PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1927, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT IS A GENERAL STRIKE. “ A general strike is directed not at employers or at a body of employers, hut is a concerted action by a body of citizens to compel the Government and the conimuntiy at large to do something which the Government and the community do not desire.”—Sir Douglas Hogg. ALP., the Attorney-General.

GETTING THE PERSPECTIVE. “ When we are a little further away from the war we shall sec how much trade had to do with it, but already by the sheer necessity of things we are considering how far Germany and ourselves can co-operate, and thus avoid mutual economic loss.”—Air Ramsay MacDonald.

THE NATION’S GASH-BOX. ‘There can be no jugglery with the cash-box of the nation. His experience as Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that nothing, was more intricate, complex and involved than the heads of State finance, and one false move in a. speculative sense would plunge .the nation into chaos. From his official post at the Treasury he saw what would happen if the extremists got into control ; if they obtained romniand of tbe mast delicate instrument of State governance, and lie did not f*elish a task of such vast responsibility. He translates, every political problem into a formula of figures, and if we can satisfy him. that a proposal is an honest one in his arithmetic, then we

can rely upon bis ardent support every turn of the political wheel. .Mr Edward Corbett, in the “Fortnightly.” SEN DAY CLOSING NEVER repealed. “Practically the whole of the (British Empire .and the English-speaking world adopted Sunday closing, except England. Sunday Closing Acts had never been repealed,” said the Rev. E. Lacey, of Batley, in a speech recorded in the “Batley Reporter.” The benefits were so obvious that no party or interest had ever had the temerity to question them. Sunday closing in Ireland (five towns partially exempted) was introduced for four years only. hut it proved such a boon that for 24 years the Act was renewed year by year by Conservatives and Liberals alike (1882-1906), and in 1906 it was extended and made permanent. Scotland had bad it 73 years, the Isle of Alan 70 years, Ireland 40 years, and Wales 47 years.” A STRIKE MAKER. OR STRIKE BREAKER ? ) “To force the Bill as it stands upon the Statute Book by the mechanical power of a majority iii Parliament, owing its existence to a defective electoral system and representing only a minority in the constituencies, would be a dangerous course. Instead of preventing another general strike it might make one. AYe cannot tell whether Air Baldwin agrees with, us that Oliver Cromwell, with all his lack of rhetorical form, was flic most satisfactory speaker that ever uttered himself in our country. The Thirteenth Speech, as Carlyle calls it, speaks to the very soul and instinct pf this nation like few accents known. T am hugely taken with the word settlement, with the thing and with the notion of it. And, indeed, I think he is not worthy to lire in England who if Pot.’ ’’—“The Observer.”