THE ENEMY WITHIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16657, 29 September 1917, Page 8

THE ENEMY WITHIN.

NEED FOR PRECAUTIONS.

LABOUR AGITATORS CONDEMNED. {by telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday. The precautions taken to guard against the enemy within the gates wero warmly defended by the Hon. A. L. Herdmani in the House of Representatives to-night. Referring to the fate" of the Tort Kombla, he said:—"Wo have been free from that sort of thing in New Zealand, but I tell the House that the police havo had reason to suspect persona of acts of that description in this country. I think that the people of this country are apt !o forget that this country is at war. Ships are passing between the Old Country and New Zealand, carrying thousands of pounds' worth of valuable produce, and it is. my duty as head of the Police Department to take such steps as I can to ensure the safety of the ships and of the peoplo upon them. " The workers of this country have rendered patriotic servico to the Empire. In New Zealand these men have done splendid work, but frequently they havo been grievously misled. For the strikes that have taken place I do not blame tho men. Time and again men have stated that they did not want to strike, but they havo been intimidated and bullied into doing so by men. who are rather the enemies of Britain than her friends. The coal strike on the West Coast was instigated by leaders who did not care whether Germany won or England won. Tho men working in the mines wanted to work but were prevented from doing so by these men. " Tho man responsible for industrial trouble is not the ordinary average worker. It is the agitator who is entirely responsible for the mischief. I could name one or two agitators without any difficulty who do not live very far away from Parliament 'House, and who, to a large extent, .were responsible for a great deal of the trouble that took place. The fair fame of Australia has been dragged in the mire by the .agitator. The Australian soldiers "have done marvels, but there are people who remain at home who want to tear from their heads the laurels they have wen in battle. Fortunately in New Zealand the condition of things has been much better. Industrial peace has been observed, and the great mass of the workers have stood firm and have been loyal, and I hope tho time will never come when we shall have in this country the condition of things now prevailing in Australia."