SEDITIOUS STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 51

SEDITIOUS STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS.

STATEMENT B Y SIR WM. HER RTFS WELLINGTON, January 21. Sir William Herries, Minister of Labour, has replied to the communication from Mr Young, secretary of the Seamen’s Federal tion, in regard to the question of the prosecution of employers and workers for alleged seditious strikes and lockouts in breach of V the War Regulations. The Minister eays } that Mi- Young’s letter infers that, while ' the workers were prosecuted for taking part in certain strikes, the Government had refrained from similarly prosecuting the em-* ployers. In respect of the alleged lockout, regarding the occasion cited by Mr Young, the Minister refers to tho Crown Law Office opinion previously quoted by him, stating that, while technically both employers and'• workers might be liable for a breach of tho War Regulations, prosecution was not recommended because the regulations in forco were passed expressly for the public safety during war time. The previous proceedings, the Minister pointed out, were instituted in 1917 during the war. The Minister agrees that last year’s legislation revives oertain provisions contained in the War Regulations, and says that, as in the past, no discrimination will be shown by the Government between tho employers and tho workers.