Wellington, and. if a plebiscite of the people wcro taken on the point, 75 per cent, of tho peoplo would have endorsed the action of tho Government. There Was no doubt that tho cost of tho strike was a serious one, but, notwithstanding tho carping criticism that had come from tho other side, the verdict of the country would be: "You did right." A country iu which any combination of men ' prevented others from working would not be worth iving in. Old . as ho was, ho would leavo such a country, and go away to soma other country. If thcro was one thing that the peoplo of this country were determined upon it was to maintain law and order, and to see to it that the erdioary business of the country went on in peace and quietness; if lot, woo betide those who endeavoured to prevent it.

C*>no Beyond Tact. Mr. J. I-I. Bradncy (Auckland West) said that the PrinKs Minister ha-fl agreed to a proposal from the men to meet representatives of the unions, but later the nion had telegraphed that as the matter was a national oho the unions could not meet him. Ami yet lion, members were told that the- matter was one that could have been settled by a little tact. Tito matter bad gwio bovond tact. 'The irrftsnonsihlcs had wanted to run the country, and they had sought to embarrass the Government. They had been bo far successful as to post the country a lot of money, would recognise tlmb' tho result was worth the cost, for tho seHlomcut would now be a permanent one, „. Mr. L. 3f. Isitt {Christdittreh North) said that if the Government had insist, ed by legislation upon tho taking of a secret ballot the strike would have been ended.

Enough legislation Already,

Tho Hon. A. L. Hcrdnmn said that speeches made by members of the other side had been political in character, and most of all those delivered by tho nwm--I*r forChristchwch North.' Mr. Isitt had said that, if a secret ballot had been taken the strike would have been svettled. He (Mr. Hcrdmnn) ventured to Miggost that if a secret ballot had been taken there would still havo been tho same amount of bullying and intimidation of men who desired to work. No amount of legislation Would have settled tho strike. Was there not'now legislation on thti Statute Book to which these workers could have had recourse to havo the trouble, settled ? Thorn was the machinery of tho Arbitration Court, which was open to the'men if they wished to have their differences settled. What was the use of talking about logis* l.itjon passed hastily to settle tho difficulty? The Lcador of the Opposition said special legislation could have been put through to. prevent strikers going on tho wharves ia molest men at work. Tho law now provided adequately for protecting men from interference. Ho had thought over the troulilii seriously, and he. never could come to tho belief that tho passing of legislation by the Houso would 1 have facilitated the settlement of the strike. The Roat Battle. The fact was that tho battle was between tho Bed Federation of Labour and the law-abiding portion of the community. This was the battle, and this was the issue at the- present time. First, when an attempt was made by some- men to load tho boats they wove interfered with and subjected to violence. Then the employers said that if men wished to load the ships they could havo tho same conditions as the- strikers had, except that as some security of tho permanence- of tho agreement, tho men should como under the Arbitration Court.

Mr. Robert-ran: You had no right to help them. , ;. 31 r. H-erdnian said the Pi-lino, Minister did endeavour to bring about a settlement. There could be no doubt that when tlio issue was Made clear to the country the people recognised that the employers, in order io make the peace a final one, had a right to insist iffion this condition. He domed tho statement of the Leader of the Opposition that the official police were absolutely ignored, and were never used. The Government had done the right thine under the circumstances, and consulted tho rcsfloiisiblo officer, the Commissioner of Police. Ho (Mr. Herdman) realised that tho permanent police in the city could not copo with tho lawbreakers, and that tho regular forco had to be augmented.

Without Knowledge. And lie was surprised that, the honourable the Leader of tlio Opposition should make such statements as he had without any proper knowledge of (he facts. He read tho following report of the Commissioner of Police fin tlm statement made by Sir Joseph Ward:— "With reference to statements •. made to the effect that the regular police could have handled strike matters here, I wish to say thai. we ronkl not have done so, and tint. lintl we attempted to meet the strik- . c-is, who were well armed with revolvers, with tlio small fore: 1 * nf regular police at our disposal, manv lives would have been lost on both sides. 1 think no one possessed of (•(lnnnoH-sense. and having a due regard for the lives of others, would have risked a conflict with Iho lawIpw elements of the city before !hr. mounted specials arrived her.». That tho regular polico woro phyfii- '

l93fc«rcapabhV-owing to.: tho sriiail-i :.nessj;of':tlieiif luiniboi-, 1 ? of ■ dealing at the time rofer--I?MStoi;is*fonieiputiby tho,conduct ;ol;3othc; ;: sfnlsei'Spiii .'■; rushing'- tho ;'rushing""thg'''steai:iors> Defender and .Hiniutaka.'and assaulting'-: persons employed 'thereon; pulling'down tho wharf barricades, and ."■throwing ' tho materia.l into the- harbour; forcibly turning back vehicles going on to tho wharves, and threatening the ('rivers; attacking the police at the I'ost and Telegraph Stores, and pulling down the fence and flourishing revolvers at tho mounted .specials and regular police who wore there.; wantonly attacking tho twenty regular police and thirty mounted specials in the Post Office .Square when on their way from Lambton Quay Folieo Station to tho camp that was being formed in Buckle Street, and firing revolvers, whereby a horse ridden by one of the regular constables was seriously, wounded. ■ "The largo number of lawless strikers who liavo been either dealt with summarily or committed for trial for offences committed before the advent of either foot or mounted special constables is conclusive proof that tho strikerss had set out to defy authority, and to injure persons and dam- . ago property without regard to the consequences.' A fairly largo percentage of the strikers'are foreigners, and therefore cannot bo looked upon as cither kith or kin of tho regular or special police. Tho regular police were under my immediate supervision the whole of tho time, and as they were often on duty for ' sixteen hours a day, it cannot bo said that they were ignored in any way. In fact, we would all have liked if wo could have been ignored on many occasions, when we had to put tip with only a few hours' rest per day."

Federation to Blame. What value, lie continued, could be attached to the statements of an honourable gentleman when he spoke as he did without knowledge? It- was true that many men wished to go hack to work, and the men who must take tho blame for the condition of affairs that existed in the city wore these, associated with tlin Federation of Labour. Tho fight had been a fight, and was n fight, between the law-abiding portion of the community and tho Kcxl Federation of Labour, who were prepared to enforce, their rights by resort to force. Thoro might be men in the Federation who were prepared to be reasonable, but tho circumstances proved that they had been led by a band of men who had no sense of responsibility, who had no regard for law, and who did not desire to see the Government conduct tho business of the country in a reasonable and safe way.

A Suggestion, Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) suggested that Conciliation Commissioners should specialise in certain industries, 'and that there should be, say, four Commissioners, without territorial jurisdiction, who would take disputes in tho trades nil over New Zealand, in which they had,special knowtetlgo. He did Hot think the Bill would stop tho labour troubles in New Zealand, nor did h,o think any law or any Parliament would stop them. Ho had" voted for tho Bill, and he Would vote for tho third reading. Mr. P, C. Webb (Grey) declared that tho special constables had engaged itt shooting in Buckle Street, . An lion, member: Nonsense. Mr. Webb insisted that there ought to be public inquiry into tho action of tho Government. He objected to' tho Bill. MR. MASSEY and his critics. A TELLINfTsPEEOH. • ' The Hon. W. F. Massey replied at 5.20 p.m. Ho had been specially amused to witness the spectacle of tho member for Grey keeping srivay from him the members on the other side of the House, including" the WMiiiber for Christehmeh North, who were always trying to hang on to his coat-toils, It was' not right to take notice of all tho silly, idiotic sayings, that were uttered by the strike leadersj but lie, wanted to call attention to ono statement niado by a, strike orator in a Wellington park. It was: "Wo are going to make New Zealand the first Socialistic republic in tho world, and are not going to bo satisfied until tho old red Hag waves over Parliament Buildings." He did not say this was to bo taken seriously, but there was no doubt .that these peoplehad in their minds some idea of collaring the Government of tho country. Mr. Robertson: They are looking a hundred years ahead) y'ovl know. Mr. Massey said that hostile references had been made to tho cost of tho strike, and to the attitude of tho Government, but ho believed that if his party went to tho country to-morrow —and he would be glad to ha,vo tho opportunity of doing it—(Hear, hear) — they would poll 75 "per cent, of tho votes. {Appiaii.se and uproar.) There were many members on the other side who, when they went out at tho end of next session, would l.wvo seen thu last of tho insido of Parliamentary Buildings.

An Interesting Ondgot. Tlio Loader of tho Opposition bad produced a buudlo of telegrams. H« could do tlio same (doing so). Ho had received many hundreds of iettcra ami telegrams, and, whale, ho would not make tliem public, ho was prepared to lot any man on tlio other sido of the House inspect tl.tem. Many of tho names would startle them. They were names of men who had supported the Liberal party, but said that tt was impossible fur them any longer to do so. These wore not from private individuals in any sense of tlio word. In passing, ho mentioned that, of tho .many hundreds of letters and telegrams ho had received, ho had not banded one to tho press. Sir Joseph Ward: Neither havo I. Mr. Webb: Neither have we. (Laughter.) * • • Mr, Massey (laughing): Docs the "wo" include Sir Joseph Ward mid his party 'i 111*. Wobb: No, members on this side of tho House. The Prime Minister went on to remark that ho hoped to read a letter from another political organisation which would parallel the 0110 sent out by Mr. Jatncs, which was afterwards read in tho House. Sir Joseph Ward said that lie- had never dono anything of this kind, Mr. Massey accepted tlio honourable, gentleman's statement,, bxit _said that. tho organisers of his (Sir Joseph Ward's) party had dono it. Ho had soon tliem. Sir Joseph Ward: No. You havo never seen anything lilto that I (Mr. James's letter). Mr. Massey said that, following upon appointments stf Justices of tho Peace by tho Liberal party, lie had seen circulars addressed to tho newiy-made Justices, and them, on aoeoiant of tho honours conferred upon them, to contribute to the funds of the Liberal party. Sir Joseph Ward: It has never been done by mo. Mr. Massey said that ho had not seen the honourable gentleman's name atiuched to the circulars, but he had seen tlio names of the Liberal party organisers. Mr. tsitt asked whether Reformers had been appointed as Justices bcranso they had contributed to tho party funds. I Mr. Massey replied in the negative., I but. paid that the Liberal party had appointed men to the Upper llouso on the understanding that the £200 a year which each one of them collected should not ro into their os-u pockets, but into tho funds of the Liberal party,, Ho

went on to read tho names of various icical bodies whoso chairmen or prominent members had sent him t-eiegrams or. letters of congratulation upon tlio attitude taken up by the Government in reference to the strike. One telegram was from a personal friend of tho Might Honourable Leader of tho Opposition. Sir Joseph Wardi I liavo them from your snpportors. Mr. Mussel!: Give us that one. Mr. Massey read tho telegram, which congratulated tho Government on ''sped work dono re strike," arid wig* Basted that full newspaper reports should bo arranged for. Sir. Witty; pit! James ask for that ou c? Mr. Jlassey said that all the comnnmications which he was sampling hncl come to hand before Mr. Jane's letter was sent out. One- telegram had como irom tho Nelson. Fruit Growers' Association. Mr. A (more: That was in reply to James a circular. Mr. Massey said that i.ho telegram was dated November 18, whereiw Mr. James's letter went out on November 22. "This one," ho continued, taking up another, "is 100 good. It is signed by a gentleman whoso name is well known to the re-cently-elected member for Grey. U reads: 'Chamber Commerce last evening passed resolution unanimously congratulating you on the action your Government lias taken in upholding tho laws of country, and in your endeavour to keep channels of commerce open during tho present crisis, ami also exp'rtsa our continued confidence in your nclior ami our unanimous - wish to assist you in every way possible.' " Tho .Prinio Minister paused for a. moment before he read tho signature; "I'Vlix Campbell." Mr. Wcbl) : Did the Groymoutii Chamber of Commerce put me in?

Mfinoy Not Wasted. : The Prime Minister went on to remark that the cost of the strike hut! been heavy, but he did isot think tho ■mone.v had been wasted, It was ({liiio true, tnat the Government had not pot value for the expenditure in the ordinary sense, hut ho believed that what h:ul taken place would promoto industrial peace fnr many years to eonn\ Apart from the cost of tho strike, tho revenue of certain' Departments fend been very seriously affected by tho strike, but that revenue was recovering. Indeed the increase had already, been noticed, Tho._Lßu.ler of tho Opposition had repealed in the afternoon that Parliament should have leiuslatod to twins the strike to an end. He thought tho honourable gentleman had forgotten tlm oeenrrcn-cos in those days when tho wharves in Wellington and .other ports of Now tfcslaiid were wilder the control ■of the strikers. At that time it woald linvo been the height of folly and foolish waste of time to attempt to legislate, white-such a. state of things existed. He held in his hand permits, oiso signed by G. Bruce and the, other by, G. G'. Farland, for the, picket committee, to allow two offers of the Crown to go on the wharves in order to iako food to animals in <jnarai.it.iivp. ; Tho polieo force jn Wellington was utterly inadequate, to deal with such organised, lesistanco to authority as existed in those days. Even when the lirst specials camo into the City it required all the force of specials and regular police to beat off tho mob. Sir 3. Ward: Was not the Inspector at Auckland removed because he conducted things peacefully? Mr. Massey: I ant quite prepared to deal with that at ths proper time, but 1 don't think this is the proper time. Those facts, i.w said, spoke for j_hninselvos. Mid they proved that a very unsatisfactory state, of things existed, and, the Government thought it was their duty not to allow this state- of,things to exist one day or -olio hear longer Uiiir they could help.

Moating Force With Foreo. Ho road statements that had eomo t» him from eyc-wi'tnosse-s of tho charge, in tho IVst Office Square, and those statements, as lie said, did not heair ont the •statements mafic by members in the Holism. Another statement ho read dealt with what is known as tho Wliitcombo and Tombs riot. With finch a stato of things the Loader of tho Opposition said they should deal by, legislation. Tlio fact was that legisfci. tioH could not ileal with any -such thing. There was only one thine; to do, awl that was to meet foreo with force. And tlio special constables and tlio ordinary constables had behaved very well in very extraordinary circumstances. Tlio conduct of these men had been snch that th*» country had every reason to be prowl of them. Ho referred in conclusion to tlio proposal of the member for H-utt, who tin-d made a speech that was sincular, in that it dealt with the Bill. The sup> Rcsttoii that honourable gentleman had inn-do was that Conciliation Commissioners should, not have control of all disputes in certain but that they should specialise in disputes in certain classvs of industries. This suggestion tie thought was a very n;ood one, and he would tfivo it consideration.

Sir Joseph Ward denied Hint any :ipooi titers to the Legislative Council' had been appointed in consideration of their niakina; contributions to. the party funds.' An.v contributions members of the 'Legislative Council had made had been voluntary contributions. He also denied that Justices of the Pence .bad been specially asked to subscribe, la •party funds. ' The Bill was roml a third time on tlio voices.