THE SECRET BALLOT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 68, 20 November 1913, Page 4

THE SECRET BALLOT.

That the secret ballot shoul(jl be" made compulsory before a strike is called i> tlio growing conviction, because - the taking of such a ballot must be a most effective safeguard"against precipitate action on the part of workers. The Auckland “Star” discussing the matter says:—“During the recent debate in Parliament on tho strike, Sir Joseph Ward declared that no strike shoulc. ever be entered upon till the worker: concerned have had a chance of voting on-the,question by secret ballot.; and a provision to the same effect h contained in Mr Massey’s Arbitration Act Amendment Hill. As to the workers themselves, we believe that the great majority of them agree with the views expressed by the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. We believe, also, that if a secret ballot ol the workers could,be taken now large numbers of,those on strike would vote for the re-establishment of peace, and still larger numbers in the doubtful unions would vote against plunging into industrial war. It is hardly necessary to say that such voting as goes on in a public meeting of workers by show of bands is -altogether useless as an indication of the true feeling of the men. They have been generally worked up to a high pitch of excitement by inflammatory speeches', and those who have kept their heads and,take a cooler view ol the position, know that to vote against the proposal for a strike at a moment of intense industrial agitation will make them a; target for the scorn and detestation of their more impressjonabh fellow-workers. : A man needs a great deal of (nornl and oven physical courage to protest publicly by an adverse vote, against a policy urged upon an excited crowd roused by vehement and sensational oratory and altogether dis inclined to give anybody- who disagrees with it credit for even good

intentions.”