LAST YEAR’S STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1257, 11 June 1914, Page 2

LAST YEAR’S STRIKE.

CRITICISM BY SIR WALTER BUCHANAN, M.P. Referring to the late strike when he spoke at Carterton on Monday evening, Sir Walter Buchanan said that the Government had been accused ot not settling the strike as soon as it might have done. The statement that Sir Joseph Ward could have settled the strike in two days was too foolish to consider, He could assure them that Mr Massey was most anxious to do everything possible to bring about a settlement. He approached the strikers, but his overtures were turned down. He approached the “ Red Feds ’’ and suggested Sir Joshua Williams as mediator. This proposal was also rejected. It was not possible to come to terms with the “ Red Feds.” The Government saw to it that law and order was maintained, while the work on the wharves was resumed. How else could the strike have been settled? The authorities treated the matter as carefully as possible, the measures taken being much more lenient than those used in other countries. There was no doubt that the speech made by Sir Joseph Ward iu the House of Representatives at that time had done much to prolong the strike. The speaker here compared the attitude of the Opposition leaders in South Africa with that of Sir Joseph Ward. They could not but commend the action of the Government throughout the whole affair. (Applause.) He did not deny the worker the right to strike, if not treated well by his employer, but he did not believe in a body of men preventing others from working, if they so wished. (Applause.) One of the results of the strike was the passing of the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, a measure that would have a farreaching effect In regard to future labour disputes in this country. Everyone would hope that the passing of this Act would open an era of peace for New Zealand. (Applause.)