THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 1913 THE STRIKE AND LEGISLATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 12 November 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 1913 THE STRIKE AND LEGISLATION.

Whatever his politics may be. nobody will surely deny the right of Sir Joseph Ward, as Leader of the Opposition, to insist that Parliament should endeavour to bring about a cessation of the industrial hostility that is at present paralysing the trade of tho Dominion. Sir Joseph suggests that the House should agree upon a moa-y sure, and pass it at one sitting. Hp thinks that provision should be made

for tho taking of a secret ballot before a .strike is entered\upon. We have no doubt that the Prime Minister would readily fall in with the view of the Leader of the Opposition if he thought for a moment that legislation would prove effective. He is convinced, however, that in the present state of the public mind, legislation would be absolutely futile. How would it be possible, for instance, to take a secret ballot of those who are already on strike? Does Sir Joseph Ward suppose that the Federation of Labour would sanction such a thing? For ourselves, we are disposed to think that, if a, dozen members of Parliament were to get together, as Hir Joseph Ward originallyi suggested, they might be able to devise some means for bringing about a settlement. it is to be regretted that the Prime Minister did not avail himself of the suggestion when it was first made. ,It is undoubtedly the duty of as the highest tribunal in the land, io exhaust every means at Its disopsal for putting an end to the present deplorable crisis. Mediation has been tried, and has failed. Why, then, should we not try the effect of legislation? If legislation wero to fail, we should be

in no iv or so position that wo are today. The question is not a party one. It is a grave national issue, that should bo approached on national linos. Wo •should be sorry indeed if Parliament were to confess its inability to copo with a national crisis when it arises. It may be, as Mr Ma&sey .suggests, that the striko will lizzie out, and thereby settle itself, leaving ParJiamont a free hand to introduce the preventive legislation already order paper. On the other hand; tho revolution may" become more acute, and may bring ruin to thousands and thousands" in-the land, in view of all tho circumstances, aud r the grave issues involved, wo would suggest to the Prime Minister that he would be doing himself justice by convening a conference between tho leading members of both ,parties in tho House. Tho present position is intolerable. Tho Dominion is in danger of a widespread disaster through a defect in the law which permits a handful of adventurers to hold up the cervices of the State at their own sweet will. Tho position is becoming more serious every hour, and "Tiiere is no knowing where the thing Avill end. A secret ballot may be impracticable at this stage. The taking over of the shipping by the Government may not be advisable. But there may be other means which would bring the crisis to an end. It is for Parliament to discover these means, and having discovered them, to give them speedy effect. The Federation of Labour must not be allowed to plunge the country into ruin without its leaders being held in some way responsible. If that responsibility were fixed, there would soon' be an end to the trouble.