MAHENO HOLD-UP

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 47, 19 November 1925, Page 10

MAHENO HOLD-UP

Sir, —The spectacle' of the s.s. Maheno lying at the wharf clearly demonstrates that regardless of the protest registered at the recent general election, the extremists of labour continue iio hold the community mercilessly by the throat. It is useless for officials of unionism to profess ignorance of the situation, because it is apparent to everyone that the tyrannical methods being practised are according to plan, and for no other purpose than to show cditempt for authority, and to irritate shipowners and the general public. AS." the ordinary citizen wonders why this form of tyranny is tolerated from firemen and seamen” when it would be vigorously resented if practised by those who run our trains and trams, it is about time strong action was taken bv the Government to compel the responsible unions to discipline their members or admit their inability to do so. /

When preference to unionists was firstly advocated, the main argument in support of it was that it would enable the unions to more effectively control their members, as insubordination would mean expulsion from the union with consequent difficulty of obtaining employment, but years of experience has proved conclusively that the very opposite has "esulted, so the time has come for an investigation of the position. Those who have had any personal dealings with labour organisations know perfectly well that the majority of workers are not in sympathy _ with irritation tactics, but as the militant section have undoubtedly secured control of the unions and readily resort to violence in support of their Bolshevik policy, the reasonable section are forced to keep silent, and it is not difficult to understand their leasons for doing so. The policy placed before the electors of the Australian Commonwealth to restore to the members of unions the control of their union by means of a compulsory secret ballot under the supervision of an independent _ authority, is a step in the right direction, but such policy should be carried further by the Government giving the principals of the unions to distinctly understand that irritation tactics will not be tolerated, and if the leaders are not able to compel members to carry out the working conditions of an award, then preference to unionists will be withdrawn. , v It is quite possible that the a ’ J tion of preference to unionism would lesult in some industrial disturbance, as the patience of the community has long been mistaken by the militants for weakness or fear, but the recent mandate to the Government supplies ample proof that strong action pected, so it is to be hoped that the Government will not lose much time in protecting the public interest as, whilst it is readily admitted that no one should be compelled to work, it should nevertheless be .niade perfectly plain that unionists will not be permitted to prevent others from working, -lam, etc., . ; c.