The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever .state or persuasion, religious or political. THUESDAY,,MAY 28,1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2944, 28 May 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever .state or persuasion, religious or political. THUESDAY,,MAY 28,1891.

The disturbances in Queensland arising from the deadlock between the pastoralists and the shearers have seemingly reached the acute stage. It would occasion very little surprise; should we learn at any time that, in addition to burning the gruss, the shearing sheds, and the sheep within them, the unionist shearers had been forced by circumstances—over which, of course, they have no control—to proceed a step further and inflict personal injury upon the recalcitrant pastoralists. It is not improbable that legislation will be required, making terrorism and the malicious destruction of property by unionists, as it is already by private iudividuals, a •serious oll'ence at law, and punishable by long terms of imprisonment. Unless this is done, and that speedily, we may witness the extraordinary spectacle in the latter part of tlie nineteenth century of peace-ably-disposed men being obliged to go about their business well-armed in defence of their family and rooftree, arid in fear of men of their own nationality and creed. But perhaps the most alarming and suggestive aspect of this Queensland business is that throughout the colonies not a protest, so far as we know, has been raised by the various labour unions against the reckless actions of their Queensland brethren. They look on apparently acquiesing in the whole proceedings; yet we question whether it is in the power of capitalists, individually or collectively, to inflict such death blows at the true cause of unionism as are now being dealt by the shearers in Queensland. As the Phoenix Park murders were to the cause of Home Rule, the Queensland unionist outrages are to the cause of labour, and we are astonished that the labour leaders throughout the colonies have apparently failed to realise it.

None are more fully impressed with the dignity of labour, whether of 1:11 n head or the haucls, and we believe the claims of labour for proper recognition, both as to adequate remuneration and otherwise, is one the general public, including employers, fully admit. But in the present case are the demands made compatible with justice and common sense ? If they are, will anyone say that the firebrand and its accompanying powder and shot are the proper agents by which the claims of labour are to be brought before the public? We think not. By their outrageous and suicidal acts the Queensland shearers are digging the grave of unionism and inflicting irreparable injury upon their own cause. When the new unionism first came to the front, we fully believed the leaders would have taken their stand upon the rock of justice. Justice to their employers as well as themselves; a just consideration for the trades in which they were engagcl and the districts in which they were situated. Given this and they would have been invincible, for public sympathy would have gone with them. Instead of this, the name, and certainly the principles of justice, have been carefully avoided, the arrogant demands of labour in every case being limited only by the power to enforce them. The interest* of young and promising industries were regarded as naught compared to the more important consideration—-from a union point of view —- of extorting a few shillings extra as wages. If the gooso that lays the golden egg in every branch of colonial industry lias not been promptly killed, it is through no fault of tho uuions. The few patriotic and lar seeing men connocted with them who at the outset counselled moderation, were quickly thrown aside, to make way for restless and reek let's agitators, who in every case have led their followers into difficulties without being able to extricato them. We believe hotter days are in «!or« for both labourers and capitalists or rather let us say employers, for in nine easo.-t out of ten capitalists are not employers of labour, and employers at least in the colonies, are seldom capitalists. Days when there will be more of friendly intercourse and partnership and less of the cpen enmity, that unfortunately is now so often exhibited. But every thoughtful person must be convinced from what has occurred of late, that some higher means towards that ond than tho mere union of either capital or labour must be employed or the desirod

<.'i>iis(irn:imti<m will iiulticd bo very renin!''. In cu-operation, in our opinion, will lw; found tho true solulinu of 'ho difficulty.