The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1913. SYDNEY GAS STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 60, 12 March 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1913. SYDNEY GAS STRIKE.

Australian papers to hand by yesterday’s mail naturally contain a great deal about the gas strike. The Sydney “Telegraph” terms it “a strike against the public” and remarks that with wearisome repetition this latest strike emphasises the utter futility ol “compulsory” arbitration and the hopeless generosity of the public in agreeing to pay higher prices on condition that thereby it secures continuity ol service and supply. Com-

menting further, the “Telegraph” says:—“That the gas men were working under an industrial agreement, which could not be immediately vailed, is a poor excuse for their revolt. An agreement of this sort is like a contract, inasmuch as both parties to it make the best bargain for themselves that they can. The contractor often finds, while his work is still under way, that charges for labour or material have gone up, but recognises that ho must stand the chances in that regard, and perhaps lose where

lio expected to gain. The same with a Labour union. Jt makes the best terms it can, and undertakes to observe them lor a period of years. In the meantime the cost of living may up. But suppose it went down? ■lf for one reason or another the weekly bills decreased, would the gas employees agree to a reduction of their wages? .It is safe to say that they would not. Having once got their remuneration to the particular figure they would resent any downward revision and fight against it. Whether the wage fixed under the industrial

agreement is satisfactory or not we cannot say. The fact is, however, that the men accepted it and that now they are attacking the public to enforce their demand for a higher wage. That scheme failed in Brisbane and in the Newcastle coal strike. That it will fail in this case is a matter of course. The people must recognise that once they admit this form of terrorism there will he no end to it and that to satisfy its desires, however exorbitant, organised labour has nothing to do hub hail up the community to make it cry for mercy. Tn its largo public aspect responsibility for this outbreak does not rest with the gas employees only, hut extends ever the whole sphere of tradesunionism. In passing arbitration bias the community makes a bargain, not with particular employees, but

with the whole hotly of unionised labour. Many unions are peacefully inclined, ami could make terms with

tiie employers without any law; yet they get the benefit of the law’s swiftness and surety, and the duty is therefore upon them of ensuring general compliance with the legal system as far as they can. If tint gas men have any grievance they must ascribe it to the Labour Government, which passed the law they now say is oppressing them. They have been offered every reasonable consideration by an alarmed Minister, but will be content with nothing but instant and

complete satisfaction of every demand they make; failing which they have savagely struck at the public. If such tactics were allowed to succeed there would be an end of government and order and the reign of law. The country and all that civilisation stands for would be at the mercy of any band of men who chose to rebel against them, and there would be no security in any respect. And as we say unionists generally are placed by this crisis under an obligation. As industrial law improves their condition at society’s expense the least they can do is to assist in its enforcement and respect. Otherwise the whole thing is a farce and the sooner the the curtain is rung down on it the better.”