PLAYING GERMANY'S GAME.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14395, 24 April 1917, Page 4

PLAYING GERMANY'S GAME.

MAYOR'S PLAIN SPEAKING

Commenting generally upon tho strike of coalminers and its effects— existent and contingent— upon thecomiriunity, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. H. Gunson, indulged \n come plain speaJiing. UI am sure there is no member of the community who can take an impartial and unprejudiced view of the position who does not heartily hope that wise counsels will prevail," he.^aid. "Even the suggestion: of a strike at this time is intolerable, and.l; am confident that both tht> Government! and tho employers concerned are prepared to reasonably fac** any legitimate proposals on the part of the men.

"At the same time, there are fixed principles in the country's interest which, onco violated, must be upheld. I am satisfied that the community is not in the mood, during the serious national crisis through which we are passing, to tolerate any conditions or policy that imperil or retard the nation's ability, firstly, to vigorous!y. prosccuto the war and keep up the Dominion's supply of foodstuffs to the troops and allied armies, abroad, and. secondly, to maintain our resources at home in a way that will enable us to continue to provide the sinews of? war. Any other policy at the present time is simply playing the Germans* game, and must he viewed accordingly. 4'All reaeonable citizens have the utmost sympathy with Labour, and will agreo that all just and reasonable conditions should be vouchsafed to the worker. The great bulk of unionists have nobly done their part, both at Home end abroad, in connection witb. the present crisis. But when that is said," concluded Mr Gunson, "one is. justified in stating that no section -"of the comunity can be allowed to paralyse the interests of the remaining and larger sections, which are immediately i affected by the stoppage of an essential ! article, upon which tve all, more or less, depend, and which undoubtedly i s » | national asset."