The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18. THE BLACKBALL STRIKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 75, 18 March 1908, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18. THE BLACKBALL STRIKERS.

Mow oadly advised the miners of the Blackball Company have been iliiougii out their action ol the past lew wceU- | litis been already pointed out iu these I columns, aud tin- ;iuic judgment delivered last week by his liuuor -Mr. Justice) Siin in tlic Arbitration Court must make the position quite clear to the I dullest comprehension, liy their letter of the 23rd January the minds nolilicd till' company llniL "they had decided I lie nuinbi'i' of minutes lot meal time siNo when the alteration in Hie time should come into operation! However unreasonable any claim lor change might be, ii should be remembered Uial llie.ro imi-l be at least uu |>ui(k--. lo a contract, and no variation or change ill I lie lerms ol the eontrai't ean be regarded as tolerable without the consent of all the jiarlies. The ininers a[i[iear in have considered themselves the ab soiule masters of the situation, au-l they proceeded to dictate their terms accordingly: they had but to "notify" what times they had "decided'' to work and what times they had "decided" to rest, and had "decided'' when the changes should come into force, and the company had no alternative but to figuratively take their hats oil' uud bow acquiesceuce.

I ids high-handed attitude would be suliicienl of itself to place them beyond the pale of public sympathy. If the. position hud been reversed—if the company had sent lo the Lniou such u letter Us the t nion sent to the com-

paiiy—it is easy to understand the indignation that would have been excited amongst the ranks of labor at the autocratic attitude assumed. Whatever the consequences resulting, no body of men -company or council—could be expected to tamely submit to such an arbitrary and dictatorial announcement as the Union issued. Neither the los* and inconvenience thai would fall upon the company through their action, nor the award of the Arbitration Court, appears to have ever entered into the consideration of the leaders of the Union; all that weighed with them what was most suitable for their own circumstances and the pleasing exercise of their own will. Indeed, it is abundantly clear that the leaders of the Union entertained but little respect for the Arbitration Court. In the clear and sound judgment delivered, his Honor could not properly travel outside the facts which had been brought before him. However enshrined in the records of Parliament and the broad-sheets of the press, however well-known to the public, his Honor could only deal with the facts which had been judicially displayed before his Court: but it is somewhat notorious that tor the last three or four years the leaders of the Union have, in their particular case, been endeavoring to subvert the authority of the Court by an Act of Parliament. Uist session they got their Act of Parliament, but in it the Legislature was careful to so fully sustain the authority of the Court that the measure did not realise all that was hoped. The Union had to submit to an award after all. The evidence shows the feeling of hostility entertained by the Union against the Court.

The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is the practical result of the political alliance that was entered into between Labor on the one side and tin; Lilieral party on the other. 11 was designed to protect Labor from the evils arising from the greed of the capitalist. 'The employers of labor did'not welcome an Act which was intended to limit tlicir freedom of action; it is certain that under its provisions they have never been particularly comfortable; it is more tlian probable that they would not very much regret to see it swept away. Although Labor rejoiced at the passing of the Act, if—with the fickleness which has been ever attributed to the people—they are now dissatisfied. liy all means let the Act be abrogated. Some of the leaders of Labor are striving to dissolve the alliance with the Liberal party, and it mighl lie lilting to include in their programme the aim. gallon of an Act which was tin- lirsi great result of that alliance. Le'. those who are opposed to the Act come into the op™ and light fair, but whilM this Act remains on the Statute Hook it iiiu»t be respected. Under the Act to strike i, an offence, and as -mli punishable. As his Honor has pointed out. a system of arbitration and a system of striking cannot subsist- together.

11' the country is io be tormented l>v strikes, such a- tlie jiooplr of the Commonwealth nave been au.l are being subjected to. then arbitration can only be of a casual anil private nature -itt-h as j., very Tarely accented by the partics; it' the industries of the country are to go forward in unbroken peace then the provision of the Arbitration Act must be generously sustained and every disposition to strike sternly discountenanced and repressed. The option is not at all complicated, and, as ii happens, Labor has it entirely in its hands. It took Labor a long" time to win arbitration; it can get quit of arbitration without any difficulty; but let the leaders of Labor beware of the stigma they will bring upon those who follow them. The changeful, fickle multitude; the people whom it is impossible to please; the rabble—were characterisations given to the mass from the days of Home, and were the means of blocking advancement and reform for ages. Are they to b c worn to-day by La bur I There be Trades Councils and Labor Unions that do not stop to weigh the cause of quarrel; that eagerly rush forward to support another Council or Union without regard to justice or injustice, but simply because they a.ssume, being associated with Labor, they must ue right. It is a happy feature that in connection with the Blackball trouble these unions have not been particularly conspicuous. The Miners' Union at Blackball have been lighting almost alone, and, apart from unionism, the common-sense of the country has been almost wholly against them. The country lias gained the clear exposition of Mr. Justice Sim and the wise words of warning he has uttered.