THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1913. TO PREVENT STRIKES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 November 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1913. TO PREVENT STRIKES.

.Evidence is not Avanting that* the industrial upheaval that lias produced such'-dire results in New Zealand will shortjj- be at an end. The men, the honest workers, wiio ay ere foolish to listen to the revolutionary Syndicalists, and to be duped into the belief that the ay hole country-side ay as in arms against them, are beginning to realise that they have been wickedly and treacherously fooled. They are beginning to realise that their best friends are those Avho have warned them against the machinations of tho extremists, and have counselled them to be loyal to themselves and the agreements they have honourably made. It may be humiliating to come of them, after yielding to the specious arguments of soap-box orators, to return to Avork under those constitutional conditions insisted upon by the- employers. But after all there is no disgrace in accepting the inevitable and admitting that the method* of the Federation of Labour are opposed to the best interests of the worker, as they are to those of the Dominion at large. Tho Federation has been Aveighed in the balances, and found Avanting. The most honourable thing the strikers can do is to return to Avork on the best terms offering, and renounce the party Avhicli has drawn them into a trouble that is not justified by either reason or common-sense. When industrial peace is restored, it willbe the duty of the moderate Labourites, the men Avho repudiate the barbarous strike, to co-operate with the Government in .securing such ■ an amendment of the law as will secure an immunity against future disaster, and the conservation of the interests of those Avho are willing to work. It

is just as much in tho interests of tho worker as it is of tho general community that any body of men who claim the right to create revolution and make war upon tho public should be repressed. Hence, wo suggest that the Federation' of Labour, which is a menace to society, should bo repudiated bv every labour organisation in tho Dominion, It is a body that has sprung suddenly into existence, and which is controlled by individuals who have no sense of responsibility and no interest in common with the honest toiler. Following this repudiation should come an amendment of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act to render strikes penal, and to provide for the setting up of an independent tribunal to adjudicate upon any dispute which cannot be settled by the Conciliation Commissioners or the Arbitration Court. This tribunal might consist of three or inoro Judges of the Supremo Court, whoso decision in all matters would be final. It may be argued that, if the decision were not

to the liking of parties to the dispute, there would be a difficulty'in enforcing it. The law could provide that every person must respect the finding of the Court, under the pain and penalty of imprisonment. This would, we think, ensure a full respect for the decision of tlio tribunal, it is obvious that agreements made under tho Arbitration Act, or betAveen individuals, are respected- only so long as tlioy are to the liking of the parties. A bench of Judges would assume the form of an Appeal Court, to which a crisis 6uch as that which has recently occurred might be referred for review and final decision. Strikes in any shape or form must be made penal, and the worker must be made to realise that it is a crime against his own class, as it is against the community, to hold up the services of the Stafe. No man, or body of men., desires to see Labour victimised. But Labour, for its part, must recognise that only by constitutional means can it secure the redress of legitimate grievances.