UNAUTHORISED STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2751, 28 June 1924, Page 3

UNAUTHORISED STRIKE.

BRITAIN’S SERIOUS HANDICAP.

Of the many troubles which our •Mother, country has to bear at the present time not the least of these is her industrial trials. The stoppage of work in importaift productive and transport industries has been too often repeated. It is argued that the large number of strikes are in some measure clue to Labour Socialist Government being in office as from this exaltation workers Unions have come to think they can demand anything they like with a good chance of it being forthcoming. This*rf3y bo a factor'for consideration, but we are disposed to think the greatest amount of trouble is to the wide-spread inculcation of communist ideas that has been taking place for several years. England is a tolerant, country and has allowed much latitude to the Moscow-led Communist PKrty in its subversive propaganda which the Reds have made full use of. This element of disruption is largely of foreign extraction. Taking advantage of Britain’s benevolent spirit the Red' revolutionist have first of all used the land as a haven of refuge and have repaid the gift of freedom given l hem by defaming and attacking # the country that has given them shelter. The. Reds who work mainly underground are chiefly responsible fqr the large number of unauthorised strikes that have taken place in England. A strike at any time is a barbaric resort to force which causes injury to the strikers as well as to the community in general. If the official strike is barbaric the unauthorised strike partakes of pure savageiy. The spirit that operates in such industrial warfare is largely lawless. It is an attack upon society; destructive of industrial security and subversive of Trade Union rule or authority as well as social law. For the reason that the unauthorised strike is both revolutionary and anarchic the thinking Trade Unionist of Britain are recognising it as a very serious evil.

' A TRADE UNION VIEW. - “The Seamen” which is the offical organ of the British Seaman’s Unions, writes thus: —“We have repeatedly called the attention of Trade Unionists to the danger in which the Trade Unionist movement stands, owing to the unauthorised strikes which take place from tigie to time and consequent undermining of Executive control.” This journal adds that “the men most responsible for this state of affairs are the Communists who publicly say the Trade Union movement is a chloroforming institution and should be destroyed. The Seamen describes these communist exploiters of industrial unrest as being" “against the Government, against the Trade Unions and having, but one solution, “The Glorious 'Revolution.” Such writiug should be a lesson to Trade Unionists everywhere. It proVes that the irresponsible outbursts of unauthorised strikes is not only an injury to industry but is calculated to destroy legitimate Trade Unionism. \V;H A T OF NEW ZEALAND. England has certainly more than her snare of this unauthorised trouble but it Is not confined to that country, it has appeared in America, Australia, and we had a taste.of it in New Zealand not many years ago. We wisli to see our country kept entirely free of such an evil and therefore lose no opportunity of warring against the element that gives life to such an irresponsible spirit. In Britain there is an active communist party with hrauenes over the country and a Red Press pouring .out poisonous gas constantly. This i-, the source of Britain's trouble. in New Zealand there are communists and a communist party but the chief risks of industrial trouble come from individuals who do not. call themselves communists or spfeak for such a party. The agitators wc have to keep watch on, are those wno wish to ehauge Trade Unionism into syndicalism. They are constantly teaching that the workers should control the industries, instead of attacking Trade Unions tko»e with communist ideas in New Zealand set out to change them into v/iiat riie I.YY.W. school calls “industrial Unionism.” When examined it means syndicalism, organisation on the basis of ciass and control ail of industries by the workers who operate them. This is the Alliance of Labour' creed. Such is not Trade Unionism, it gives no attention to the good of Trade, or advancement of industry, it is concerned only with fomenting class strife , This class of person was sorry when the recent railway strike ended because they wanted to’ see it placed in the hands of the Affiance of Labour and made into a still greater stoppage of industry. Some of the same class have been worrying the A.S.R.S. executive. The basic- teaching of these so-call-ed industrial Unionists its communistic, and, because they seek class war first and last, they are of the irresponsibies against whom sane people require to be ever on their guard. • •• (Contributed by. the N.Z. Welfare League).