SOME KINDLY WORDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1939, 23 December 1913, Page 6

SOME KINDLY WORDS.

.AIR. W. G. FOSTER ON THE STRIKE. . Asked to express an opinion on tho recent strike, Mr. W. G. Foster, chairman of. the Employers', Farmers', and Citizens' Defence .Committee, said that ho could only do unofficially, and as a private individual. The Defence Committee, ho stated, had'gone" into hfcess, and he hoped that it would' be a "long holiday." Personally ho felt that tlio present was no time for reciimination. As an employer ho was perfectly willing to provide omploymcnt for any man who tad been forced into tho strike against his will. Ho fully realised that the strike had been called against tho wishes ofvery largo section of the workers. The employers, Mr..Foster believed, recognised tho men's right to striko under certain conditions. Referring to sympathy strikes, Mr. Foster added that he .did not think it right for any striker or strikers ito break the law and jeopardise tho welfare of the whole community by causing tho dislocation of established industires. It- had been said that the Go7ernment had aimed'.at "killing" the United Federation of Labour by bringing in special constables. Tie (Mr. Foster) thought it inconceivable that' .there could bo any Government which could lawfully and reasonably Tiavo refused the protection which circumstances demnded —protection of men who wero shipping tho country's goods and otlier.viso were attending t? their own aff.tirs. Acceptance of the services of the fepeeial constables had not only been necessary, but peremptorily needed. The only other alternative was anarchy.

Mr. Foster eoncbided by stating that speaking for himself (and he believed for the employers), he thought that this festive season was appropriate for again extending the hand of good fellowship to thoso men whose conduct during tho striko had been within proper bounds. ' He wished it to be understood, however, that employers had no inclination whatever to condone tho preaching of violence and misconduct of anv kind, and also of tho action which followed on such preachings.