The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1916. DEPORTATION OF STRIKE LEADERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1916. DEPORTATION OF STRIKE LEADERS.

The prompt and effective act of the I British Munitions Minister (Mr. Lloyd George) in calling upon t'he military to deport six strike leaders at the Clyde may be expected to liave the effect of a bombshell in Labor circles at Home, The fact that the announcement of this action by the Munitions Under-Secretary (Dr. C. Addison) in the House of Commons was received with cheers leaves no doubt as to the seriousness with which any interference with the munitions output is regarded by the House and by the country, and that even the most drastic measures necessary to cope with strikes will be heartily endorsed. 2vor is it at all surprising that this feeling should be in evidence, for the success of British arms depends on a full supply of munitions. It appears that a recrudescence of the strike trouble at the Clyde brouglit about a crisis which could only be brought about by prompt and severe means, strikes having been systematically organised last week at some of the most important munition works, the object being to bring out the workers in succession. No blame is attachable to the uni»ns, for they not only repudiated the strikes, but called on the men to return, though unavailing]}'. There were two courses for the Minister to take, (1) to arraign the men for treason, and (2) to resort to deportation. Very wisely, in our judgment,- Mr. Lloyd George took the most speedy and effective course by calling 011 the military to remove the six ringleaders, and thus put an end to the trouble, instead of giving them the opportunity (which they, doubtless expected) of posing as martyre to' a necessarily stringent law, and endeavoring to enlist sympathy during :i protracted trial for treason. To take such a firm and determined stand where Labor was concerned, and risk the consequences of : li\ action, required considerable courage on the part of the Minister. Mr. LloyiJ , George 'has not only the courage for ' inch a task, but lie is thoroughly implied with the vital importance of mainlining the utmost output of munitions , that is possible. Dr. Addison asserted; | vith good reason, that the Government 1 had the support of the vast majority ' of trade unionists, and expected the sup- j port of Parliament and the nation, if t necessary, to enforce the full powers of r the executive in maintaining the pro- * duction of war materials. The Muni- J tions Act distinctly provided that dur- i ing the war there should be no strikes e or lockouts, but that all,disputes should be referred to arbitration, and it was g provided that men should not leave one b firm for another without a certificate S from the first firm; tut'the really ef- " fectiye part of the Act was making g

the munition workers practically a, part of the military forces of the country, and as such being under military law. The wisdom of such a provision lias now been exemplified, and the Minister is to bo congratulated on the course lie' lias taken with the traitors. The incident shows how much serious mischief a handful of malcontents can accomplish. Such persons as these strike leaders are far better placed out of harm's way. They are enemies of their country and deserve to be treated as such. It is one of the misfortunes of organised labor that it should be dominated by irresponsible agitators, who are as barnacles on a ship—merely a drag to progress and a source of danger when an emergency arises. The country is well rid of such clogs to the industrial machinery, and the treatment these strike leaders have received shoujd commend itself to all right-thinking workers as much as it will to the public in general,