STRIKE METHODS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 527, 30 April 1920, Page 2

STRIKE METHODS.

Among all classes of the community one hears expressions of approval of the demands made by the railway workers for increased pay and better conditions. People recognise that when the cost of living goes up substantially wages must go up in proportion, although no one regards this vicious circle is leading to any permanent solution of industrial and economic problems. But the methods adopted by the railwaymen are just as heartily condemned as their .aim? are approved of. The public has had more than enough* of being placed between the hammer of labour unions and the anvil of employers' organisations, and demands that due notice shall be given of an intended strike; otherwise the public will rise up in its wrath and fight tooth and nail against an offending party. Had the railway men given a definite fourteen days' notice of intention to strike the public, which has a good deal of sympathy with their aims, would have been prepared foi' an emergency and contend to the parties fight things out orWome to an amicable settlement. As things are the public, which is not responsible for the trouble, will suffer heavily. However, the strike is on, and therefore present complaints are like crying oxet spilled milk. It seems that the wiser policy under the present circumstances would be to assure the men of .a satisfactory settlement of the most pressing and obvious injustices, and to refer the balance of contentious points to a conference. Failing the men's acceptance of such an offer the Government would then be fully justified in calling on producers and consumers to fight the matter out to the bitter end. Such a course might mean sympathy strikes by other unions, but, even so. if Labour thinks it can browbeat the public at will it is high time Labour was taught similar lessons to those given in the United Kingdom. Also, the Government might make an announcement—and stand by it—that in future no dispute would even be considered where a clean fourteen days' notice of intention to strike had not been given. What with sudden strikes, and new awards making retrospective increases in ducei's, consumers and manufacture! s generally never know where they stand or how to conduct their business successfully. Labour is entitled to a decent living and proper hours and working conditions, but this exasperating and yet childish outbreak of strikes at short or no notice at all must be fought against implacably. If fight there must be let it tome now, and probably after the battle is over some semblance of o;V der--now entirely absent—will come out of the chaos. Finally, let it be admitted that it is creditable to the men that they are, to a man, agreeable to working the Royal train, thus clearing themselves fi-om any taint of disloyalty.