The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1925. WHO ARE THE PEOPLE?

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1925. WHO ARE THE PEOPLE?

T 7 >K I’i ime .Minister on i uosday made a statement in the Mouse rel.iti \e to the seamen's strike. We notice that tlio I.nlionr newspaper. published at i.revmouth, headed the message with ‘lie caption : “Statement by Mr Coates, From Exporters’ Viewpoint." Who are the exporters 'i Are they not the producers from the soil - the toll; icsponsible lor the trade which brings to New Zealand its prospering times in ] roportion to the value ol the exports ? From that quarter is derived the income ol a far-reaching band of employers who are able to alionl employment to the many ami provide a means of sustenance for the thousands of manual laborers who have come here seeking a livelihood. :.m! who benefit by the spread of tho trade derived from the main commercial ei:lllow of the Dominion. Tho blue hook tells us that for tho last available figures, 11122-23. the principal expo-’.s of domestic produce trom New Zeal iltd totalled £•!().220.80S. The enormous value of these exports is returned to the country and circulated in the form of money (the much abused capital") which keeps the industries of New Zealand going. If we are to have consideration only for class in the Dominion. it seems spec ially evident to ensure a regular flow of trade that the exporters as a class should have special consideration. We take it Mr Coates is of that mind, and it is to that end. no doubt his negotiations are now proceeding. For the time being the trend of the discussion is not disposed. I nt having the welfare of New Zealand in mind the negotiations ran he directed in one channel onlv—the maintenance of oversea shipping in regulated :id unbroken order. Short of that. New Zealand must sooner, rather than later face a financial crisis which would W national in its effect and none would i ts-v-i-rr or more keenly than the laboring man. Mr Holland, the leader of the Labour Party, interjected a request for an opportunity to prose it the men’s side of the case to Parliament. Tho Prime Minister claimed ho had done so. If Mr Holland wished

to interpose we are sure lie knows enough of the forms of the House, and parliamentary procedure to say all he "anted to say. But it is not unlikely that Labor is pursuing its policy of silence, which with an approaching genera] ole; tion is golden in value. Mosee in this shipping -trike a uiovoinont to defy authority, to disregard pledges. and to treat an agreement as a scrap ol paper. (Iroai Britain and her oversea Dominions in consort went into the (Ireat War to vindicate her signature to a scrap of paper, and regarding signed agreements as something to he honored, would not flinch from such an ordeal again that a wrong might he averted and justice done. At the moment the over- ms Business of New Zealand (as Australia also) is held up hy this strike which is nothing hut a negation ol an agreement. Time is slipping hy and tie effect of the strike is going to touch and harm many innocent loll;. Ine people as a "hole are going to suffer and is this to he Because a class ignore- an agreement and delies authority t,, enforce that agreement. The extremists responsible for the impasse are calling to their aid organised labor in and about maritime operations to support the British seamen who are the prime offenders. The dispute - if it, loav he so called—is being made a Dominion one. In that case it is for the Dominion as a "hole— tile people as w ],ole- to take up the challenge to lawful authority, and moot the position with determination to uphold the law and maintain order. In a former maritime strike in this country the primary producers had to organise to break a strike which held up similarly the export trade of New Zealand. Mailers are lending again in the same direction. and (love rumen t will fall short in its duty if it does not set about i„ a linn and definite way to maintain Dio trade of the Dominion which is in essence and fact, the life blood of the people as a whole.