The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 13, 1890. The Strikes

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 38, 13 September 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 13, 1890. The Strikes

When Mr Champion, the English Labor advocate, sent to the Melbourne Age a communication, of which a telegraphic resume was published iv our lasfc issue, he conveyed a piece of information which must have been startling, as well as novel to those who have been the active members of the Unionß in New Zealand. The laboring classes in this colony, by whom we mean those who earn their livelihood by day wages, cannot have realised when they resolved to beg assistance from their class in England, how very differently situated they were in New Zealand as regards the every day circumstances of their lives. "In England," says Mr Champion, " the workers are willing to support the workers heve (Austria eia) in any just cause; but they cannot forget that the levies they are paying are sorely needed tor the defence of English men and women who are chronically— which means always — within measureable distance of starvation, and so far as the dockers are concerned they could not subscribe were it not for the liberality with which Australians of every class came to their aid in the hour of need." In other words what the London dockers are asked to do is to ' return to the Australians what is left of that money which was aent to the dockers as a free gift. As far as New Zealand is concerned we feel assured that the members of the several Unions who may have been tempted to go out on strike, are too manly and geuerous to accept of charitable aid from people who are poorer than themselves; and thereby cause women and children in England to be deprived of the common necessaries of life in order that strong men may walk about in idleness on "strike pay." That men in the Australian colonies should, from the abundance which is available for every one, help the poor and distressed in England, is but just and in character with the name for generosity which they have so well deserved and earned by past deeds of munificence ; but that they should demand and accept any return beyond expres eious of gratitude and regard is out of keeping altogether.