The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1891, THE QUEENSLAND SHEARERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2194, 28 April 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1891, THE QUEENSLAND SHEARERS.

Time brings its revenges. When a few months ae;o we advocated conciliation with regard to the labor troubles we were accused of pandering to the working classes, of being responsible for a share of the mischief, and in fact of innumerable other sins. We never supported the strikers except to the extent of urging on the employers the advisability of coming to termj with their men,' yet we were regarded as just as bad as if we led the whole strike. At that time nothing conciliatory would have suited the opponents of the strikers. We should like to know what their opinions are now with the example of Queensland before their eyes. There the Colonial Secretary says that the strike has already cost the colony between £2,000,000 and £3,000,000, and that he haa been assured the strikers are prepared to hold out for another 12 months. Public works have been stopped because the money is required to fight the strikers. Now, if this sort of thing continues for 12 months the colony, as well as every man in it, will be bankrupt. It was not in a very prosperous condition preuously, and this will simply rum it. And after all what is it all about ? The Queensland shearers refused to work with nonunion labor; the Queensland squatters insist on employing free laborers. That is all that is in it, and is it not madness for men who have "a stake in the country," as they proudly say, to ruin themselves and the eolony iu fighting a paltry difference of this kind ? Would it not have been better for them to have submitted to the demands of the men than cause wholesale ruin in this way ? Now we hope the people of this colony will be warned by what is taking place in Queensland at the present time. The strikers in this colony were beaten not long ago, but the employers may rest assured that they have not yet settled the question. One has only to glance over the history of trades unionism to see, that though it has been many centuries in existence it is oniy now it is beginning to realise, its strength. In the past it often hs>d to be worked by partially educated leaders, with a very illiterate following. Now amongst its leaders are clever, highly educated, and intelligent men. while the great majority are also fairly well educated. Besides, the present race enjoy privileges undreamt of by the older unions. The advantages are, therefore, greatly in favor of the present race, and when we find that unionism was kept alive in the past is it not the height of madness for J people to expect to crush it now. It'

cannot be done, and the sooner this is realised the better. If employers of labor act wisely, they will come to terms with the unions. By temporising with them they can still control i hem, but if they offer resistance to all their demands, and drive them out on utrike it will result in ruin to all.