UNEMPLOYED STRIKE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 586, 18 July 1933, Page 4

UNEMPLOYED STRIKE

It appears obvious from the tenor of remarks made by the secretary and treasurer of the National Union of Unemployed | Workers that the strike inaugur- j ated in Napier and Hastings is not ' supported by the majority of branches afhliated to the union. It is true that sympathetic demonstrations have been made in various parts, particularly in Wellington, but in spite of statements to the contrary made in Hawkes Bay, it is apparent that no national action is proposed by the union. Without entering into the pros and cons of the position in 'Napier and Hastings, it is grat- : ifying that direct action tactics have not prevailed. It is more than doubtful whether these would have alleviated the position of the men in any way and it is certain that they would to a large extent have alienated the sympathy of a large portion of the public which is carrying the unemployment burden. A strike of unemployed workers presents a rather Gilbertian aspect but it would nevertheless have very serious consequences which might well develop into even | more regrettable disturbances j I than those which occurred last , ! winter. I | | Fortunately, even in Welling- j j ton and Hawkes Bay where a ! number of men have been on strike, any demonstrations that have been made have been entirely orderly. It is seldom the majority which is responsible for disturbances, but it is almost j always the majority that suffers. j There is no doubt that the un- i employed have many grievances ; and that their lot under present | conditions is extremely difficult. | At the same time the more rea- I sonably minded of the men (and , they are fortunately in a very j large majority) will be the first | to admit that the country as a whole is carrying a very heavy j burden of taxation in order to al- j leviate their position. It is not j the attitude of the taxpayers as j a whole but the shortcomings in ! the administration of the unem- j ployment legislation that is ! creating dissatisfaction. Unemployed workers are in a much weaker position when employing strike tactics than would be the case with' an industrial union. Their services are not j necessary to the social organisation and the embarrassment which they would oause would be almost solely in the appreciation of the hardship which would be ereated. Not only that, but their resources are very much weaker and with weak resources, the •inevitable end of a strike is either capitulation or violence. In either case, unnecessary hardship and suffering must inevitably be inflicted, not only upon the men but upon their dependants. This is the aspect of strike methods which makes them justified only in the last emergency and it is an aspect which is p*articularly emphasised in the case of a strike among the unemployed. It' iriay be argued that the lot of the f amilies of relief workers can'not he very much'harder under. strike conditions than it is at present, but this is an exaggeration. The unemployed as a whole have the • sympathy • of those who are fortunate enough to remain In- employment and action taken upon hasty and illadvised counsels can bnly have