THE STRIKE WEAPON.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 112, 28 May 1937, Page 4

THE STRIKE WEAPON.

After being maintainel for some five or six weeks^ during whieh U maximum of inconvenience bag been caused to tbe ordinary public and to tbe scores of tbonsands of visitors assembled for tbe Coronation tbe Eondon bnsmen's striek bas ended. The net result, so we are toid, is tbat tbe men have lost £450,009 in wages, tbeir union £120,000 in strike pay and tbe ownerg £500^000 in fares — something well over a utfllion in all. And now tbe men have agreed to have their grievances considered by an arbitral tribunal# a eoneession tbat would no doubt bave been readily granted at tbe outset. A#1 tbis provides only an outstanding exampla of tbe futility tbat so often attends recourse to tbe strike weapon, or at any rate of tbe' unnecessary losses tbat are in tbat way incurred. It also makes tbe ordinary citizen wonder wbat it is tbat, nnder conditions sucb as now obtain in tbis country, tbere is still so marked a disposition on tbe part .of somo unions to make a strike, or something like it, tbe first resort wben tbqre is a dispute, bowever trifling, witb tbe employers. One would bave reasonably tbougbt tbat, under a Labour Government of tbeir own cboosing, sucb manifestations would have ceased or at any rate bave been substantially redueed in number, Oii tbe contrary, it would appear as if tbey had really inereased and, generally speaking, to bave been based on much flimsier grounds. Tbe «nly conclusion to wbieb the onlooker ean coxne is tbat tbe unionists) • or perbaps more correetly tbeir leaders^ are anxious to give demonstra. ilons of tbeir power, no matter wbat tbe cost to themselves or to others, wbile tbe Government looks complacently on, tbus giving tacit ttpproval. Oue tbing is certain, tbat, in tbe end, it is a belpless public^ looking in vain to tbe Government for protection,. tbat bas to pay.