The Press. TUESDAY, JUNE. 2,1914.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14983, 2 June 1914, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, JUNE. 2,1914.

•-Liberalism" and Strikes. ". "When th© Leader of the Opposition, the Strike safely over, declared that lie could havo settled the difficulty "in two -' days," the country was quit© ready to receive tho statement with a smile as a cheerfully impudent claim which its did not himself believe in, and would not stand to Sir Joseph Ward would havo been wise had he let it go at that, but he proceeded, after some _,weeks of reflection, .to tako himself seriously, and to explain what he would havo done. Ho says that had ho been Primo Minister ho. would have read the Riot Act and ordered the uncontrolled rowdies to take _.. secret ballot as to whether, being in complete control of the situation, and assured of go inter- . fcrenco on the part of tho Government, they should voluntarily surrender. Upon this ludicrous suggestion no comment is necessary, although it niay be noted, as Mr Massey has pointed out, that Sir Joseph's brilliant idea did not occur to Mm until months alter tho strike was over, Sinco, however, our Opposition friends insist upon repeating their pathetic story, it may bo worth while recalling somo facts in the recent industrial history of this country, j These are set out very clearly in the current issuo of "Light and Liberty." Until Sir Joseph Ward became Prime Minister, thero had been no strikes since tbo passing of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. We do not suggest, of course, that his appearance in the Prime Minister's seat was the causo of tho industrial disturbance, although there would bo much moro .warrant for such a suggestion than for tho entirely mendacious suggestion by the >nJi-Reforj_tors that eerious strikes were

not recorded prior to Mr Massey's accession to office. In 1006 we had the first strike; there were twelve in 1S07; ar.d so many moro each year that the totai number during Sir Joseph Ward's term of office was 63. In not a single instance did the then Prime Minister settle a strike "in two days." The Waihi striko broke out in May, IDI2, two months before Mr Mas.sey took office, hut in those two months nothing was heard of Sir Joseph Ward's specific, no attempt was mado to settle the strike, and nothing was done by the "Liberal" Government to chock tho Red Feds, in their establishment of a reign of terror in the disturbed district. Nor was any attempt made to settle in two days the strike or tho J.eefton gold-miners, which also broke out long before the

■•Liberals'' were driven out of office. Tho strike of .slaughtermen at Qarnaru also began Ore weeks before ?>lr Massey became Prime Minister, and it ran for sir weeks altogether, so that if tho redpo oi' the Leader of tho Opposition was privately used it failed as completely as everyone know.s it would havo failed had any!)ody been foolish enough to resort to it during the waterside strike. Wo have frequently mentioned, as I'fit.g one of the most powerful stimulants ever applied to industrial lawlessness and violence. Sir Joseph Ward's statement at Kaitangata some years ago that lie would personally have thwarted the full enforcement of his own Act directed at unlawful strikes. ''Light ; ' and Liberty recalls that incident, and very rightly says that it is unquestionable that the past attitude of the Leader of the Opposition was such as to encourage the militant unions to go to extremes in defying the law. He can hardly expect that tho public will boliove thai he could do bettor in the future than ho has done in tho past.