CHALLENGE TO STATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17277, 29 September 1919, Page 7

CHALLENGE TO STATE.

DIRECT ACTION ISSUE.

STRUGGLE BOUND TO COME.

OPINIONS IN THE PRESS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,

(Reed. 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON. Sept. 27.

Mr. J. H. Thomas discloses the correspondence with Sir Auckland Geddes, showing that the crisis was practically inevitable from the outset. Sir_ Auckland Geddes, in conveying the Government's proposals on the 19th, sent a covering letter containing the following studied phrase: " The proposals are not put forward as a basis for negotiations, but as a definite offer of the Government to the union." The executive of the Railwaymen's Union seems to have accepted this as a challenge. It has been suggested that this is a misapprehension, but apart from the official Labour organs the newspapers are emphatic in declaring that the differences are so fundamental that it is impossible to talk of misunderstandings. The newspapers are in practical unanimity in considering that the men received a fair offer and that the strike, therefore, amounts to a challenge to the State, involving far more important issues than wages. It is a long-deferred struggle with direct action, which was bound to come sooner or later. Accordingly some newspapers breathe a sigh of relief and are confident that the nation will be willing to endure inevitable hardships in order to remove a long-standing menace.

Mr. J. H. Thomas admits that the strike is an awful business, and he does not doubt that the Triple Alliance will come in.

It is suggested in many quarters that Parliament should be summoned. One reason given is that Parliament may devise a settlement. Ireland is not affected by the strike.

THE NUMBER ON STRIKE.

OVER HALF A MILLION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 27. The actual railway strikers are expected to number 564,800, and the total number of workers rendered idle will be about 1,000,000.