Evening Post. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1912.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1912, Page 6

Evening Post. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1912.

doning a settlement which conceded everything that the Tramways Union originally asked, but also for contemplating an indefinite extension of the area of conflict, these critics do not attempt to explain. As a matter of fact, the point at issue seems to us one which the Strike Committee could have waived without any sacrifice of principle or loss of dignity, but which the representatives of the city cannot now afford to waive without both. It is ludicrous to suppose that anybody would be disposed to ignore Or to minimise the influence of the union in procuring the removal of Inspector Fuller, whether the words objected to were retained or not. The excision of tho words wa« quite unnecessary id save the dignity of the union, since it was getting all" that it originally asked, and since everybody knew that but for the strike Mr. Fuller would not have made his request. But from the council's goiht 6f view the retention of the words, at any rate after they had been publicly challenged, Was vital. The council could not have honourably contemplated the removal of Mr, Fuller unless he had voluntarily set it -free. His initiation in the matter was therefore vital to the council's case, and it cannot now, ' without dishonour, consent to what in - the circumstances would be an acknowledgment that it was not concerned with the "Wiehee of its officer, but only with the pressure of the union. If anybody had any doubt upon the point forty-eight hours ago, the Most perfunctory perusal of the reports of yesterday's meetings must con-, vince him. The merits or demerits of Inspector Fuller atfe no longer in issue. The merits or demerit* of the union's original case and of the council's original decision are also beside the mark. The sole question now is whether or nob a, public body elected by the citizens of Wellington to manage their affairs is to continue to do so, or whether it is to make a formal acknowledgment of its submission to external dictation. We do not ask that strike oratory should be judged by its worst excesses, or that | the sober common-sense and good feeling of organised Labour should bo saddled with responsibility for the coarse, disgusting, and vicious personalities in which some of the speakers indulged. But the general note of every speech was that the City Council must be brought to its knees and that nothing less than a full and formal recognition of Labour's supremacy will suffice. In the face of such a demand we do not see that the council can afford to budge an inch. The citizens of Wellington and the people of New Zealand should rejoice that the issue has been raised in this bald form, without a single scrap of material grievance left to obscure it. It the issue must be faced, it is better that it should be faced at once and under auch conditions. We fully appreciate what may be the terrors of a general strike, hut they would be infinitely worse if insurgent Labour had a vestige of merit to support its attempt to bring them into operation. It is the sovereignty of law, and therefore the very foundations of society, that are assailed by the reckless violence of the strike leaders, and with such a trust in its keeping the City Council must stand firm at all costs. [Since the above was put in type the strike has been settled. Comment upon the settlement will be found on page B.]