PRESS OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 148, 17 March 1908, Page 9

PRESS OPINIONS.

MR. T. MACKENZIE. With' Mr; Mackenzie's views' up to a certain' point, all who are opposod to tho policy of Socialism must bo in'accord. It is evident, however, that there may bo room for «, difference of opinion upon tvo points ' —namely whether there is any real danger of the Socialistic party securing the ascendancy m New Zealand, and whether the Min- . istvy vsrhich, Mr. Mackenzie intends to supr port is not itself tainted : more or less with the ■ Socialistic heresy. Of theee, tho latter is: a : distinctly interesting point, which every doctor must bo left free to' settle for himself according to the view he takes of what docs and doea not constitute Socialism. It.is a'cknowladgod: that tho Baddon Qovornment travelled for a considerable distance along tho path of State Socialism, and though some of the members of the present Ministry have occasionally refusod to vregard themselves as committed by the acts of their immediato predeoeeeors 'in offiee, it: has expressly claimed'for tho'Ward 'Government—in' the. Waikouaifci electorate as a matter : of factSthat'it is a Socialistic Administration. But measures' which minister to private enterprise, as ■ miich' of the' so-palled ;: Socialism, in Now. Zealand does, aro not -to be ' by the same'test'as the revolutionary Socialism .'which 'is being preached by many irresponsible'persons j in' our midst. A good deal of the legislation which has been, passed by , our Parliament -in the. past vl7 years may 'be heartily approved by those who have'nothing but condemnation for the policy of Socialism that is espoused by the Political Labour League.. "What may be more to tho point, is Cabinet, 1 includes two.members of the-.Legislature who have, even whilo. in* possession ;'of: portfolicsj' recorded 1 their vofceo in Parliament in favour of the: nationalisation of such-industries ; as 1 aro, conoerned with the supply of the necessaries of life to the peopls. And when Ministers ;of the .Crown.iassoeiato themselves to such 'an oxtrat 'as this, with, the. Socialistic doctrine,it. may be indeed desirable that'the sections' in tho, community which aro .impressed with a .senso. of-tho necessity ,of .securing- tile-coil-; tinued development of the resources , and industries , of , .the country .under' conditions, that, as Mr. Mackenzie reminds' usjt.h'ave' been productivo throughout tho world of, the most . amazing, progress, should - feopibino, .to crush _tho'extremist's. ai/tho polls. . .In jthc meantime, the,; presence, of extremist's in. the Cabinet itself may. be an embarrassing l cir- : cuinstende.—''Otago'- Djily:;;Tinie«.- !

A MINING STRIKE Troublo has again fyroken out among the. West, Coast .miners,, this time'in .the Black- . ball : mine; "which is 'r&j "largely a'Christ- • church*concern.; ,The men, -.who/are working tinder an award . of , the Arbitration Court, have-v'takeh,.'Umbrage' , at 'certain''actions by the manager of the, . mine,'., contending that it is"a.breach pward.. Instead, however,\of .takingfaction against' him' in. the proper,, and: legal, manner, ! 'they, themselves nave.committed. a far more smous. breach by.'gbing on" strike,' once more proving" : the. inefficacy. of,- : the Arbitration Act to prerent, strikes. , 'It would be lisless to discuss ; the wholehistory of. the'.dispute,' and impossible to :do ..so .as regards ;;one -feature': of, it, as the matter ' has . been j dealt With l , in ! th« Warden's. Court,and is still v "sub jtidice.". i'As tho result Of nogotia-; tions,: the meri werfi to : be take"n -' on ■■ again, ■' but-' the. : Union > /theri'-'i"; demailded''i :: tha't':Sny r :,futuro.vreduetipns.r should bo .carried. out "by means' of-,'a ballot,'and'-, to th'is' the'manager would not. agree, on the ground;'tjiat ho pre-' f erred" to retain married mon -who. had .builtup; tomes, in the district; ' > To most pcoplo, -If® this,"would appear- a /ery proper,, and. 'oonsiderate v course, . buty>the. Miners' . Union vould .have none .of it, " and Bother strike goes on; ■ -;,'A disquieting-feature of the affair, is that the miners'"organisations elsewhere are according the strikers' their'' sympathy,. :thus shoving, how general f is" the 'laok' of. respect for, the. Arbitration "Act;" -We carii hardly.believeut .true 'th»t'-;Mr.. Edwar.d Trcr' gear,., the' secretary.' of 'thetiibour -libparti l ' ment, has .telegraphed his" sympathy, with thfe strikers,-as is stated in a-'t-elegram-published?' recently.-i - Mr. ; -Tr?gcar : holds.; peculiar- T viiiws as.-.to'tho^bbligatio'ns,imposed upon'him by his'official' position; brit.wo/hesitato to think, that he'would -so openly side 'with those'who .are defying, the Mil-; •lar .is; watching 4 thb cour-so. of events : from Wollingtqfi; ' but',' the .' spirit ' of UKo-strikers does not ' suggest that, ah offer on. his'part to 'mediate,, would;, l}s r'eceiyed'- with' any; deof cordiality.- Wo trust, that if too trouble is not speedily settled the Government.will _ not hesitate •to uphold tho,Jau',. Tho Arbitration Act is. oithcr in force' or. it. is .a dead letter.; If tho latter it should .be repealed; if tho 'former "its , authority: should be maintalhed' firmly- and impartially i These .repeated;, and, glaring "breach?* .of' tho" AOT-'- a ro^iaj^d]tpbnii^ng'y'it 7 ijri^'"g«^eral--ndionfe. : and;" Christbhurch':