DEVILISH DOCTRINES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 71, 10 August 1912, Page 4

DEVILISH DOCTRINES.

The length to which some of the Socialist who infest Wailii will go is shown elsewhere in this issue .By a gentleman who has just returned to Christchureh after a visit to the ruined mining town. An American Socialist', 'he says, holds daily classes and teaches doctrines that he characterises as "devilish." This individual, who acknowledges America as his couiitry.iidvises the men to "take it easy" at all times; to carry emery powder about them when working amongst machinery and drop it into the bearings; to have a plug of dynamite about them, as it was "a useful adjunct" to their work: to drop a chisel into the machines as often as possible and rip Cogs off the cog-wheels; and generally-do as much damage as possible to their employers' property. The vile preachings of this anarchist were brought under the notice of the Prime Minister in Parliament on Thursday, and the latter said he ha-d referred the matter to the Crown Law officers to ascertain whether the law as it stood allowed such a proceeding to be dealt with. If it did, he promised to take action. If the law is insufficient to deal with such inciters to violence and destruction-it should be amended without delay. A man guilty of such conduct should be immediately arrested and medically examined, and then treated either as a dangerous person, unfit to be at large, or a criminal, or else deported to the country ho should never have left. The influence of some of the other leaders of the strike is hardly less baneful, and it is a pity that something cannot be legally done'-to prevent them from teaching their'dangerous and pernicious doctrines. They are opposed to all the. forms of order and law, and fear neither Cod nor man. The country is altogether too indulgent with these anarchists. It should 'treat them as so many social lepers, and place them on some distant where they could run things in their own way ■and work out their owu destiny. The country could well spare them. ; We do not say all of the strikers or even all the prominent strikers arc' tarred with the same brush. Many of them havr a proper appreciation of their responsibilities as citizens, but they are quite dominated by the frothy, rowdy, irresponsible element that up to now have been the eyes and ears, head and tail of the strike. If a secret ballot were taken by the strikers, we believe there would be a two-thirds majority in favor of resumption of Work. Under present conditions, the wishes of the rank and file are quite unheeded.