Correspondence.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 November 1912, Page 3

Correspondence.

[Our correspondonto' opinions are their own; the responsibility of editorial ones makes sufficient ballast for tho Editor's shouldors] THE STRIKE WEAPON. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Mr Legor takes a deal of pains to show' what an effective thing the strike method is. "When wo look at tho matter umlor discussion, viz., tho Waihi strike, we feel that Mr Leger has been adding up 99 single strokes and proved them to be 100. If the strike business is such a success, then tho Fedeivationits of Waihi ought to be satisfied, because, according to Mr Lcgor. they had an effective system, and it must come right. No. Mr Legcr, this world lias seen hundreds of strikes, and the percentage of wins do not total 5 per cent. Against this T can say nnd maintain with truth that each and every union which has appealed to the Arbitration Court in New Zealand has been benefited, in wages, reduction of hours and other conditions. The Arbitration Court is practically a new institution; it requires amendments. It is like all things that are the production of human beings, faulty, but it is tho best regulator of industrial disputes wo have yet had. Mr Leger gives me great assistance in proving the Waihi strike a blunder if bis assertion that tho Engine Drivers , Union was fostered 'by their "financial majesties" to ennso a elcarage, then these gentlemen must ho rubbing their hands in satisfaction. The members of the Miners Union were as blind and stupid as bats when they walked into the trap. If the Federation wan a power to enact and demand and did enact and obtain, as Mr Leger alleges, how glad the magnates must have been when the strike was announced. They simply stood aloof and waited for the result. The foregoing, it must be clearly understood, is reasoned from tho position as laid down by Mr Legcr. There is another .side to the matter. Mr Leger gives no proof of his assertions. He quotes no evidence of any kind, but we do know tin's, viz., Thnt the members of the Waihi Miners' Union (Fedorntionists) did tear tho Union .Tack into strips, and hoisted on the pole at their hall the blood rod flag of Revolution, the Jacobin flag of assassination and anarchy: that the majority of the members of the Union (Fcderationist.s) scoffed and held up to ridicule tfie religion of other members. Kurther, the leaders of the Federation constantly and incessantly threatened to paralyze the wheels of industry in the dominion. Under the circumstances, may it not be possible that those who joined the now Union were men who had sense enough to value the privileges they enjoyed in this dominion under the protection of the Union Jack; that they were sincere in their religious beliefs; and that they liad no desire or could sec no good in paralyzing the wheels of industry?

Mr Lege-r uisks, Wliy fix what the worker should sell his labour power at? The Arbitration Court <loes not fix what the worker .sliall soil his labour power at. No worker is compelled to work below liis own price. The minimum is fixed to save workers from tbo sweater and the oppressor. To follow Mr Logcr in his lust paragraph: "Allow merchants to sell at will ami retain the power to raise prices and indirectly reduce the workers' wages the next day of the Court fixingP A child could seo tbo weakness of it." If wages are raised under a strike or threat of strike, will Mr Logor contend that the same tiling does not happen a.s a cure for trusts and monopolies. Would not the £120,000 lost in wages in the Waihi strike have been better spent in a cooperative supply company?. Tn that caao the Waihi miners could have been their own grocers, drapers, bootmakers, butchers, bakers, etc. With, such a large capital they would have been enabled to take advantago of the best markets to purchase in. What folly this strike and what a chance was lost to remedy the. very evil.s Mr Leger complains of! Aβ he truly says, A child could see the weakness of it!— Yours, etc.,

SHANNON COIUIESPONDIOT OF THE CHRONICLE. FEDERATIONISTS Oil ARBITRATIONISTS. (To the Editor). Sir, —Surely the. electors of Otaki have a right to know whether Mr .Robertson, M..P. for the electorate, supports tho Federation of Labour in their actions at Waihi. T. was surprised to notice that he failed to give a straight-out answer to this question in his letter published by you a few days ago. It is unfair and despicable to suggest that Mr Robertson is a supporter of Annrchial tactics, tout as your Shannon representative writes "wo want God's truth at the present time," ■and the burning question is—does Mr Robertson support the Federationists at Wftihi, or does ho support the -Arbifcrationists? Tho electors are entitled to a. straightout reply to this question.—l am, etc.,

AN ELECTOR