The Daily News SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2. RAILWAY SERVICE AND STRIKES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 2 November 1907, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2. RAILWAY SERVICE AND STRIKES.

The dispute between the Amalgamated j Society of Railway Servants of the i United Kingdom and the great railway I companies has now occupied some two or three months without having attained any result. The latest cables convey the impression that a settlement is in view, but it by no means follows that the trouble is virtually over. The curious part of the affair is that the men are not clamoring for higher wages or shorter hours. They merely demand that the society shall be officially recognised by the employers. Whatever viewmay be taken of the importance or otherwise of this demand, there can be' but one opinion as to the method adopt I ed for its attainment. It is a trial of strength between the trades union and the employers. Incidentally the modus operandi has been made to serve as an excellent advertisement for the union, and to attract an influx of new members, thus numerically adding strength to the society. If the matter stopped tliere no harm would ensue. It must

not be forgotten, however, that members of trades unions do not strain every nerve to acquire strength merely to lay the flattering unction to tneir souls that they possess power. Rather is it the tendency of the leaders to regard the available forces as weapons ever ready to be used either as a display of irresistible coercion or in the more dangerous service of active resistance in "the foi m of strikes, with their attendant miseries and, in some cases, scenes of violence and lawlessness.

Fortunately the present dispute lias stopped short of a strike—the last resort of trades unions. They went the length of taking a ballot on the question of striking, but there is little doubt that such an extreme measure was never seriously contemplated. The executive shirked the responsibility, as well they might, for they must have been fully aware of the utter impossibility of furthering their cause by such a suicidal method. Regular and rapid locomotion has become ail absolute necessity both for the public and the maintenance of trade and commerce. Railway employees may have grievances, but that is no reason why the affairs of a country should be required to stand still until a remedy is obtained. Not for an instant would a general railway strike be tolerated either in Cleat Britain or JVo.v Zealand. The jnen know well enoii'di that, did they strike, their places wouid rapidly be tilled (as was the case in Australia) by others who, though lacking experience, would bring to bear on their duties other qualities which would enable them to quickly adapt themselves to their new work. There might be temporary disorganisation, more or less vexation lor a short season, but in the end the only sufferers would be the misguided agitators, who would not only lose their employment but forfeit all claim to superannuation. Had a strike taken place on the British railways, there is little doubt that the Government would have come to the rescue, and, if necessary, the continuation of railway business would in all probability have been undertaken by the State and earrf'd in under military law. Under no can the question of railway communication be regarded as a business to be carried on or suspended either at the pleasure of employers or at the will of the owners. It has become part of our national life, and it is just as reasonable to expect this terrestrial globe to cease to revolve as to anticipate the cessation of railway traffic.

There have been partial strikes of railway servants that have in a sense become historical. Amongst these can bo numbered the Tail' Vale dispute some seventeen years baelc, resulting in the stoppage ol all colliery and dock work in Wontli Males, and the consequent compulsory idleness of some iifty thousand men. This was ultimately settled by a compromise. A year later the goods trallic 011 the Caledonian, JS'orth liritisli, and South-Western lines was entirely' suspended J'or a month owing to the demand by nine thousand men tor a tenhours day. Scenes of great excitement ensued, culminating in rioting and the calling-out ol military force to reston order. Two years later America was liie scene of a strike of sixty thousand men, the service being blocked throughout the States. Soldiers were sent°to raise the blockade, martial law was proclaimed, and seventeen men lost their lives while resisting the authorities, several of the leaders being sentenced to imprisonment. This strike lasted only two weeks, but during that time property valued_ut nearly £i,<J(JO,(JU(J was destroyed. Tei this calamity was not one-half so disastrous as the strike on the Baltimore and Ohio railway in 1877 in consequence of reduced pay. Tor over a week the strikers held Pittsburg againit tin: military in spite of the serf uos 1">- ol lile that took place, tranquility being only restored after a pitched battle at Chicago where lil'teen of the men were killed and over IUU wounded. In more recent years, and nearer New Zealand, there was the strike in Australia which though temporarily disorganising trallic, resulted in the complete triumph of the Government and the inculcation of a bitter lesson to the men, the effects of which will probably last' for many generations. All these' instances serve to emphasise the fact that public interest and public safety must be paramount, and that socialistic dictation has its limits. Once the borderline Ol reason is passed, and the stage ol violent methods entered upon there is no option but to ruthlessly stamp out opposition to the vital interests of the public. Necessity compels, and it is a bard taskmaster.

Hitherto the possibility of a general strike ul men employed on the railway system ol any eomitry has not been attempted m even considered as a project within the bounds of possibility For tins there is the best of all reasons. The majority ol \vage-<;ai'ners do not live in a tool's paradise. They recognise that constant employment enables theiu to supply the needs of themselves and their families, and that loss of work means starvation and sufferings that they dare not face. Even in the present dispute in England the trades, unionists, oil their own showing, are not in number more than half the employees, unci of that halt quite a considerable proportion are inditl'ercnt to the present demand of the executive—a demand that has lor its object the aggrandisement ol' I lie- union more than the. betterment Of the workers. Possibly 110 great harm would be done by the recognition the Amalgamated Society by 1 lie ruiway companies, but the unwavering firmness of the hitler in refusing I lie demand justifies (In- a,sumption that Ibcy have gone] grounds for the attitude' they have assumed. The surest method to court failure in the attainment of a desired object i- to start by aclopliii" the bushranger's ladies of "Hands up! 7 ' or its ecpiiva lc:il. "Stand and deliver!" I'usiness men will not tolerate this mode of attack, and if arrogance is to become the working spirit of trade imiomVm. it will be to the prejudice of the men's interests and tend to alienate the sympathy of the public from all attempts to better the conditions of the wasro-cirn-

"vs. It is significant that the Auckland Trades nncl T.abor Council have cabled Io 'lie British Amalgamated Society of Uailway Servams a promise of -iippor! •11 the event of Ihe society resolving lo Irike. They arc quite safe in making 'he olfer. for lliey mu?;l be firmly convinced thai 110 -hike will ensue. The mere fact that their acting in this manner has been notified through the Press will doubtless afl'orcl Ihein satisfaction. Moreover, in thus indicating their concurrence willi such a disastrous project as a general railway -Irike they have ■hown io what, lengths (hey would like to go in such matters. The public of 1 New Zealand will know how to appraise tlio evidence of disregard of every con- '

sideration for the welfare of the community, and the placing in the forefront of the socialistic programme the upholding of nny chimerical doctrine that may be promulgated T>y those who live on the hard-earaed contributions of the sons of toil. Truly it seems as if the day of reckoning were at hand.