THE LATE TELEGRAPH STRIKE.
The confession made in the House by the Hon. Commissioner of Telegraphs yesterday that the Cabinet sanctioned the pursuit of the striking telegraph operators with vindictive hate, even after they had left the Colony, w’as a most humiliating one. The excuse given by the hon. member (who was not in the Cabinet at the time) is lame, and what is w’orse, it is untrue. A little reflection would have showm him he had been stuffed in the grossest manner. Tn the first place, the telegraphists struck, not for “more public money than they were getting,” but because their hours were to be increased, and overtime abolished. Then as to the danger to railways by the strike it is notorious that at that time the Railway and Ordinary Telegraph Departments were entirely distinct, and the first notification the telegraphists had of amalgamation is to be found posted in all offices dated Ist June, 1880. Finally, we believe Mr. Johnston must have been misinformed as to the nature of a reply from at least one Colony, w’hen he said the “ information ” sent to other Departments was “ acknowledged, and no more,” for w r e have good reason for supposing that one Australian Department replied in a manner which indicated a wish that the Postmaster-General of New Zealand would mind his own business. The general feeling throughout the Coloney is that in this matter the Government acted in a spirit of mean vindictiveness for which they ought to be ashamed, and for which Mr. Johnston appeared to be thoroughly so. —Auckland Star
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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 958, 6 July 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)
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263THE LATE TELEGRAPH STRIKE. Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 958, 6 July 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)
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