STRIKES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15923, 8 May 1912, Page 5

STRIKES.

TO THR KOTTOB. Sir, —Mr Mountford’s intention in replying to my letter of last week apparently is an attempt to got my opinion on the strike question, because he must recognise that the letter in question was official, and awaits an official answer. I reiterate Professor Mills’s own writing—“ The only possible safeguard is the strictest possible regulations in the Socialist Party organisation against all endorsements, fusions, compromises, bargains or mutual understandings of any sort whatever with any other political party, regardless of its name, its purpose or its platform.” Mr Mountford makes a misstatement when he writes that I have publicly expressed iny disapproval of tho strike. He must be very young in the Labour movement if he doesn’t know my attitude on the strike. About six years ago the slaughtermen, while working under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, struck. Tho Socialists held meetings of sympathy with them. I attempted to get the. Canterbury Trades and Labour Council to pass a vote of sympathy, but they were afraid to do so. Later the Blackball miners, while under tho Arbitration and Conciliation Act, struck. Tho Socialists again assisted them. I. took the chair at a crowded meeting in the Opera House at which the ‘delegate for the miners put their case. The Christchurch Socialists collected upwards of £SO for the strikers. I have publicly expressed myself many times on the question of strike. 1 say emphatically the workers should never part with their right to striker.' Tile workers should always regulate stocks so that they can strike effectively at any time. _ I am one of those pooplo who recognise that Socialism enn be brought about in a few years il the workers are prepared to demand it, work for it and fight for it, both industrially anil politically. If the workers can gain anything by it they should strike and give no notice. The miners of Britain were very foolish in giving six weeks’ notice. They should not have given six minutes’ notice. The employing class break agreements, rob, demoralise, overwork and starve the workers. They use the police to baton, the military to overawe and shoot tho workers. Recognising this, I say the workers aro justified in striking and making the conditions of the employing class so unsafe that even they, finding that exploiting is played out, will be willing to assist in the establishing of Socialism.—l am, etc., 'i FRED R COOKE .Socialists’ Hall, May 6