"SAD AND SORRY."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 278, 21 November 1913, Page 6

"SAD AND SORRY."

MB BELCHER'S REGRET. WHOLE STRUGGLE HOPELESS. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. "I am sad and sorry." said Mr \V. Belcher to a reporter to-day. "The men do not want to listen to the men who have pa«w>il through the mill. 1 have seen organisation* thnt were considered impregnable mowed down one after the other. Violence can never win the cause of Labour, but it can jrive rise to antipathy. There are processions with hands in Wellington, but they cause no interest, and they won't bring about a settlement. The whole struggle is hopeless. The offer made by the I'nion Steamship Company should have been snatched up as soon as it wm« made, so that the men

..ml.I have pone back under the old agreement with all tin- pn*t forgotten. If the leaders of the liu-n had availed themselves of that opportunity they would have proved themselves {rood general.* and the respect and sympathy of the Dominion would have'been theirs. As it is, the men wmil.l realise that an honourable retreat is better than an utter rout. I am nor bitter, 1 do not complain; but a man feels it keenly after serving Labour faithfully and strenuously for twenty years when he is called a traitor and howied down because he speaks, from the fullness of his experience. I have done my best to advise the men. I have acted rather us a policeman trying to bring about peace where there are efforts for violence; but what can one man do? No man has the cause of Labour nearer to his heart than I have, ami in the past I have gained for the seamen much they would not otherwise h.ivc gained beca-use of my persistence and patience. In Wellington I did nil I oHiltl to work for a settlement, but it was useless. There are obstinate men on both sides. I am taking with mc to Dunedin important official communications. 1 cannot disclose them, nor their nature, but they will be placed before the Dunediu men promptly, and they will deal with them as suits them. This business will drag on, but the result will not be of value to Labour except as an education. Men will look back to 11113 a= they looked back to ISilO. and then they will probably realise tlot they were badly advised when they came on; in October. It is well to acknowledge the position and to realise that it is better to go back beuefitting by the experience and to wait when the opportunity oilVr- to drive the nail home firmly and strongly. Ido nut feel any bitterness. If 1 were a younger man 1 misiit. but I have come through too much experience during past years, and now I am only sorry for Labour."