WHO SETTLED THE STRIKE?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8680, 13 March 1914, Page 4

WHO SETTLED THE STRIKE?

Tiie campaigning methods employed by “Reform” at the last general election, both in the press and on 'the platform, were those of gross misrepresentation and malignant personal abuse of its opponents. Already there is every indication that these are also the methods that are to be relied upon at the coming elections. Each of the Ministers who has spoken has alleged quite untruthfully that Sir Joseph Ward encouraged the strikers and was responsible for prolonging the strike. It may suit the party now on its trial to put forward this defence, in the hope of diverting public attention from its unfulfilled pledges and its administrative incompetence, but the device is too transparent as well as tee unwarrantable to satisfy public opinion. From the outset of the trouble, Sir Joseph Ward condemned the strike as Well as the methods of the strikers, and offered the unquestioning support of his party to compel a settlement by force of law. -But what did Mr Massey and his Government dop Did they avail themselves of that offer? Clearly it was the duty of the Government to settle the strike. Did they discharge that duty? They are taking credit to themselves, on the platforms of the country, for their firmness. The settlement of the strike was the duty of the Government, but it was the farmers that settled it, at great personal inconvenience and loss to themselves. Up to the present time, however, the Hon. A. L. Herdman is the only Minister who has conceded that credit to the farmers, though several of the others have acknowledged the help they received from that source. The farmers did something more thajj help. They settled the strike. They discharged the responsibility 'that .constitutionally rested upon the Government—and the Government alone. It is quite as far from the truth to say that the Government displayed any firmness—or did anything to settle the strike —as to allege that Sir Joseph Ward encouraged the strikers or assisted to prolong the strike. On the eve of the last election, a little more than two years ago, it was Sir Joseph Ward who was warning the country against the Red Federation and its methods. At the same moment, Mr Massey was making common cause with the Red Federationists at Otaki, Grey Lynn, and other places in the hope of defeating Liberal candidates. And now “Reform” Ministers have the audacity to stand on public platforms and allege sympathy between Sir Joseph Ward and the Red Federation. This is playing the game very low. down.