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Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1931, Page 4

In referring to 3lr Holland’s figure of speech in the House last week as an incitement to strike methods, we appear, according to the Argus, to have done 31r Holland some injustice. And we are supposed to have done so with some malicious interest, which however is very wide of the mark, as we have no intention of injuring 3.1 r Holland or anyone else. 31 r Holland according to our contemporary “has said nor done anything t.o precipitate a strike, or to encourage it in anyway! Yet he was aware that outside the House leaders of the unions were threatening strikes, and lie spoke of “the Government loading tlie dice against the workers,” with tlie intention of provoking some overt act. Mi* Holland could have served the purpose better by counselling the workers to a more sane state of mind. But he did not. nor did his Labour Col. leagues. All spoke as though the strike was a. throat against the GoveiqimclH if civil service wages were affected or tin* arbitration awards reviewed. 31r Holland and the Argus talk of the Government, as if the public were not concerned. Any strike, if and when it comes, will not he against the Government, but against the public. Any disorganisation or loss from the upheaval will fall on the people as a whole, who will have to foot, tlu* bill also to repay the cost of maintaining law and order. The Government is not going “to rake in” a couple of millions, as the Argus puts it; the Government in the interests of the peoples’ national finance is going to save an amount of the annual outgoings which will help to balance the budget. 3!ore is being paid out than is, or can conic in, and wisely those responsible for the public administration are balancing the recounts. Private employers an? not likely “to rake in” anything at all substantial. Already many of them have not only reduced wages but also staffs. Tliev have had to do so for financial selfpreservation. They were drifting, and they had to balance their year’s accounts. The economic pressure or today forces that duty on individuals, on companies, and the country, and those who neglect it will go to the wall, and end disastrously. This is what the Government is seeking to avoid nationally and the public support should lie wholehearted. It is just at that point where Mr Holland and the Labour members are failing.