Seditious Strikes

Maoriland Worker, Volume 8, Issue 322, 25 April 1917, Page 5

Seditious Strikes

KEPRESSIVE REGULATIONS.

The Government has issued yet another War Regulation. Back in February, Regulations were gazetted which set iorth that "the Governor ,, (which menns the Cabinet, of course), "if satisfied that any industry is essential for the public welfare, may, by Orcler-in-Couneil, declare that industry to be an industry essential for the

public welfare," and further provided that strikes or lock-outs in such industries which threatened to hamper the Government in the prosecution of the war should be deemed to be "seditious."' The recent Gazette now adds, the following f.o the list of essential industries, a strike in connection with which, under the War Regulations, would be "•seditious' , : — The shipping industry; The carriage of poods, merchandise, or passengers; by land or sea; The ladins or unlading of ships; The frozen meat industry.

The effect of the new Regulations is that, concerted action on the part of any workers to interfere villi the effective conduct of the shipping industryor any of the other industries named in the list will amount to a seditious strike, and will be an offence under the War Regulations, punishable on summary conviction by a magistrate, by a fvi)i up to £100, or by imprisonment not exceeding twelve months.