LAST YEAR'S STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2172, 10 June 1914, Page 7

LAST YEAR'S STRIKE

i OPPOSITION'S ATOTUDE CONDEMNED. Roforring to tho lato strike when ho spoko at Carterton on Monday evening, Sir Walter Buchanan said that the Government had been accused of not settling tho strike as sooii as it might lrnvo done, statement that Sir Joseph Ward could have settled tho striko in two days was too foolish to •consider. He could assure thorn that Mr. Jlassey was most anxious to do everything tiossiblo to bring about a settlement. Ho approached tho strikers, but his overtures wero turned down. Ho next npproachod tho "Rod Feds" and suggested Sir Joshua Williams as mediator. This proposal was also rejected. It was not possible to come to terms with tho "Red Feds." The Government ■smv to it that law and order was maintained, while the work on tho wharves was resumed. How else could the striko have boon settled? The authorities treated tho matter as carefully as possible, tho measures taken being much more lenient than those used in other countries. Thero was no doubt that tho speech mado by Sir Joseph Ward in tlio Houio of Representatives at that timo had done much to prolong tho strike. Tho speaker here compared the attitude of the Opposition leaders in South Africa with that of Sir Joseph Ward. They coukl not but commend tho action of tho Government throughout the whole affair. ' (Applause.) Ho did not deny the worker tho right to strike, if not treated well by his employer, but ho did not beliovo in a rady of men preventing others from working, if thev so wished. (Applause.) One ot the rosults'of the strike was the passing of tho Labour Disputes Investigation Act, a. measure thni would have a farreaching effpet in regard to futiiro labour disputes in this country. Evcnone would hope that the passing of tins Act would open an era of peace ior iSew Zealand. (Applause.)