The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1931. DIRECT ACTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1931. DIRECT ACTION.

Tun Seamen’,s. Union at least in part, is resorting to direct action in Australia. This is not only the case in Nvw Sbuith Wales where shipping is held up. lit would.- -Appear that the militant side of the Union is being directed from some outside source in {order to damage shipping and injure the Country , generally. The Communist organisation is fairly aggressive in Australia., and it continues to do the Labour movement permanent h jinn in the Cbmmonweajlbli. i*e position liais grown so acute that tne New Guard, a body of civilians, is prepared to take the field against the irresponsible strikers, rather than see trade and industry disorganised. It would appear that direct action is to be answered by direct actidn. But it is at- least pleasing to find, that the Federal Prime Minister is prepared to do what- is right rather tiinn see the country troubled by the strikers. Mr SeulJin haw told the soumen their position is not tenable, and that the Government Is prepared to uphold law and order in the event of a, clash, With a State and Federal Cabinet, both Labour, the New Guard had its misgivings' as to the amount of rope the authorities might give the .striker Si. No l doubt the bellicose declaration of the New Guard has had a wholesome effect, and it must have helped in focussing the minds of the authorities on the situation. The New Guard should help also to maintain public opinion on right lines* Political La,hour has arrived all along at ,til'd contraction of voluntary or compulsory service in regard to defence, external or internal. There is the effort often manifest to lessen the States ability to defend itself by physical force in the event of the emergency arising. Yet' evidence such as Australia produces from time to time, in the attempts to dragoon communities by reason, of direct notion, its a reminder that a State needs under any and all circumstances, a,n adequate force to secure law and order, lit will never do to permit the rabble to believe they are masters of the situation, fop freedom and liberty will be ;insban;tly removed. There must be recognised ..authority for gooff - government, and that authority must have behind at the force to maintain its ordered will. When authority is undermined there is,disaster, and this could be avoid'd by maintaining an observance of the law which invariably “provides the means for redressing grievances in a: constitutional manner. Courts of justice were-pro-vided so that differences might be settled in an ordered manner and the decision be respected. 'An installed Government is there to deal out justice in a large court, and it must have the weight to enforce its decisions, in other words to adminisbci the .law of the land. The obnoxious elemerit which has been drifting into Australia of late has’ designs to upset constitutional authority and substitute a class rule which is definitely unfair because it is so shortsighted. The direct nctionists in Australia are giving the country a taste of the new rule whereby the man is the master, and the master has (to obey. It is a topsy turvey change .which brings disaster in its. train. The ,new order iis not acceptable to- Australia and neither the Federal Government. nor the New Guard; or both, are likely to permit it to come to pass.