THE DEFENCE ACT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143784, 7 May 1912, Page 2

THE DEFENCE ACT.

THE SUGGESTED STRIKE. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. The decision of the Ironmoulders’ Union to take a plebiscite of its members on a proposal that if the compulsory clauses of tho Defence Act remain uurepealed by next Labour Day a strike should be declared, is ridiculed iu responsible circles in the city. Even unionists who have some liking for the strike as an argument, and who are bitterly opposed to the compulsory clauses, say that it would be tolly to use tho strike in a purely political controversy. This opinion is not unanimously hold but the great majority of tho workers’ representatives who wore questioned to-day declined to take the suggestion seriously. :ttr. D. G. Sullivan, president of the Trades' and Labour Council, said that he would prefer not to express an opinion on such a matter, because a question of the kind, if anything came of it, would have to be considered by tho Trades and Labour Council, and it would scarcely bo proper jor iim. re make a statement without the express authority of the council. Mr. Sullivan added that his personal feeling was uttdHy against tho idea of a strike. A prominent Labour loader who was approached said that the ironmoulders’ resolution was, in his opinion, “hot air.” He did not believe that members of the union would have a word to say in favour of the proposal if tho suggestion wore submitted to a vote.

Another Labour leader remarked that there was little chance of trades unions generally falling in with the proposal, as they were divided on the question of defence. Personally, he favoured military training, but not the present Defence Act. He wanted to see some scheme which would be democratically administered. Air. Lois P. Christie and Air. AI.C. Alackie, prominent officers of the National Peace Council, stated that the action of the union was taken without any instigation from their organisation. The peace council was naturally pleased to see the works, through their unions, expressing their disapproval of compulsory military training, but it did not approve of any but constitutional methods being employed to effect reform. It certainly would not advocate an industrial strike, but there were indications that l the workers, or, at least, that a section of the workers, inclined to the Federation of Labour, were prepared to use the strike as a weapon in the matter of military training and for other purposes. A resolution was carried last evening by the Socialist party to the effect that in case of war, the workers would down tools. It was decided that the resolution would be submitted to every Labour organisation in New Zealand.