LABOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15503, 9 January 1914, Page 6

LABOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The process of settling labour disputes by the barbaric strike is being pursued in South Africa, where the railwaymen threaten the suspension of traffic,, and the authorities are making extensive preparations for the maintenance of order. Whatever the nominal cause of this conflict may be, it is plain that no strike would occur—in New Zealand, or in South Africa, or anywhere else — a modicum of the energy thus expended were devoted to the securing of equitable and amicable agreements. As long as those who control the policy of unions believe in the efficacy of strikes, and can persuade unionists of advantage to be thus gained, strikes can never cease. This is regrettable enough when unions strike only for definite and appreciable reasons; it becomes intolerable when strikes are deliberately fostered and men are made the tools of agitators who aim at wrecking and destroying industry. In New Zealand, the 1.W.W., and its ally the Federation of Labour, openly promulgated the plan for making industry impossible, with results which need no comment. It. is not improbable that the sinister influence is at work in South Africa. Strikes are as unnecessary as they are injurious to all concerned. ,It is quite possible, with consideration and forbearance, to arrange "fair" conditions in any industry. Yet we have the strike advocated by plausible agitators, in spite of the loss, the misery and the suffering entailed.