The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1917. AUSTRALIAN STRIKE LESSON.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 317, 9 October 1917, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1917. AUSTRALIAN STRIKE LESSON.

■'We nothing extenuate, nor in down auaht in malice."

The need for what lie describes as " a new unionism to protect wageearners " lias induced an Australian writer to present his views for the consideration of the workers. Iyooking on the strike andall the injury and misery it has occasioned, he is led to the con elusion that what the workers need most of all is to he protected from their worst enemies—bad leaders and unjustifiable strike.,. " This strike," he says, '' has been an industrial 'tragedy, because it never had the slightest chance of succeeding from the very first day. The only end it could possibly have had was the end that is now clear to everybody." Whilst misguided men, led by unscrupulous leaders, with comparatively little to lose, shout for solidarity, and "down with capital," their wives and children civ out for relief from starvation point. That conclusion has been reached in Australia, and with it there has come the urgent need for a complete isconstruction of the whole industrial position, from the point of view of the interests of the wage-earner. Revised legislation is promised. Unions need not fear this, flie public will see that they get a fair deal. Australian democracy will not sanction any attempt to reduce the status of the workers. Neither will it endorse any re-

strictions upon the right of organised labour to bargain, openly, before the tribunals of the country, for its reward Hut it will in turn insist upon an honest observance of agreements. Any other way will only once again reproduce the chaos of the lust few weeks, which lias dedemoralised the most democratic ol all the countries in the world, whilst the highest paid workmen on the face of the earth have had to listen to heartrending appeals of starving wives and children.

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