THE RIGHT TO STRIKE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3391, 21 January 1920, Page 3

THE RIGHT TO STRIKE

I The claim of Labour “'le:ldel's-” that organised \\‘ol‘kCl'S h:l\“e a right to strike is opposed by the New Ylll'l< lOlltlonk ill diSe.ll.<.<illg the I'ec.ellt ill- - collfiiets in the L'llitod F-tzltes. “The right to strike is not illllel'l‘nt,"' ieit says. “The I'igl'lt‘ to step wol'killg [is not 2111 u11q11alifie(l right. The State ’ has both a. moral 211111 a legal ri-glit to i_Coll‘lp(‘l tlig illdivi(lllalS to fulfil their [C-'11_1f1‘21(:1'S. If it is inipnicticable to 11311111110] them to fulfil :1 .eolltract, the Static can require them to pay daxnages t’ot'« not flllfillillg‘ it. But even if it welre true that (111 individual who was I:l)ntl'ae.t'e(l to I'ell(lei' service 111:1)‘ bl'e:lk his collt'l'al-t“? 111111 sutl'el' no penalty, that would not give :1 llolly of 'illdividllals :1 right of a 1-ombine in AOl-I_lel' to break 21. e.mltl-z11:t. What is l:1.w—----ful for men to do i.llllivirlllall_\,' it is 11f_t1=n 11111a.wf11l for them to do Colleetively. The I'ight to use a public high--ICi2ly dons not ill=clud~e the right. to drixe a. compact mavsg of ilu.tolllnbile<3, wl11;e-1 to wheel, down the street. The right of :1 man to buy or sell in the open 1‘n:11-ket does not. illclllde the right of a .<(',ol’o or :1 hulllll'ed people to agree to buy 01' sell :11. such prices as would I'estl'ain or restrict, tl'zllle. What 111011 111z1_V t‘l'el:ly do individll:llly they may in uel'taill cases be inlpl'isoned for I'.(lll.\‘pil'illg‘ to do 'tog'etllel'. .111 HlO smne mallllel', thollgl’l men 111ay not be I"€Clllired to work aglaillSlt their will, ‘*3'‘(’'‘‘:l’ll 115 a punishlllellt for Crime, yet ihP.Vh:l.vellol'igllt to eollspi"e to-g‘<‘H“-I.‘l' to 1.-1-use to work it‘ hy e,mlspil?'mg Hm-.V «lo injury to the public. To }>l'olli‘nit or prevent. strikes is not to dcpl'iVe any people of their riglitful }_)l'Ol'C(‘,fiol’l. There are 01'de1-ly ways to allay gl-ievallces, antl if liberty is to be Pl"‘Sol'ved it must be by the ex°""‘iS" Of o“<]i‘l‘ly metllods.”