STRIKES AND STATESMANSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 270, 7 August 1908, Page 6

STRIKES AND STATESMANSHIP.

A LESSON FROM AUSTRALIA. The most notable feature of the Sydney Tramways strike was; the unflinching firmness of the Government, In every speech that lie made on the subject the . Premier, Mr. Watfe, declared his determination never to surrender to the law-breakers. Of very particular interest to New Zealanders, as an object-lesson in the duty qf a Government, and as an illustration of the view that statesmen outside New Zealand take of their duties, a passage, of a speech by Mr. Wade on Monday of.last week, while the strike was in progress, is worth quoting. I realise to the full (he said) the intense gravity of the situation so created. I can share 'with you all the serious responsibility cast upon any Government called upon to say anything which may lead to anyone taking advantage of the statement made, and thereby precipitating an industrial conflict Wo have only one thing to regard. It is obvious that if the Government consented under pressing conditions to yield, and to ignore the Act, and appoint some tribunal outside tho Act, through the mere threat of a general strike, thon, hard as it may seem, and terrible as the consequences may bo, it would not be true to its trifst. The Government must maintain tho law as laid down. It must do that as long as it can. If tho majority of the people declares itself to ba of a different opinion it will then be time enough for the Government to make way for another Administration. But when wa are challenged by a number of largo organisations, which declare in pretty, clear terms that if wo will not yield on'those terms and appoint this board outside tho Act altogether, and ignore tho legislation recently passed, we have to stand by constituted government, and' ask the public at large who aro self-respecting to also stand by law and order. In an article warmly eulogistic of the Premier's stand, the "Sydney Morning Herald" made an observation that is also worth quoting for the benefit of the Now Zealand Govornmcnt: — "That Act (the Industrial Disputes Act) it is tho business of tho Government to uphold unflinchingly. If-it were ready now to ignore its own legislation, to what lower depth of contempt could it fall?"