The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. THE STRIKE OFF.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3477, 4 May 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. THE STRIKE OFF.

With which is incorporated “The Taihape Post and Waimarino News.”

When it was definitely known on Tuesday afternoon in the Empire City that the railujay locomotive men would declare a strike at iniclnight, nobody seemed in any way alarmed. It was the general opinion that the ’nlexl’s demands were so reasonable that no person of sanity in authority wouldrefuse to grant What was‘ asked for. Had it been a “stand and deliver” demand for higher wages, there might have been some excuse for allowing the railway service to become paralysed, but as steam-hammer tactics had. to be resorted to to extract. a promise that an unprejudiced hearing would be given it seems that someone is possessed of a (li_seased sense of comparison. The Minister of Railways’ expression of surprise and lapse into pyrot.echnic utterances at hearing the determination of the locomotive men grates harshly on one ’s power of conception. It was well known, not only to the Minister and the General Manager of Railways, but to every person whoyreads the newspapers that constant eifort had been kept up by the men to have their complaints unprejudically investigated, and it was the lateness of Mr Massey’s final reply that threw the men’s strike ballot back just ‘before the Prince of Wales’ arrival, and it was then only on the Minister"s-- persistent. refusal to promise the men the right to be heard under the Labour Disputes’ Legislation Act of 1913 that they signified their intention to strike. It was indeed a regrettable coincidence for the men, but even at the last. mom-ent—-indced, the morning aftigr work ceased——it was only necessary; for Mr Massey to promise the men the, investigation they asked for by telegraph _to[. have trains running again as though theyf had_ never stopped. Then,_ upon. Ajvhoinirests the blame for precipitating act ofvrevolt which might have convulsed _.industry and p society throughout‘ the whole Dominion? ‘The time was not fixed by the men, it was governed ‘by the 'time at which the (Premier. thought it convenient to give his promised and belated reply to ,them. However. Mr Massey arrived in VVel§xlgtoif from 129191-11 a on Thursday evening, and within_a_n hour of his arrival he had virtually pl'omisC-"d the :'eprcs9llteti.ves of the railwiwxxiezi that which they asked for would be conceded. As they filed out from the presence of the Minister there was on all their faces. broad, undiluted smiles iiof relief and satisfaction, which those who stood waiting for the verdict regarded as a happy augury. Subsequently Mr Massey stated that.-“the conference had been frank and friendly, ‘and that satisfactory progress .had been made.” Credible statements made in ordinary discussion afterwards made it fairly clear that trouble had vanished. As contributing to this opinion it may ‘be stated that the Premier unreservedly stated that first division meiivwould not be called upon to do seconddivision work, but above all the Prince of Wales expressed the hope that a satisfactory arrangement of the difficulties would be reached, as he was extremely anxious that no part of the arranged itinerary 'slnoul,d be abalindogned"-, In; Ithe ‘city it was the general opinion that no Government. would, in such a case, stand. in the way of the Empire’s future King’s expressed anxious desires being. gratified. It is natural that His Royal Highness would particularly wish to see the children wherever possible, for the children of to-day will be his adult subjects when the Prince is King. The Government that stood jbetween Prince and young children in such a connection would indeed be guilty of boorishness, therefore i.t was quite the general assumption, on Thursday night, that the awful prospect of a general stfflrc had virtually vanished. The men are to be congratulated upon the courteous and dignified language used in the statement wof their case; it compared more than favourably with the frenzied, ill-col-lated sentences of the Government. It was clear, definite, "and tersely put, enough words and not too many, and in that respect we think, it constituted a New Zealand record; and, further, we do not think that" a more popular strike was ever launclied, the one unfortunate aspect being that it synchronised With'.’His Royal Highness’ visit to this, his far away Dominion. On Friday morning another short conference between the Premier and representatives of the A.S.R.S. was held, and the strike was declared ofi at7mid«lay, as far as that. branch of the‘ service was concerned. It is obvious that. 3 51;,-il.;e in. volving the Dominion ’s railways which was capable of complete and satisfactory settlement in only one hour 01-. two was for something the Railway

Department could not. resist, in wliich they were forced by public. opinion and sympathy to concede, or for something the men had no just claim for, but the fact that the Department conceded virtually all the men asked for when it became obvious they were deadly earnest has convicted the Department of being deliberately culpable of precipitating a strike, of causing loss, inconveniencejand. deprivation to the people of the whole Dominion, on the ‘fiimsiest and insincerest pretext. Evidence there was to convince any sceptic that there should have been no strike, that there was no real occasion for a strike, that justice was withheld until no other course but to strike was left the men. The Depart-ment’s case was little Yiiore than a. complete collapse when submitted to the bar Of public opinion, for it is undeniable that so long as the Government permits a system of price-fixing" and profit.—m aking not based on cost with reasonable profit-‘ added, but on whatever an elastic trading conscience tliinks it will cost to replace the article, it must, and win be compelled with private employers, to pay its servants a reasonable living wage." The Railway strike is settled, but the Post and Telegraph service is on the point of striking, and will undoubtedly strike unless shameful conditions are soon remedied, and fair remuneration given. Then the whole Civil Service is in a ferment; What islthe Government intention with regard to ofiicers of the Civil Service‘? Instead of coming down to the merits of the claim, the Government. is spending money in what is taken to be an attempt to cow the men into subjection. Inquiries and investigations are being made, it. is said, with a view to retrenchment of men. The men who have done their duty by their country are virtually threatened with dismissal, ’while an effort is being made to flood the country with immigrants. Will the people allow their country to be governerl by poker methods, or will they insist upon hoiidnrable businesslike administration?