A FAIR COMPROMISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 277, 20 November 1913, Page 6

A FAIR COMPROMISE.

A DOMINION BALLOT SUGGESTED. ON" POINT AT ISSUE. (By Telegraph.— Association.) wkiajrctox, this day. Suggestions for the .settlement of the strike arc iple.ntiful at the present time, and many people arc searching for some possible compromise ac an alternative to a '"light to a. finish." Councillor Fitzgerald, in conversation with a "Post " reporter, said that a pro. posal he had recently put forward privately to persons representing both sides seemed to meet with favour. Thorn were three courses open:—First, "the fight to a finish." as at present the slow process of forcing the strikers to .-iiilimit; second, intervention by the Jjegislature; and third (the course which might meet the demands of both parties), the hold-ins of a secret ballot of all the unions throughout the Dominion on the question whether they favoured registration under the Arbitration Act or not. This course, Councillor Fitzgerald considers, would be a fair compromise. It, would prevent the meu being forced under the Arbitration Act if the majority of votes was against it. To force the union? to register would only mean continued discontent, liable to break out again at any time in the futre.

The. Strike Committee, Councillor t'ltzgerald is informed, would be quite prepared to stand or fall by the issue of the secret ballot, which would be held officially and under proper independent Government supervision. Such a course woiil<i ai»o preserve for the workers the rijrht to organi-p as the majority thinks lit, a right which ihey consider is jeopardised by the present attitude of the employer?. If the majority of workers were in favour of the Arbitration Court, then the striker* would stand by that decision, and register under the Act or join union" ro2rist.e.T9d under the Act. This Councillor Fitzgerald thinks woroM Jbe a fair and hcmoaiabie tray for both [sides out of th&_preaent troaiiS*»