THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1912. STRIKES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10550, 5 February 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1912. STRIKES.

The strike mania lias been the absorbing topic of conversation during the past week. Two of tlie most extraordinary labour crises in the history of the world have been those at Brisbane and Wellington. In the former city, trade has been paralysed because the tramwayrnen were not allowed to wear Union badges. In the latter, there is an upheaval because the mien are, dissatisfied with an Inspector. People are wondering what the world is coming to lvhen trade can be dislocated ana misery produced by such flimsy pretexts. In neither case is there any great principle involved, other -than'- that of discipline and-control, is it possible that sane and intelligent Unionists will create a national industrial crisis because a few men are dissatisfied with the conditions under which they are working? Are innocent women and children to be made suffer the pangs of hunger for the mere «ike of asserting rights which no self-respecting man would demand f For it must be remembered that those who suffer most by the paralysing of trade are the wives and families of the workr ere. What right has .the Federation of Labour to interfere in a dispute between Hie Wellington City Council and its employees? Does it wish;to establish the principle, that the worker shall have the right to dictate, who shall or ,glial 1 not be inspectors ? Surely no man with self-respect woidd' support any such principle. And yet, so far as the Wellington tramway dispute is concerned, there would appear to he no other principle involved. If the men had a legitimate grievance against Inspector Fuller, they Irad a right to appeal to the City Council, as their employees, for | redreF.s. If that redress was iiot forthcoming, they could mako strong representations through the Press, and from the public platform, and could even carry their (grievance, to the municipal polling booth. They have no "shadow of right, however, to

precipitate a strike with a view to coercing their employees. Such a measure tends not, only to alienate public sympathy, but to create a feeling of profound and righteous indignation in the minds of those who have a respect for law and order. If the principle which the Federation of Labour seeks to establish is carried to its logical conclusion, such a thing as discipline in public or private service will be unknown. v lf a Sergeant of Police does not satisfy the whims of has constables, he will either have to be removed, or there will be a strike. The same thing will happen in regard to the defence forces, and the railways, and every other branch of the pr-fblio service. ludeed, the principle will .most assuredly be extended to private occupations, with the result that the whole industrial system will be involved in lawlessness and chaos. The Wellington City Council has rightly preserved its self-respect and dignity, and has refused to be coerced, though it has shown the keenest desire to av- , oid unnecessary inconvenience to the public. The Council had only two possible ways of dealing, with the i matter. If it found that the men i had a legitimate grievance, it should I Shave taken steps to redress that i grievance, even if it involved the dis-. missal of Inspector Fuller. If, on the other h'anu, the grievance was ne more than, that occasioned; by a man i doing his duty ..fearlessly, the Council was bound to support its officer to the bitter end. Inspector Fuller has adopted a magnanimous' course in asking to be transferred to anoth-; er position. Tne tramwaymen should' have been more than satisfied when the Council agreed to make the trans-' ser. To carry the strike further, when there is absolutely nothing at stalce, is not only to flout public opinion and create needfess pain and distress, but to cause a feeling of re- , tseritment and abhorrence at the wick- • ediness of the thing. No man who respects the law and his own freedom will tolerate a proposal which strikes at the fundamental principles underlying the maintenance of law and order! Any' attempt to abrogate the right of employees in the matter of employment is to encourage that dangerous proposal.™