FROM STRIKE TO RIOT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 109, 4 November 1925, Page 4

FROM STRIKE TO RIOT

Events in Fremantle and Cairns afford striking proof of the trouble which may speedily arise from .Government weakness in industrial ilisputeß. When disagreements arise between workers and employers a Government is often placed in a 'difficult positidn. Intervention in support of either party is not always advisable, and it must depend Upon" circumstances how far the State is warranted in exercising its influence to bring about a resu'mptibn of work. But of one part of a. Government's duty there can be no doubt. It must maintain order, and if workers are willing to take the plaue of thbsts' on strike it

must protect them. In Western Australia and Queensland the Governments _have proved weak and vacillating in attention to this first duty of the State. They have allowed threats and minor displays of force to influence their action, and have not immediately put down the use of force. The consequence has been in Fremantle a wild clash between police and strikers, and fierce fighting. From to-day's reports it would appear that the trouble is ended for the time being, but with a Government fully alive to its, duty, and firmly resolved, to carry it out, there should never have been this trouble. Even with the militant leadership of which there is evidence' at Fremahtle, strikers •do not vattempt to take the law into their .fawnhands unless they have been; encouraged' by displays of tipidity\on* the part of the autho- ; rity tfhich. should stand for law and 'order.

;v In t, Queensland the position is hot much better. Indeed, it may be regarded as worse. Failure of the Government to deal with the militant forces has compelled the farmers-to take the law into their own hands. This is most dangerous, for it places responsibility for the maintenance of order in the hands of people not> vested with authority from the country. It is a defiance of, the authority of the State; but it.would not have come in Queensland if there had not been a prior defiance, meekly accepted by the Government on the part of the strikers. The Queensland trouble is by no means ended, .though all is quiet at Cairns. After meek submission to militant unionists in railways and harbour services, 'the Government appears at last disposed to make some show of authority and to insist that the machinery of the State shall not be used to aid the strikers, without regard for the producers' interests. But the Government has been long in coming to this point of view, and its task will not be made easier now by the tolerance it has hitherto shown for strike leaders^ who are plainly set upon creating chaos.