Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1927, Page 2

A condition of industrial tyranny, which labor circles arc disposed to enforce under extreme leadership was demonstrated very palpably lately in Australia. During the recent strike in Queensland tho Government compelled the railway-men to handle goods declared “black’’ and generally set itself to defeat the efforts of the strikers to get command of the means of public transport and thus to control the State. In the opinion of the Trade Union Congress, the policy of the Govern men was “a direct violation,” and it proposes to set on foot a movement to “discipline” Labour politicians more severely in future. It seems important to realise precisely what these decisions mean. The case for the Labour Government could not be put more clearly and forcibly than it was put byMr McCormack, the Queensland Prime Minister in bis appeal to the general public- to support bis policy. It was. as lie said, simply a question whether the administration of public affairs should be left in the hands of dulyelected representatives of the jieople, or whether supreme control should be exercised by self-appointed and irresponsible outsiders, many of whom professed to aim at the complete destruction of the existing industrial, social, and poliicnl system. Tt is for the heinous crime of defending constitutional liberty and the rights of the people against a self-established “dictatorship of the proletariat” that Mr .McCormack is denounced and is to bo “disciplined.” Are the workers of Australia prepared to submit to such autocratic tyranny as this? The New South Wales elections were probably some reply to the query. But in all -countries where labour seeks political dominance, it would be wise for the people to ponder on possibilities if extreme and irresponsible labor is aiming at the Treasury benches. The people as a whole should make a practice of studying the labour policy and labour methods to ascertain bow far along socialistic lines tlieir political intentions will go. Apart from wliat it attempted so frequently in the way of industrial tyranny, of which the Queensland episode is a striking example, there are the lengths to which they will go in extravagant administration. At election time it is customary for tho party to be on its best behaviour, with one foot always on the soft political pedal. Tt i.s wise therefore to study the deeds in the time, for after all, acts speak louder than words, conveying in fact a truer import of things ns they are. rather than what they might seem.