The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1912. THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 21 September 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1912. THE WAIHI STRIKE.

If ever the Government of this country needed to bo firm in the maintenance of law and order it is at this present time in connection with the Waihi strike developments. Despite the blatant talk and wild manifestoes emanating from some quarters, the fact remains that the men who have been gaoled are suffering imprisonment for law-breaking, and for no other reason. Though found guilty of the serious offences with which they were charged, these men were treated with the utmost leniency, and were given the fullest opportunity of escaping the just punishment of their folly and lawbreaking. But they truculently refused the perfectly reasonable course open to them, and are in prison accordingly. We believe that many of them must deeply regret that they have l>een forced to such an extreme by the inflammatory urging of agitators. The evidence that this baneful influence is hard at work is before the country in the motions and resolutions and hysterical nonsense which is being forced through at various union gatherings. Would it not bo a fair thing for the law-abiding and peace-loving workers, both unionists and non-unionists, to say something on the other side? Unless the community, as a whole, is strongly resolved that law and order shall lie maintained—and wo certainly believe it is—then personal liberty, the comparative safety from violence and outrage which has hitherto existed, and the general conditions which have prevailed for the good of the community as a. whole, will be flung into the lap of anarchy.

THE “MANIFESTO.”

A “manifesto” addressed to the “workers of New Zealand,” and signed by “It. Semple” and “J. Glover,” was handed in late one night recently to the “N.Z. Times” office. lioth the signatories have, at times, said and done many foolish things, hut on this occasion they appear to have acted by proxy, for the Editor of the “Times” in a footnote to the “manifesto” says: “This ‘nlanifosto’ was handed in for publication last night. Although it bears the signatures of Messrs Semple and Glover it is evidently the production of the editor of the ‘Maoriland Worker,’ the organ of the syndicalists. It is couched in the extraordinary language of the editorials in that paper.

The workers are more likely to be amused than to be influenced by an axlmixture of hysteria and bombast such as this ultimatum contains.” In another part of its same issue, our contemporary says: “It (the manifesto) is a queer admixture of hysterical in-

vocation, bathos, and bombast. We are told that ‘the strike is legal, picketing is legal,’ and ‘the attack on both is lawless law.’ The decision of the magistrate to bind over to keep tiie peace men who headed mobs ol strikers, who went about terrorising Jree workmen, is, described as ‘part or a capitalistic conspiracy to crush tlie awakening unionism that is for the workers of the world, and solemnly bids thorn unite.’ Those who sympathise with the federation are heroes. Those who have the misfortune not to agree with Mr Semple and Mr Glover

are ‘blacklegs and weaklings.’ We. are further informed that ‘a strong and united light will prove epochal and live eternally in the great annals of solidarity,’ whatever that may mean. Workers are invited to ‘stand up or fall into ignominy,’ to ‘assemble in your mass meetings and defy governmental tyranny,’ to ‘move into the fray, swiftly and terribly,’ and so on. The enthusiasm with which this allpowerful federation is doing nothing while it is saying all these line brave things is the most significant feature of the whole business.”

THE SENIOR CADETS.

The appeal made to the ladies of this district by Mrs Godley, in a letter appearing in our issue of last Thursday, ought to find hearty support, it is an appeal for subscriptions to a fund to provide a “Ladies’ Prize” for every Senior Cadet Company in the Dominion, sucli prize to be won at an annual shooting competition. I'he scheme is another evidence of Mrs Godley’s keenly sympathetic interest in General Godley’s work as Commandant, an interest which has done much to help the women of New Zealand to understand and appreciate what a good thing for the hoys and young men the Territorial and Cadet training schemes really are. That some people will persist in confusing military “training” with military “service” is unfortunate, but notwithstanding this misunderstanding and, in some cases, misrepresentation, the women of the Dominion arc loyal and i good supporters of the defence scheme, and are proud to find their sons and brothers taking part in it as a duty to the nation. IA-s people become better acquainted with the Act and its operations they will realise that many imagined evils do not exist. As an example, a lady writer remarks: “With ,regard to the fear of some parents that their sons may be morally Contaminated by camp life, I would say that in my opinion it does not speak well for eighteen whole years of parental training and fifty weeks in the year that follow, if two weeks of teetotal camp life can undermine a yout-h’s morals. Further, in 6txr changeful New Zehland life, it already .happens that very many youths, for business reasons, leave the parental roof, and in boarding-houses and clubs associate with their kind without any restraining influence.” In this there is a greaf'dealMfctrui;h-,‘m.nd the point is especially 7 interesting as brought forward by a woman. Mrs Godley 7 ’s proposal should he taken up with 1 real enthusiasm, and we hops Stratford will not lag behind in the matter.