THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2507, 16 November 1922, Page 2

THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE.

ATTACK ON THE PUBLIC

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The present hold-up of tit shipping trade of llie Dominion b the seamen is likely to prove a mos i ruel form of 'Xmas present fo great numbers of the people. Os leii-ibt v the seamen are protestin against the judgment of the Arbi i rat ion Court, but the means adop ted show an utter disregard for th interests of the great body of th public. AA’hat effect it is going f have on thousands of workers in re kited trades and occupations wli will lose work, or go short of sup plies, does not seem to bother th seamen. Then there are man; thousands of working farmers win arc going to suffer very severely i: the strike continues. Many o: these farmers, returned soldiers am others, are finding it mighty hard 1< get along without more trouble com ing upon them. Surely the sea met before hiking such drastic aetioi ought to have thought of' the farmers. It will be remembered that the farmers, in addition to contributing most generously to war relief funds set up a special fund foi the se, -1111011 and gave nearly £200,000 of this fund for the benefit oj the seamen alone. It is a poor response that the seamen make in hitling these fanners without thought it ;i time when [hey can ill afford to meet any further trouble. The question raised by this hold - t|> of the shipping industry is not me as between the shipping oommiiies and the Seamen’s Union, it is a liter a serious dispute of the seatien with the public. When the Gov--1 rnmont brought down legislation imending the Arbitration Act the 'nioiis and Alliance of Labour, with illicit latter the Seamen’s Feleration is Aililiated, prote--ed to the public that they pheld the Conciliation and ifhitration Act. It has been ill forward as a plea in favonr of he Alliance of Labour that all bod’s attached to it are registered liner the Arbitration Act. Now the eameu are limiting the Act, and the our! set up under its -provisions le public must discount these past labour provisions as of no vaie. The facts arc- clear and simple t this ease. The seamen submit;d their ease to Arbitration and tight to abide by the decision. If le parties who submit their cases > Arbitration are going to take the aw into ffheir own hands unless they re satisfied with the Award given ten (he whole system of Arhitraon would break down. The seamen cannot hope to win in is contest because what they have me is to challenge the whole eonny. Every worker who wants to see e Conciliation and Arbitration Act lint,-lined is forced to oppose this ton of the seamen as such action mid smash the Act if succeeded, tis outburst is a sad commentary Ihe political professions of exone Labour. It shows that such ople care nothing for the public d therefore the public must pro■t itself, for this reason the strik- • cannot win. We arc, Yours, etc., X.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE.