THOSE UNPRESSED-FOR PENALTIES.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 878, 4 May 1917, Page 8

THOSE UNPRESSED-FOR PENALTIES.

A Dangerous Precedent.' TXTJdLJbJN last. week we referred, to *"*■: the terms upon which the coalminers' strike had been . settled, we said: We are not altogether clear about or satisfied with the-, somewhat . vaguely provision _ as to the Government not "pressing'. ' for penalties." We trust this does hot mean any interference, with . the course of..justice in the cases of the men now being tried at Auckland. i. '

As a matter of fact, that is precisely what- the - provision lias meant. / - Despite the • clear and abundant 7 evidence of a widespread plot-to diminish the output, despite the well-proved ; complicity in this plot- of most of the accused* despite also' the strongly-ex-pressed opinions of the magistrate upon the conduct of latter, it lias 1 now been announced that the Govern-' ment is recommending His Excellency the Governor to grant a full pardon in each ease. If this does not constitute a distinct interference with, the course "of justice, we do not know what does. It is said that the Government, must keep its word, must fulfil : its share of the bargain. But the bargain, the compact, or whatever it may .be - called., .has been broken by the other ; side, as is pointed out in an article under another heading. ; "

■ We can quite understand. the Acting- ' Prime Minister's v anxiety to- secure -am : , unbroken continuance ■of the - coal sup- 1 ply, but if he imagines that he hasbrought the mmer& into -a . permanent ,- ■ stat© of reason and i patriotism, \we fear • •he is mistaken. Scarcely a -day • goes by . without some new,if minor, > . I strike occurring, and now that the Government has displayed such lamentable weakness in; defiling .with . those - who-: - plot and foment at the mines, -we fear it will nofc-be long before there is a new. and widespread strike. ..The . * public expects a. National Governmeiit to act with firmness not with weakness: : We are convinced thatr the loyalists ofV ilie Dominion piit' up , : ■ with; the mosik serious r inconvenience > . and discomfort rather than- see the law ' . . of the land; .defied - by -the miners or j-. ■ any other class of the community, and v -. witness . the humiliating. spectacle ;.' of a weak administration over-ruling; the findings of an independent magistrate and allowing men'-to be at large ». 1 ■ who' have well deserved tlio wholesome puViishment he lias inflicted. . v i._ :