The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1911. A PARALYSER OF INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 144, 14 December 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1911. A PARALYSER OF INDUSTRY.

Xew Zealand is getting used to verbal bombs and dreadful threats from leaders, of more or less important organisations. The latest comes from Mr.' Semple, of the Federation of Labor, who threatens to paralyse the industries and business of the whole of the Dominion if the Government enforces payment of fines by imprisonment or attachment of wage» under the compulsory clauses of tho Defence Act. The fact that it is an Act and the law of the land doesn't matter. Mr. Semple will "paralyse industry" if the law is observed. There is a deal that is highly comic about the assumption of supreme power by a very ordinary man, but this assumption is by no means uncommon among people of a certain class. A few hot words about "the pore sufferin' worker," a stentor's roar about "class consciousness," a few unsupported allegations that the Government is dragging forth the son of the backbone of the country, and is letting the son of the rich man off—and the thing is done! Xew Zealand is a free country. Therefore tkree cheers for liberty! \Vhosc liberty? The people's liberty? Who are "the people"? The fifteen thousand men whom Mr. Semple declares he "commands." Such a democrat would be useful to the Chinese revolutionaries. It might be proved if one troubled to bother with the matter, that the occasional roars from the much over-estimat-ed leaders of small sections are not unselfish roars, and that a democrat who, if he had the power to "paralyse industry" would not be a public benefactor in doing so. It is curious that the man who is guilty of "threatening behaviour" to his fellow man may be called upon to answer to the magistrate about it, but the gentleman who threatens to "paralyse industry" is really regarded in many quarters a« ft quite estimable person. Another curious point is that the people never know what gigantic power is wrapped up in one man until he says so himself. The old-fashioned leader who did not pretend to be a sturdy democrat was a poor trumpeter. He Was rather reticent about claiming supreme command over men. Nowadays, however, an obscure man may suddenly jump on to a ( soapbox and claim anything, and a faithful press will pass the advertisement on until the claimant either makes a fortune or gets into Parliament. It is a charming thing to have in aiy country a gentleman of such power

that he can command even 15,000 workers "who will see that no wages are earned." In a fight for the right it | is beautiful and democratic to endeavor to arrange for the starvation and distress of a large number of people. A Mr Semple, who can "compel" 15,000 men to cease wage-earning objects to the State (which is the people) using compulsion, and the feeling is steadily grow-' ing in this country, which has no real troubles, that this is valorous and commendable conduct. The Semples of the community say we will not be dictated to. It is not democratic. Real democracy can only be secured at our dictation. It is aristocracy at the wrong end. The utter absurdity (if the claims of these "paralysers" must appeal even to the 15,000 men who are to receive orders from them. The idea that men would more gladly obey the command of selfappointed dictators than obey the discipline of a State is mere topsyturveydom. It will be highly interesting to watch the New Zealand Napoleon paralysing the Moturoa oil bores or ordering the Freezing Works to close or stopping the Rarawa from running. In most countries Mr. Semple would be greeted with screams of laughter, and at least nine hundred odd thousand people in New Zealand will permit themselves a smile at his threats.