Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. APRIL 24 1917 THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. APRIL 24 1917 THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT.

Everyone will rejoice to lo&rn tka the strike is settled. But there wil be a desire to know on what “ terms' It has been settled. The position wm such that, it was uot a matter of indus trial peace at any price, but an indoe trial peace on the only terms acceptable absolute submission to law and author jty. It will nave been a tremendou mistake if there has been any bargain ing as to “terms'* at such a time o national crisis. < The country cannoi afford to prostitute itself to any seotioi of the community, when the weal o the couutry as a, whole is at stake We hope for the sake of the men, a' for the country itself, that they havi gone back unconditionally. Any con cessions just now will raise biitei feelings and a desire for more drastii action in the future so that upheaval! of this character cannot be lightly eri tered into. Tbe effect of what a hand’ ful of men have already done falls a! most entirely on the community at large, The shook and dislocation ct trade and intercourse is a penalty on the public at large which the strikers escape. The Government, fearfal o! the far-reaching effect! of the strike, for though a handful of men only were involved, they possessed an organisation which had in its power certain paralysing possibilities, put the screw on the public rather than the strikers. The rush to atop trains aud industries and the Bwift manner in which Government upset arrangements duly entered into, fell not upon the offenders, but npon those who were already suffering end who will continue to suffer because of the panicky, action of the authorities. The victims of the Government action were the people of the community who were and are behind them in maintaining law aud order, and it was a poor requital for tbe loyalty to make those who are honorable and faithfal to the State suffer for those who stood in open rebellion against the State. Tbe Government explanation of tbe position and what has been done will be awaited with interest, but the country will want more than explanations. They will seek for some national security in the future. There will be a demand for aotion so that such a crisie shall never arise again. Ways and means must be found to impose rigorous penalties on strikes against the national weifare, penalties which will be incurred automatically, and not after long delayed bargainings or'the upsetting, of the whole community. Tbe matter is too for-reaching to be left to the tender mercies of any party of men who may ba influenced or cajoled by what appears to ba an ominous outlook. The country must take to heart the clear view the Revd J. E. Holloway pat before the public on Cass Square yesterday. They must be prepared to sacrifice what they have called their “independence” for the good of the national family. This must apply to organisations of men as well as to individuals. It must apply to unions as to parties and sects ; to employers as to workmen. The folk mu&t learn submission to authority in the first place, and thereafter when the common weal is served, individual rights might he considered. Mr Holloway’s address was admirably timed in the light of passing events, and its substance held np to very clear view exactly what the nation needs to-day to right itselt. The war has a disorganising effect. It is ohanging the whole aspect of affairs. It is creating a new condition. The individual must sacrifice on his part, as tbe nation must make sacrifices as a whole. So with bands of individuals, they must be prepared to sacrifice Borne measure of their selfishness for the good of the whole. The rights of the new born world demand itj and the changing opinions of the people now fully realise the necessity. Thus as bd outcome of this present f tribe, the country must profit by tbe lessons it has been

taught. Tbe liberty sod license of men to strike, which they have hitherto taken irrespective of what follows, must be materially curtailed by the enforcement of rigorous penalties which it will not be in the power of probably a facillating Government to enforce, but an authority vested in a legal tribunal to administer under the order of good government supported and approved by the people as the plain law of tbo land.