THE PHANTOM STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 36, 11 February 1920, Page 4

THE PHANTOM STRIKE.

FIGMENT OF THE BRAIN. LABOUR SAYS ALL IS QUIET. "It is more catching tnan the. influenza,'' said a representative Labour man when asked about the rumours of a strike that nervous people have been predicting for some months. Nobody seems to know where, when or why it is going to happen. The rumour is very much like the Russian scare of some years back, and seems to have as much foundation. The most likely explanation |of this persistent rumour of trouble in the industrial world is that it is a fig- , ment of the imagination that has been disorganised by the prolonged suspense over the difficulty that has arisen in . the coal-mining industry. Nobody knows what is going to happen in that cas-e, and so rumours get about. I An examination of the various trades does not reveal much evidence in favour '. of trouble. As a matter of fact, the l Labour people accuse the employers and the Government of 6tirring up all this talk for political purposes. The butchers have just got an award, so it is presumed they arc not looking for trouble. Carpenters and joiners have been discussing their wages and conditions before the Conciliation Council, and the matter is now referred to the Court, so they may bo counted out. Tramway men are provided for until May next, when the award expires. The Labourers! Unions which represent a big slice of the unionists, are due for some new awards, but there is nothing in the demands jthat is likely to give much trouble in I arriving at a settlement. Men engaged in the freezing works are now having their wages and conditions inquired into by a Labour Disputes Investigation Comj mittee. The waterside workers have , drawn up their list of what they think i is fair and reasonable, and these; claims , Rave 6till to be considered by the other ;6ide. The seamen are apparently well ! settled, and the award governing the carters and drivers does not expire for , twelve months yet. Taking the matter j on its merits, there does not seem to be j anything likely to give an opening that imicht lead to a strike. | There are persistent rumours about batons being manufactured, the police. j being armed, and special constables l being sworn in, but here again nothing > definite can be ascertained. Anyhow, the • launching of all these rumours is repre- • hensible, and with the nerves of the. 'people in their present state, any talk lof supposititious strikes is to be deplored, and is not likely to lead to that desirable drawing together of the various classes of the community which we were j assured the war would bring about. 11