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Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1927, Page 2

Thu British Government proposes to go a long way to suppress all possibility of future labor hold-ups such as brought great ruin on Groat Britain last year. The* trade unions are to be regulated in such way as to prevent mass striking. .Mass striking is a form of revolution which attacks the whole community in its linal effect, ft is a weapon capable, not only of doing great harm, hut also of carrying the strikers to lengths, which might cause serious national results. Tt is the duty of the Government favourable to the maintenance of law and order, and to the upholding of national security, to prevent the possibility of excesses. Steps to that owl have now been taken. Regarded in cold blood they are believed to he a menace to the labor organisations, and are calculated to create a great deal of hos- [ tility. There has not been any pro--1 nouneenient on the part of the Government yet, but it may he anticipated the Conservative Party will support 111? measure, Labour is stoutly opposed to the Bill, and it seems clear that the Liberals are more or less divided. In any case it would he expected the Liberals would take a less drastic course, but in the end aiming for the same goal—the upholding of law and order. We do not know that, Great Britain will be disposed to face a general strike in a hurry, or any wages or hours question which is reasonably possible to create a rupture. On that account it may lie asked is drastic legislation a (necessity. Tt would appear that the proposal just now is something like the trailing of the coat to the proverbial Hibernian. It is certainly having that effect and there is the promise of a wordy conflict, if nothing more serious. Looking to the capable manner in which the Government handled the last big strike at Home, and the wholesome feeling created by the splendid hacking of the people, the general situation was not at all insecure. Rather, would it appear that the extremists on the Government side have forced the preparation of the Bill. And in the drafting of the Bill the measure has been made as rigorous as it well could he—possibly with political objectives which will become more clear as Parliament argues the point. In the main, therefore, it would seem that- the country could do without the legislation at this juncture. though its appearance is an object lesson as to what is possible to secure proper supremacy for Ithe responsible authorities. The debate is sure to be a treated one, and is certain to he followed with great, not to say grave interest by all desirous of seeing a fair deal done in this matter.