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Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1924, Page 2

Tin: signs of disintegration in the ranks of the railwnymen, who were connected with the late ill-judged strike, is almost a natural sequence in keeping with the experience rather common in connection with strikes. There are proved facts in connection with strikes which those disposed to revolt might well ponder over. The strongest, and perhaps most autocratic trade union that ever existed was the Australian watersidors. Where are they to-day ? T-CiPotl )>v their own woajion—the strike. The Australian shearers have suffered the same fate. The Xew South Wales rail and tram men lost their strike, and many have not had a decent wage since. The Sydney Bakers' Union was wiped out of existence. and hundreds of its members have had to take up another calling. The Melbourne police lost their strike and their fat jobs. These instantcs might be added to. The New Zealand experience lias been akin to that of Australia, and unions here have been ruined liiumeiall v bv the futilitv of

using the strike weapon. While the unions have experienced heavy losses, those of the men affected have been disastrous also. A strike carries ruin in its train, and the whole community is more or less affected. An industrial war in which n strike becomes the battlefield, is as disastrous and inconclusive for the combatants as a military war. Both sides lose. There is a great exhaustion of resources, and enoiinous losses all lound, and these can never Ik- made up. Bad blood is fostered. A truce is forced only by the stringency of the conditions, and a settlement is reached onlv bv a

compromise. Tt wore better to probe the possibilities of a compromise before throwing down the gunge of battle and engaging in a conflict which becomes more and more bitter as the days go by. Innocent people are drawn into the consequences of a strike and so the national loss spreads and spreads. There have been many examples of the futility of the strike weapon, and it is time workers had their eves opened to ilu* fact that they are the prime sufferers on all occasions. Surely with all the good sense and understanding in the world, a tribunal can be created whereat all parties will have a fair and impartial bearing and receive a generous measure of justice, without a revolt against the community as a whole.

Thr Kokatalii-Koiterangi district is organising again for its winter show. It will be remembered that last year a show of quite unexpected excellence was provided, and from the experience then gleaned a further advance should

be made in the coming display. There was the suggestion that these shows might- bo bold in the town as ensuring a larger field for attendance, but now tbnt the district has such a fine hall there arc all the facilities for the local display. Besides, the fact that

lie show is held locally ensures far

more home entries, and a better attendance of the country fok than if the whole countryside had to make their way to town. The local show ensures the cultivation, too. of a more

healthy spirit of rivalry. At the same time it would l>e a useful education for the townspeople to see what the

adjacent country districts can produce. In order to attract as many townspeople as possible the show management should endeavor to arrange for cheap fares, and a regular motor serviee throughout show days. In that way more of the people from the town and surroundings will he attracted, and the lest results achieved in securing the interest of the general public by displacing in so practical a manner the resources of the immediate neighborhood. In connection with the display itself, il is to be hoped that the district bays will be again a feature of the exhibition, and that, the competition in this respect will he extended to other pastoral ' localities in Westland. The scope and variety of goods to he produced on a farm are endless almost, and to townspeople in particular the display along those lines is educative certainly. The domestic classes too were a feature last season. Thjs is an important section as it gives full play to the housewives, who seldom have the opportunity of being j rumiiicui in regard to farm product ion. yet are so indis; enrible to the success of the dairy producing industry. The settlers who are promoting the annual show deserve even' encouragement from the public. They arc engaged in a task which will spread its benefits all through the community, and add not a Tittle to the all round progress. No doubt when show clays arrive the public patronage will not bo slumped and all who can will help to make the 1024 show a greater success than that of last year.