A, STRIKE LESSON.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 21 January 1914, Page 2

A, STRIKE LESSON.

THE principle on which the strike has been countered in South Africa by the Government of General Botha is the same as that on which the government of Mr Massey dealt with the strike here. But the details of the procedure are'different and with reason. Here the degree of violence threatened was very much less, for in Africa the attitude of strikers amounted to open revolution. Therefore, whereas here the baton of the volunteer civilian was sufficinet, there it was necessary to call out the Defence Forces and proclaim Martial Law. Thus the yells of madness from the Trades' Hall were met by the swift mobilisation of 70,000 men with martial law 'behind them. So far the question of degree. The principle in each case is the same —that the State cannot endure, any lawlessness and is sure always of sufficient support'from the people at large to put lawlessness down. The endeavour of the " Times " to throw part of the blame for the strike oh the government because at the general election it declared itself favourable to the aims of Labour generally is absurd, because.- it necessarially implies that 1/abour no right to have any politics at all. Either that, or that when the constituents of a member or any of them kick over the traces their member is.responsible.' The fact is that every government must maintain order, no matter whether disorder comes from its own side of politics or from anywhere else. This is the main point to be moralised over throughout the world. Another point is that the strike has. done much to consolidate Briton and Boer .at*- the very moment when the expulsion of, Hertzogg from the Botha Cabinet' was threatening ;.to undo the work of the Union; In view, of the dangers from the black races to African civilisation this, cannot be'too-highly commented as a-result of the ■strike. The ' strikes actually had the criminal folly.'of appealing to. the 300,000 lilack? in the minos'.to como out--practicallv

risking a race war. It was [time indeed for martial law.