THE STRIKE AND AFTER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 4

THE STRIKE AND AFTER.

Sir, —When will sympathisers realise' that there is no strike at' all.ami no question whatever to submit for arbitintion? Certainly a number of'.'misguided individuals have chosen to eoasw work; but then that is' their own-busi-ness. Their places have' lieon-willingly, taken by others, and work is going "oil* as well as or«r. It- in their own funeral' only— thoy seem fond of Americanisms —and not a question to' take up the

vahinble time. ini,-"his.'. Honour . the! JmlgeV.-i#-''tSiSSi";

;■ J'liq strike;:. a's~a*i'sitrike, ceased ja's.'scoii, as.the strikprs'.splac'ed, theiiiselves iUiider ,tho,.ruk), ; of , .Uhc, : . Hed'^Fedoraiioii!'''Saudi ,Sj>vc (he "lied. JA't/s." an-', opportunity :JHip iiiio.pniriiee the-principles ,:they long. I iie.-:strike proper .turned.into.:a'.revolution;against society,. ' ; jw. ,older, and government,.- i;4'v.:! ' o sympathise w:th :aI:l peVnui-: but ma.v- : iiot. sympßthiieV>yith. ami sirf.ii, rt Oiic;-ioo.. where'some ot tne. loaders that .whic-ft. is ialeo. :iixl trraehcronsf and try. to compel, ; ;'sul«iiission. ibVtheir■£ iutnioral methods' by mob rule aiid violence." Wnat can'Jiq rnore.treacherous and false': thaii; in' order .td'gain some benefit, to sign an agreement, ..secretly resolving the while..;to break that .agreement .on .tpo firsts suitable'occasion"T y '

slossibiy-a'.'sort" .of. excuse may.;? be found "ior - these: sympathisers in i'"tho .i a ctj;that.:.wohavo been. accustomed for so'-niany ;. years to- see ft' noisy,: loud-mouthed-minority: get its' owii' way. Weak:persons liking-to' bo.on .tho'wiiiiiing side, sympathy with strikers has become a bad _ habit. ■' In the' past the greater the rioiso the greater the chance of victory. ':' ■■ ■ . ■ ■

But although "Bounce"-- may' bo "'a good dog, yet "Holdfast" is very much better. All thoughtful persons must rejoice to-day that wo are now under' a strong Government.' We must give our I rifiio Minister' (Mr. Mnssey) and his IViiiiisters every ; credit for tlio calm, courageous," aiid dispassionate maimer in winch they, have handled the trouble. Nor may wo forget the Employers' DoCommittee," who have been most judicious, skilful, and firm. ■ A word' or two, aye, and more than a word or two, of praise and thanks to those men, men of the city, oifice, and counter, men of tho hills and dales, men of the pen, Men of tlio green sward, who trooped together in their might for tho saio of honesty, truth, law, and order: ' . The Government have - been blamed for employing _ special constables, oven by thoso in high positions who should have known better. As a matter of fact, special ■ constables are - a reserve force, at the command of. any Government, to use when the necessity arises. Once sworn in they become guardians of the peace, ail addition to the regular force, and should bo recognised as such. We should also recognise the merciful wisdom which called out the "specials," for they, and they only, stood between tho revolutionary red rioters and the

weapons of the naval and military forces. Without them; many Jives must liavo been .lost, much blood must havo been spilled.. For the question had arisen whether New Zealand was to be ruled by- a Government and Parliament elosted by tho people or whether wo wero to bo at tho terrible mercy of the leaders of tho Red Federation ! ■ •

! It is not quite over, but nearly, so. Let us hope that- tho methods of tlio Bed Federation will be altogether a memory of the past, and that from the italics of this struggle will arise a now and better feeling, a sense of -trust and confidence between employer and employee. Expensive -though tlio conflict has linen, yet it will be cheap at- the price, for with confidence in a strong Government, our hoiiw and foreign relations will be strengthened, languishing industries will revive, new industries will spring up, and -the resources of this rich and wonderful country, now lying 1 dormant, will bo developed—all brought about by the straightforward dealing of a Reform Government! Long may they last is the fervent prayer of an old ami loyal ' COLONIST. Wellington; December 15, 1913. .