PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1921, Page 4

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.

PROSECUTION FOR STRIKES. NO DISCRIMINATION. By Telegm ob. —Press Association Wellington, Last Night. Sir William Herries, Minister of Labor, has replied to a communication from Mr. Young, secretary of the Seamen’s Federation, in regard to the prosecution of employers and workers for alleged seditious strikes and lock-outs in breach of th,e War Regulations. The Minister says: Mr. Young’s letter infers that while workers were prosecuted for taking pari in certain strikes, the Government had refrained from similarly prosecuting employers in alleged lockouts. Regarding an occasion cited by Mr. Young, the Minister refers to the Crown Law Office opinion previously quoted by him stating that while technically both the employers and the workers might be liable for a breach of the War Regulations, prosecution was not recommended, because the regulations in force were passed expressly for the public safety during war time, previous to the proceedings, the Minister points .out, instituted in 1917 during the yftr. The Minister agrees that last years legislation revives certain provisions contained in the War Regulations, and he says that, as in the past, no discrimin. ation will be shown by the Government between employers and workers.