THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 24863, 1 October 1942, Page 5

THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT

Sir,—In the past, when strikers have defied the authorities and deliberately flouted the law, they have been complimented by a Minister of the Crown for returning to work after getting what they had illegally demanded. The miners who struck recently were sentenced to a term of imprisonment, but have now resumed work under the control of a Government having no control over them. That is an intentional bull. The coal-mine owners in the past have been in a position to expose to the public any breaches of the awards. In the future there will be no such exposure. It will be interesting to see if the usual compliment is paid to the strikers for resuming work, accompanied by the statement that no one is contributing more loyally than they to war production. There will certainly not be the usual gibe that the employers “must play the game.” Every citizen who uses coal will have the privilege of paying many pounds extra per annum for his supply, in order that the miners can now without interruption or protest continue with and perhaps further reduce their restricted output. Mr Denham will no doubt be well pleased with such exploitation of the public as recently he advocated Government control of industry. Other workers with high wages are complacent. They fail to appreciate they are being exploited, and that the very foundations of true democracy are being undermined. Nothing but a collapse will rouse them from their lethargy, after which they will doubtless blame everyone but themselves. It will then be too late. What will the American trobps who have come to protect us think of our impotence? SIC EST VITA.