A GREAT STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1919, Page 7

A GREAT STRIKE.

MR. HRANI'S WARNING. PLANS OF THE EXTREMISTS. Wellington, Saturday. "The people of New Zealand should know that there is simmering among the extreme Labor section just now a movement to carry ont in January next a general 'go-slow' strike," said Mr. F Pirani in the Town Hall last night. This statement produced loud interruption, and the candidate had to pause before the supporters of Labor in the audience would allow him to proceed. "The people who are complaining about the cost of living will find that as a result of that general 'go-slow' strike they will have to pay twice or three times as much for the articles that they consume. (Interruption.) Mark my words, the very people who are crying out at this meeting to-night will be the first to suffer through the 'go-slow' policy: I think that it is the duty of the State, as soon as possible, to organise New Zealand from one end to the other against that 'go-slow' strike. 1 say it is the duty —(interruption)—of everybody who has the interests of New Zealand at heart to take warning from my words, and ask themselves if extremists are going to be allowed to perpetuate—" The interruptions at this stage became so loud that Mr, Pirani was unable to proceed. He had to pause while the police ejected several men. The candidate was loudly "counted out" by a section of the meeting.

Mr. Pirani: This ia a matter too serious to be baulked. The information 1 possess leaves do doubt as to the truth of my assertion, and those who do not heed my warning will find, no matter what tlieiv position in New Zealand is, a holocaust descending upon New Zealand in January and February next,. Are you going to give up your manhood and allow that sort of thing to obtain? Are you going to allow the community to be dominated by a small section? Are you going to allow a few people to rule the great majority in New Zealand? A voice: Give us your policy. Mr. Pirani: That it) my policy, to prevent men like you ruling the community. If you dortt like my policy, go on proper linos authority and , obedience to the laws of the country. I say that whatevier happens, if the people of New Zealand are warned in time, if they are shown the seriousness of the disaster that is unfairly to be thrown upon them, then there is enough good sense, solidarity, and humanity in this community to prevent dictation of that sort from ruining the homes, destroying families, and bringing upon us a disaster to which nothing that New Zealand has ever had before can possibly compare. "Now that 1 have given the warning, now that 1 have shown (hat I am not afraid to face the disapproval of those who are planning this sort of thing, 1 hope that the warning will not go unheeded. I hope that it will be accepted by men who will come when their country calls upon them. New Zealand hat never allowed itself to be dominated bj those who have not its interests heart, and 1 don't believe that the greal soul of this nation is going to be crush ed by those who are disloyal—(interrup tion)—who are not worthy of the nami

of citizen and who are tr.ving to cause strife and disorder amongst a people that should be the most peaceful and prosperous on the face of the earth." (Loud applause and dissent.)— Dominion.