CABINET'S COMATOSE CONDITION

NZ Truth, Issue 438, 15 November 1913, Page 4

CABINET'S COMATOSE CONDITION

Why Will They Not Wake Up?

When is Parliament going to effectively intervene to put an end to the present industrial chaos. Surely it is tho duty of the highest court m the realm to step m and see Justice done before irreparable loss is suffered by many innocent citizens because of tho pig-headed obstinacy of one or other of the parties to the dispute. It is all very well for the party organs of plute to declare the strike is "sagging" ; that nien are rushing back to work; that others are only waiting a favorable opportunity to desert the sinking ship of the Waterside Workers' Union and the Federation of Labor. We know, everybody known, that these state? meats are not a record of incidents which have taken place, but which it is hoped the very assertion will lead to taking place. How can the strike be "sagging" ? how can victory .for the masters bo assured when the miners are out and the ssamen are out — not to mention others now lout and to come out ?, "Truth 1 ' Ibas right of entry to all strike Ineetirujs, and it tells our legislators that, so. far, it has observed no evidence bf weakening on : the part" of the men affected to fight to a finish. Even it all other trades unionists return to work, if the miners and seamen stand by the Watersiders, this strike may go on for many mottths, and much unnecessary loss and Buttering be incurred. It is surely tho duty of parliament to find equitablo means 01 avoiding all such. It appears to "Truth that the "masterly inactivity" of tho Massey Government m regard to endeavoring to bring down legislation, efficient and equitable, to deal with the present industrial hold-up, is the most criminal circumstance of the whole trouble, and, if persisted m, will make plain to the man m the street that Massoy recognises that the interests of his Government and the employers are one. This being so, it transforms the fight from one against the Union Steam Ship CQmpahy to one against the. Government and that Qoverrfuient sufficiently unscrupulous' to use the powers of State to effrct their pernicious purpose—the breaking of independent unionism m New #eal*nd. w "Truth" cannot understand the attitude of the Government— apart-'from the explanation Just givon—m themselves not only refusing to bring down legislation, but m blocking every effort on the part of the Opposition to do so, unless it be that Mr. Bfassey and company have made up their, minds to commit political suicide. Do they forget what followed the '90 strike? That strike was what tho patty press calls lost, but one of the. after results of that'disastrous battle to the workors, was tho victory at the ballot-box, which was so . decisive that it sent tho party, which then, through thick and thin, supported the master-class, into the cold shades of Opposition for over twenty years. Wo trust history will again repeat itself, though we oro not enamored of all LiVeralistn has done, but we recopnlso that the continuance m office of Messrs. Mousey, Herdraan and Go. irould be a confession, not only of the -utter impotence of organised Labor m New Zealand, but a parading before high Heavon of tho workers' degradation and shame.