The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1925. FORCING THE PACE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1925. FORCING THE PACE.

The extravagant language of Air Cook, the -Miners’ Federation Secretary of Great Britain, should have the effect 3 of forcing the pace in so far as Government action is concerned towards re- ■- calcitrant Labor. Air Cook recognises e that the Conservatives have the 'largest- political majority of modern times, hut infers that even so it is too weak a party to stand against the growing strength of Labor bent on revolutionary tactics. AI r Cook is in for a rude awakening we should say. It is not the custom for Knglishmen in I power to lie ali'aid. Air Baldwin may h be and is, naturally, phlegmatic, and ;- though he has been called a coward by t his late surrender to Labor demands, is anything but that. Air Baldwin had other motives besides .surrendering in “giving in,” as it were, to Labor in the recent crisis, lie sought peace, not necessarily at any price, but with honor. His compromise was of a pro tom character with the object of setting up a final committee of enquiry to explore possible avenues for a final settlement whereby the coal mine trouble might be laid definitely. Air Baldwin probably took an expensive way of reaching the end he has in view, but it might he the cheapest in the end. . the same time we do not know that temporising with men of the line of thought of Air Cook can achieve much, tie and those immediately associated with him have a mission which is anything hut a peaceful one. There is, course, a great contrast between the attitude of Air Cook, and another Labor leader, Air Thomas. It is capable. earnest and far reaching men such as Afr Thomas who save the I-a-bor party from itself, as it were. The Labor party is made tip of units who 1 nro prone to follow their leaders and think afterwards. There would not lie so many foolhardy strikes hut for t disposition of Labor as a whole. The party is easily led by the noisy agitators, and Air Cook's extravagant language seems to appeal to the rank and file of the coal miners, and so he retains an audience. But it is fortunate that His audience is circumscribed by union membership and his extravagant hearing and vision is not likely to win him many recruits outside union circles. Air Cook is quite, right in saying that the struggle is not finished. As a matter of fact it has not begun. Because there are two sides necessary , for a struggle, and only one is in the , lists. Afr Baldwin is marking time as it were, hut Afr Cook’s attitude and statements may force the pace at any , moment, ami then the Prime Minister ( may not appear so inert. Mr Bald- < win has full power and authority be- , hind him so far as force is concerned, c and that he lias not used it. Air Cook rather should be grateful, or at all events be appreciative of the tolerance < of the Prime Alinister. But this inac- j tivity cannot last long, and when au» ] thority begins to move Mr Qoqjv >vn. £

come to realise that the powers of law and order have a more potent force than even “'Labor's steam roller,” Mr Baldwin in his considered judgment does not wish such a conflict to come to pass if it can ho avoided, but it is irresponsible leaders such as Mr Cook who in their vanity would provoke such a disastrous clash.