THE COAL STRIKE.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 132, 13 May 1926, Page 4

THE COAL STRIKE.

“ terrible possibilities.” Sei-mon on the Strike. In St. Paul’s Church on Sunday, the Rev. E. Ward, vicar of Putaruru, preached on the present crisis in the Old Country. The grim fact that there wea-e ten million people at present facing starvation, stated the preacher, should help all to realise the terrible possibilities with which the Old Country was faced owing to .the coal trouble. Through all the welter of comment and criticism, they should remember that they were taught to love justice. If that .thought were kept in mind it would be easier to realise the issues involved. He had once asked a Labour leader how he justified a strike, and the answer had been that it was the only way. The justice or injustice of a strike was not considered, and so long as that attitude of mind "pertained it would be impossible to build up a system that would endure. After recapitulating the events which led up to the strike, the speaker pointed out that the Trades Union Cong-ress—a body with far-reaching-‘powers—had changed the issue. It was no longer a question of colliers against coal-owners, but of tire Trades Union Congress against the nation. Though strikes had been often used in the past, and some small benefits gained, they were generally ineffective. It was quite competent for employees to strike, and if the present trouble were merely a coal strike it could be defended on the grounds of justice. As it was, however, vast numbers would be affected who were not concerned in it. Had the employers declared a lockout, and all other owners of railways, ships, etc., also locked out their employees in sympathy with the coal owners, it would have been said at once that it was a gross and monstrous injustice. In the present case the employees who were on strike had no direct say in the matter, for there had been no ballot. The leaders had called a strike, and the men had no option. Vast numbers of innocent people would suffer, and industries which were struggling to get on their feet after a period of trade depression would receive a great blow. In New Zealand, people did not understand what it was to want. The children’s cry for bread was unknown, and behind this cry of want there were grim possibilities which could not be contemplated with equanimity. The strike was not one for wages, but was against the Government. It was an attempt to force the Government into a line of action not in accordance with .the functions of government. It was the function of the Government to pass ffiws for the well-being of the people, to police the country, and, more recently, to conduct certain industries and essential enterprises on behalf of the people. It was outside the function of the Government to step into a dispute, but because the coal industry was such a vast one, the Government had tried to act as a friendly judge. The intrusion was a voluntary one. The strike g-ave tremendous powers to a few, and .though it was a. gross act of injustice there was great loyalty being shown to the leaders. It seemed .that there would have been no harm to continue negotiations, especially as the Government had offered to continue the wage subsidy for a further fortnight. Sufferings were beinginflicted on millions of people, and it would do no good to the cause. It would seem that might was being regarded as right, and so long as .that view was held they were working- in a direction right away from that in which lay any hope of ' settling the world’s troubles, and also the will of God.

No nation had ever endured which was not imbued with the elementary principles of justice, which in the end fell back on the spiritual content of man’s nature. It was the will of God that men love justice, and that they strive to carry this out in t.lieir actions. It was of no use going- to the past for examples of how labour was exploited. It was no use living in the past for we had to look to the future. We must forget the appalling injustices of the past, and endeavour to shape a way to a greater and more enduringfuture. By loving justice, and acting in a just manner, we would be following- the will of God.