Current Strikes.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 35, 3 November 1911, Page 10

Current Strikes.

The class war is spreading. Thai Sydney sbrike has caxised th& "Mora* ing Hciiald" to lose its head. Th.B drivelling old dotard of decadent journalism says the country is faced with! tlie beginning of a civil war, and call* upon the Government to take strong action —if necessary, at the point of the bayonet and the muzzle of the refr volver. These be wild and whirling words. Such talk from a Labor lead-

er would be dubbed seditious, but tha.' "Herald" is nothing if not loyal—to itself and the predatory class it represents. But the class war has begun.. It is in active progress all over tlia world, and will never cease till a nevf Social Order rises out of 'the ruins b£ the old.- How beggarly and futile, ia the light of events happening daily, do the tactics of conciliators and arbitrators appear 1 War is war, and cannot be fought in kid gloves and flannel breeches. Both workers and exploiters must recognise that in thai class war, as in other wars, each sida will use the utmost force at its coin* mand. And the war of the folded a<rn_B is the strongest weapon in the hands of the labor soldier.

Always the strike. It is a barbarous weapon, says the employer of labor. Sa also are the conditions against which)' the worker fights. Injustice can breedi nothing but injustice. There" is one way, —tho only way —to settle all trade disputes—so easy, so simple, and so just that it is a marvel society does not cry out for it. It is this —give to the worker the full product of his labor. Be just, O employer of labor, and You need fear no strikes.

Even in Mr.ornahd, where arbitration has replaced the barbarous st-rika method, Labor at times goes back to savagery, and wantonly inflicts inconvenience on the community. The Auckland drainage laborers are not satisfied —a chronic complaint with laborers. They therefore exerted their nature., right to cease work. Robert Semple has met the men in private 'conference, and there seems little doubt the trouble will soon be settled. The men object to sub-contracting, and nearly 800 . are now affected. The. Mayor terms thai action of the men inexplicable and unreasonable, but neglects to give reasons for his opinion. It would be interesting to get Semple 1 s views, and the reasons annexed thereto. Meantime, tha press points out that the men are losing £200 a day J It is the old, old urge.-

But what are they gaining, our unable editor? That does not enter into your calculations.