THE “BLACK” DOCTRINE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1917, Page 1

THE “BLACK” DOCTRINE

MEANS CIVIL WAR. Judge Heyden in cancelling' the registration and the preference clause in the award of the Trolly. Draymen and Carters’ Union in Sydney recently,'said that Uie doctrine of “black” as'develop--d in the present Sydney strike in ant civil war. His Honor took into consideration the previous conduct cl the organisation ; he had oileu had f< • deal with its. affairs, and had” often noticed its attitude. On the one hand, it had beuefitled very much by the operations oi the Act; on the other hand, it had distinguished itself by its peaceable attitude in times of trouble keeping at the work of the community that was entrusted to it to do, and if this had been a matter in which he could make a distinction between a well behaved union and a turbulent, unruly union he could take those circumstances into consideration.

“ But it is not a ease of that kind,” continued Ids Honor. “It is an application for cancellation, and 1 can either cancel or not cancel : there is no intermediate course. I do not think the distinction could be made in applications of this kind.”

■ Mr Connington (for the union) Section 47 allows of the .suspension

His Honor: Yes, I have looked at that. But this troublejs one entirely on its own, and it is very serious indeed. This is the first trouble, so far as I can remember, that lias brought quite plainly home tq the general community what the “black” doctrine really means The “ black ” docrine means war—there is no other term for it : it is civil war. It means that when trouble arises between employer and employee, even il on a small scale, the whole community will be put to whatever suffering, loss and trouble may lie necessary to ensure victory tor the employee or cm ployees. That is what the “ black” doctrine means.

“ If it were applied the other way —if the community, or the •employers, were to apply that doctrine people could be starved to death. And tlie application of this doctrine by the unions would starve a large number of people if the activities of the community did not counteract it.

“It is an attempt to starve the community—to ruin. It is a revolutionary doctrine. There is-iro other word for it except civil war.

“\\ T e have seen lately in the papers how a community in the north of Australia is laced with what might very well become starvation. That is the result of this doctrine. Tin's strike more than an'v I can remember lias shown that plainly:' and it lias raised the question —l lie public question whether such a doctrine can be permitted to exist any longer. This union has taken its side with those who have applied it. l'lieir strike is an illustration of the doc trine. Tlie affidavits only refer to stoppages by the men because because something or other was ‘ black.’

“ I do not possibly see how a union that has treated the. community in that way and applied the principle with such seventy can be considered to retain a position under the Arbitration Act. In granting preference, which is another branch, the Legislature lias clearly contemplated that it should be held only by peaceful unions and unions not violating the law. The same is the case with regard to registration. Registration gives privileges that are not to lie attained by unions that strike. “ I think, really, tlie fairest way to put matters of this kind i.s that the unions themselves cancel their registration. When they disobey the Act they ' cut themselves off logically, and in giving full effect to their action the Court is only recognising tliei reaction.”