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Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1925, Page 2

Tukiu: will he general hacking on the part of all "ho believe in law and order in the decision of the Government through the Prime Minister to end the present disastrous state of affairs caused by the shipping hold-up by irroponsible seamen. Free labor is to he called for. and the Government will take such steps as are necessary to protect those prepared to work the ships. It is the obvious thing to do. The strikers have been holding a pistol at the people, stating they will not work- the ships except on conditions outside, those on which they agreed to. The bargain does not suit them, tliev say. and proceed to repudiate it with lm thought- fi r t he. < (immunity interterests. The community interests are paramount, and in tin- instance the recalcitrants "ill find that it is m.

The attitude oi the strikers aud those consorting with or encouraging the strike, is against the community as a whole. The shipping companies arc the common carrier- for our produce, which is the trade and life blood ot the- country. A hold-up ol the shipping stops commerce, and produces a state of slump which is hut ruination. It is difficult to understand the ioolhardy altitude of I lie strikers or to believe that a colonial people woiilt hack them up. Ye! we find the La hoi leaders and pro-., leaning that wav. What can he at the bottom of it ! The nc ii have refused all possible consideration by any tribunal. They have* resolved not to work e.vcpt on their ii-Aii iinpn--iblc terms, and now rigid inii.- 1 assert itself, and those dispo-.ed to do wrong must stand aside, and alio" the right to take its course. It ha- keen suggested that there is a

sinister intlnem-e at evils fomentim: tlu> strike. There must he something obnoxious lor surely men on (heir own

simple volition would not maintain tlie course they have taken. II that be so, we must assume that the action h ol Die revolutionary order aimed primarily it ih. - -. 1. ! G inineip *d il" coin.try. and henl mi supplanting law and order with free and unconstitutional action. That way leads to an upheaval it "ere "ise not to tolerate, a lid so it is and we hel icvc. t here "ill he full hacking to the Government action. It may he that the move of the strikers lias behind it some plan ol campaign to disrupt society generally. These things have happened in other emmtries. It is possible it may he_ attempted here. Ii is for all to conic out in the open and plainly show that this menace will not he tolerated, hut all right thinking citizens will stand bv the Government in the maintenance of law and order, and the suppression of those trying to overlirmv the State.