CONSTITUTIONAL ACTION

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 447, 1 October 1919, Page 8

CONSTITUTIONAL ACTION

As Practised by Constitutionalists

Strikes and rumours ._ strikes in all part., of the world following so closely alter the late "constitutional atrocity known as the war to end war have moved the capitalist to take as I est for their editorial and parliamentary homilies "constitutional" action "and tho viitues and blessings thereof. All strikes tor the iuipro•nent of conditions, the recovery of ground lost to the war profiteers, and for the correction; c_ political swindlers are referred to as "unconstitutional" and denounced as being fraught wiitoi menace to the interest of the workers. As against strikes the capitalists recommend wh,at they call constitutional action, moaning thereby nc-t the independence of Labor in politics, but tiie support of scoundrel Tories and hypocritical .liberals. Weeing that the capitalists are so keenly anxious for ch e adoption of "constitntional"' actio.. by the workers it; is only fair to inquire in what degree they intend to adhere lo it. it must be confessed that their conduct in tho past and present does not inspire much confidence, because, as history proves, whenever constitutionalism ha., obstructed their greed and uneonstitutionalisiu has fortified their privileges they have not scrupled to repudiate the one ..i,d embrace the other. Law and order i» their pet platitude, but tbey never "boggle at vioi_ iice when that suits them bet ter. 'Probably they do not wish us to take them seriously and are merely lecturing the workers in tli<e spirit of "Do as I say and not as 1 do," but if not, if they want us to believe that" their advice to follow constitutional action is sincerely give.., will they kindly give a satisfactory explanation of some of their unconstitutional ads— meaning by that acts of violence, illegality and physical force as- under? (1) Tl_e raiding of the Miners' Hall in Waihi and the brutal shooting of Evans; also the lobbery of miners"' property in the saino affair." (_) The arming ot thousands < A special constabulary in llil.'i iv defeat the Watersideis and Miner... in thn interest of the L'liioi. Steam -hap Co. and the whole tribe of profiteers. (2) The imprisonment of hundreds of honest men durmg the ecur.e of the war tor refilling to eiert physical Uiee and ooißEßit act 9 of violence. (•_) Tha imprisonment of Mr. V>. Parker for differing wi.a the .srp.o.cier,. ab&Bt the methods ta be employed in rhe struggl- ugjinvf. protiieeni/g uud pilliffe, (r>.) The absolute refusal of (lie Labor Department under Mas--ev to administer tht» accommodation clauses in the .\'->i|li Canterbury Threshing Mills' award on t**e. ground that the law war* "impiac-tii-able." (6) Violation of Uie Constitution of New Zealand by the illegal prolong-