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Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 881, 6 December 1916, Page 6

The War Regulations gazetted last night clothe the Government with the necessary authority to deal with the mischievous activities of those men who have no scruples about promoting agitations against military service, or fomenting industrial disturbances. It is very desirable that the Government should be in a position to act promptly and with decision in such matters. The only doubt that arises in our mind is whether a Government that was weak enough to apply to a labour union for permission to do a perfectly lawful act, namely to provide a hospital ship with coal, is likely to be firm and decisive when the occasion demands it. It is easy enough to gazette the regulationsjust as easy as it is to paint a bit of wood so that it will resemble iron —bid a certain ruthlessness in their administration is required if they are to have the desired effect. The persons in the community likely to be proceeded against under these regulations will no doubt scan them carefully, but they will study much more closely the calibre of the Ministers responsible for their enforcement. Mr llerdman is a strong man and uless restrained or hampered by more timorous colleagues would not shrink from taking any steps that might be necessary to suppress sedition, disloyalty, and the dislocation of services essential to the prosecution of the war. We hope therefore that the Government having put its hand to the plough will not look back. There must be a majority of persons in the Dominion which would support the Government in these matters. At any rate Ministers should proceed on I lie assumption that there is and let anti-con-scriptionists and strike promoters see that they will stand no nonsense.