The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1926. DISILLUSIONMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1926. DISILLUSIONMENT.

The great strike at Home lias been useful in bringing disillusionment to the masses among whom are many ot the leaders in Labor thought. The realisation of the futility of the strike weapon is something worth while, bocause 'the experience will he of good stead in the days tj come. The inside history of the strike shows that it began under a handicap, for the leaders were not unanimous. Perhaps the sanest exposition of the situation has come from Mr Hodge, who is able to point a moral and adorn his tale with practical conclusions afforded by the strike aftermath, because lie has been at heart in favour of conciliation in preference to striking. To a great extent be is a disciple in polities of Mr Lloyd George, so that bis views are moulded on Liberal lines, and they certainly read as a very plain exposition of the situation as the strike has revealed itself. There are many ’ factors to he taken into account in a strike. The economic side is of importance, but not all important. The human side, after all, is the chief factor. A great strike such as it was attempted to engineer, did not affect only those immediately engaged in the strike. It went much further—for it was a challenge to the whole nation—in that all the conn- ' try were to Jie. drawn fnfo it. The

promoters thus over-reached themselves, for the challenge caused a wave of public opinion to arise, which no class could with-stand. Had the miners been content to continue their hold-up alone, the fight would have lasted longer, but as it was every man who was called out to assist the miners by striking was a lever to help finish the fray the quicker. The experience shows as it lias done before, that there is no rough and ready way of bludgeoning the country into an unfair or impossible position. The old British motto of “live and let live,” holds good all the time, and the country will stand only for that. The strike leaders it would appear aimed at starving the country into submission. The Oovernment met that challenge in such a way that the attempt was circumvented, and the failure of the strike method became apparent. Now. that it has failed, the striking unions may speculate on the economic side of the matter. They must realise how foolhardy was the effort and the loss the unions have to hear is enormous. The men who lose their jobs in a country where there were so many unemployed will not feel very happy about strike methods in the future. Although there is the cry of “no victimisation,’’ that principle must apply in the first instance to those who wore loyal to the employers, and who came to the rescue to prevent a national calamity. After they are accommodated with work, it. will - lie quite time enough to give consideration to those who in emergency had no thought or consideration for the welfare of their employers or country. Tf these folk are completely disillusioned it will he a good thing for themselves, and a notable advance for their country. The soundest knowledge wo are told comes from the hard school of experience, and if the experiences of May month are stored up in the minds of the people at Home, as they should he, we shall have a very wise nation for the future when there are reports and rumours of strikes abroad. The sanest thing about the whole business was the ballot taken by the British seamen, who exercised sound judgment, and without being blindly led gave their votes against a strike. It was a wise course and a well advised step to take, and other trades and professions would have shown wisdom if they had pursued that deliberate action instead of blindly following leaders who it is clear now were not in agreement among themselves. The turn of the tide in labor thought should be of immense value to the Old Country.