THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, MAY 7. 1926. THE TOPIC OF THE HOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19783, 7 May 1926, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, MAY 7. 1926. THE TOPIC OF THE HOUR.

The urgent significance of the genera! strike in the Home Country can hardly be exaggerated. The malign influence of the upheaval is sure to extend to all parts of the Empire in indirect ways, and the special pity of it is that this overwhelming trouble should have occurred at a time when British trade seemed to be fairly on the upward incline. At Christchurch, on Tuesday, Mr Coates spoke in an optimistic strain, and we share his conviction that British common sense will reach a satisfactory settlement at an early date, but in the meantime there will be a sad wastage and set-back as regards national prosperity, and no optimistic generalities can obscure the grave seriousness of the situation. Apart from the merits of the specific quarrel, the maintenance of constitutional order is the outstanding requirement. Even if the demands of

the strikers were unquestionably just, the fact would remain that the method of presenting the complaints is unquestionably wrong. No Government, imbued with a proper and impartial sense of responsibility, could think of lending its countenance to such an assault upon the rights r>f the people and the orderly course of national life as has been launcned during the present week. Even if the Baldwin Government has made mistakes in dealing with the crisis—and the point may be sub-judice—those mistakes would not be repar.ed by tolerating disorder and sedition. Lord Asquith, who assuredly will not be suspected of reactionary or anti-democratic leanings, has described the strike as a blow to the very vitals of the country. “He did not see how any Government could refrain from taking up the challenge. The Government would have unanimous support in its effort to assert the country’s paramount interests above all classes.” That remark is in the best spirit of Lord Asquith’s wartime utterances. It is, indeed, as ho says, “a sinister and lamentable fact that at the time they were propagating the doctrine of disarmament they should have at home one of the cruellest and most undiscriminating of all forms of warfare, affecting the innocent mass of the people.” The trade unions may not be disposed to pay heed to the judgments expressed by Lord Balfour at a subsequent stage of the discussion in the House of Lords } but dispassionate opinion will support the view of the veteran statesman, rich in manifold experience and knowledge, that the unionists have accepted the tremendous responsibility of “upsetting the slow labour of centuries by which the people built up their liberties.” It Is the general participation of the trade unions that has given the strike its portentous character. The debate on the Emergency Regulations Bill, a drastic but in the circumstances quite justifiable measure, did not evince an angry spirit. Mr Henderson, an exCabinet Minister «vhom we would not disparage, criticised the Government in severe terms, but he appears to have missed the immediately essential point, which is that the restoration of law and order is of primary importance. He says that he is as alarmed at the position as any Conservative can be, and predicts that if the Government does not change its attitude there will soon be a state of matters in the country “such as to baffle the imagination of everybody.” Mr Henderson would be well occupied in using his influence to bring about a change of attitude on the part of the strikers. The latest news by cable indicates some possibility of further negotiations and a cessation of hostilities, though the messages are more or less conflicting. The Government would doubtless be willing to make concessions with a view to peace, always on the understanding that the siege of the nation—for such it virtually is—must be promptly raised.