THE STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1184, 13 December 1913, Page 3

THE STRIKE.

definite statement by

PREMIER

WeUwlngton, Dec. 1:

lu the House to-night during the discussion on the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, Sir Joseph Ward said that although he recognised that the matter was a little foreign to the Bill he desired to express the hope that the House would not adjourn before some attempt was made to settle the strike, which was now inflicting serious injury on so many members of the community. The Premier, in replv, said he would like to know what there was to arbitrate about ? What was the position five weeks ago? All ports were closed and there were no imports and no exports, but what was the position to day ? Mr Massey: I regret exceedingly that we have thousands of tons of coal at our doors and yet have to send away lor it.

Everything possible, said the Premier, • had been done five weeks ago to settle the difficulty. He had gone to the length of humiliating himself to an extent he would never do again. It was not possible to settle the strike by arbitration or legislation after the difficulty had occurred. Since the strike took place some thousands of people bad joined the new unions, and what was to become of them ? What had taken place had given the Ministry the time of their lives, and he would not go through it again under any circumstances.