The Sun THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1916. WOOL, PATRIOTISM, AND INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 870, 23 November 1916, Page 6

The Sun THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1916. WOOL, PATRIOTISM, AND INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

An agreement has been reached in connection with the disposal of the wool clip which appears to be satisfactory to all parties. The Imperial authorities are getting the Dominion's wool at a price which is estimated to be about 2d per lb. below current values, and if that is so, it means that the wool-growers of the Dominion are making a present to the Mother Country of some £2,000,000. It is not a bad contribution from the most heavily taxed section of the community, which has sent its full share of men into the trenches, and has made generous contributions lo the war funds. We still think that a mistake is being made in interfering with the normal course of events, and it will probably be found that by the time all the valuations and adjustments are made, and the wool landed in London, it will cost the Imperial Authorities quite as much as if they had left the growers to market it themselves. However, everything is right according to some people if it is done with "patriotic" motives, and we can only hope the purchase of the wool will be unattended by the bungling and speculation at the producers' expense that resulted when the Dominion's meat was commandeered. In the controversy that has arisen over* the matter we regret to notice the extent to which accusations of want of patriotism have been bandied about. The war is, no doubt, getting on a great many people's nerves, and while that may be an explanation it is no excuse for I countering every difference of ! opinion with a charge of being "unpatriotic." No class in the community has a monopoly of patriotism any more than it can rightly be accused as a class, of being dominated entirely by self-interest. The man who considers himself entitled to the current market price for his wool or butter, or biscuits, or boots, differs not at all from the man who demands the same for his labour. Both have arrived at the conclusion that their personal needs are such that they are not warranted in giving something away for nothing. In the case of the worker it frequently j happens that he is not prepared to tiike even what the Arbitration Court decides is a fair thing, and in the drivers dispute, for example, he is aided and abetted by men who arc themselves quite ready to break the law and disorganise the industries of the country in time of war to obtain a wage which a judicial tribunal in its wisdom has not seen lit to concede. Under the circumstances the less said about ("patriotism" the better. Too many people have the idea that patriotism j consists in devising sacrifices for ! others to make for the public good. | It is the wrong spirit altogether. The true patriot at the present moment lis the man who is doing all he can to assist iu winning the war, because he feels it is his duty to do so, and does not want to have it on his conscience that bis individual shirking delayed the Allies' victory and sent any of his fellowmen to | their death unnecessarily. The Dominion as a whole has no reason to reproach itself on the sacrifices it has made in men and money and supplies. All classes have respond- • eil exceedingly well, and conscription is now in operation to rope in those who were really shirkers. It

is no time to commence recriminations, impute- motives, anil stir up class Ceelings and industrial turmoil. Nothing would suit the enemy better than fratricidal strife in the British Dominions. It would prolong the war, and possibly enable him to escape his jusl deserts.