THE EIGHT TO STRIKE.

Southland Times, Issue 17595, 6 March 1914, Page 4

THE EIGHT TO STRIKE.

As was the case in New Zealand some months ago, much is being said in Sydney at the present time of “the right to strike,” as though this were synonymous with the individual right to w r ork or not to work as one chooses. In the conflict between Syndicalism and society, the “right to strike” is not in question, the conflict being over the “right” to break all agreements and to ignore any award. In New Zealand when agitators were able to excite the Unions by misrepresentation and denunciation, agreements, contracts, and awards were treated as of no importance whatever. The same process has been visible in New South Wales. Fortunately for the Australians, the invariable defeats to

which Syndicalism has led have greatly diminished its prestige, and there is less prospect for a great industrial upheaval than might have been anticipated. It may be concluded, therefore, that the so-called “right to strike" is losing its power to misleads and that the matter will - be threshed out until its meaning is clearly understood. The “right to strike” involves the “right” of men to cease work in an organised body, and to exert all the influence of their organisation against any continuance or resumption of work. Syndicalism exercises this “right” at the will or whim of irresponsible agitators, who make a business of turning men into puppets, and dislike nothing more than democratic methods. Mr Massey's Act, passed last session, with the approval of all but "Red Fed." sympathisers, gives to the unions the “right to strike” under conditions which prevent workmen from being tricked by strike-making agitators, and at the same time makes reasonable provision for the maintenance of industrial peace.