The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1925. THE QUESTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1925. THE QUESTION.

Inn question of the 1 ionr is tin* settlement of the British seamen's .strike.

I he seamen are holding up the overseas trade of both Australia and New Zealand in particular, and the Coinmonv.eulth and the Dominion are suffer-

ing accordingly. In both countries general elections are approaching rather rapidly. The election in this country is expected to take place about the -Ith. November a month from next Wednesday and the election in Australia about ten days later. The questions bolore the electors in hotfi countries are identical, namely, to express an opinion whether they desire to tie governed by a duly doted Parliament or by outside extremists; and whether they desire law and order ami public .security to he maintained. There are tuo fortes, for and against. Those supporting the Government in both countries leave no doubt in the mind that they desire to l.e e.u the side of law and order and national security, and would gladly see the la-t of the nut•ide extremists who have come amongst us to lie stirring up trouble and entailing loss at their sweet will. Those supporting the Labor opposition seen;

to favor support to the extremists, the cause of all the trouble. In Australia the Labor Governments are not showing any desire to help the Federal Government; rather the contrary, they seek to throw all possible obstacles in the way. and block national action as much as they can. In Mew Zealand the Labor opposition is maintaining a silence. Perhaps thereby they show some discretion. But their press and their own attitude indicate their sympathy with those fomenting the strike, and were it net that we are on the eve of a general election, doubtless something would he heard from them. AVliat is presenting itself now is not a new danger. It has been overshadowing the lountries for a long time. The extremists have been ingratiating themselves insidiously. There have been a succession of strikes, efforts at direct action and jrh control, and the creation of a state of general

unroot ns part of their sinister aims. The situation lias grown more and more acute, till now industrially and constitutionally it becomes a national question the upholding of law and order, and the maintenance of national security. Now Zealand has not moved drastically yet. The Prime Minister is reported to l.e negotiating, hut nothing is heard of the negotiations. It is time Mr f'oates took the people into his confidence and dis Used what is being done. If he i- not succeeding. then he needs public opinion to hack him up in any line of action he deems necessary to secure the steady working of overseas trade, which is the life blood of the Dominion. If what he suggests in a reasonable way is not acceptable to those controlling the maintenance of the strike, then the people will oxp<v t Mr Coates in the public interests, to set about breaking the strike. Protection must he provided for those prepared to work and man the ships, and send our produce to the world’s markets. Mr Coates we hope, will not sue for pea’e. nor oiler terms which in any way re ognisc the brazen actim of the strikers. Mr Coates, rather, we hope, will submit terms which he will expect to he accepted. and failing acceptance he will have his mind made up to meet the situation, ft is a question of who is to rule. That is the real issue Mr Coates is to deal with, and he is not going to the recalcitrants merely as the speaker of the political party of which he is the head, hut ol the people as a whole ol whom he i- the accredited leader for the time being. As Prime .Minister much has been given t„ Mr Coates, and now in a national crisis much will he expected of him I lie protection of the national right • and liberties of the people as a whole. Km |i is the question ol the hour. It is a crisis in the history o! our times and events are marching rapidly to the climax to decide the issue one- way or the other.