LABOUR AND GOVERNMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16758, 7 June 1920, Page 3

LABOUR AND GOVERNMENT.

A VITAL ISSUE. DIRECT ACTION IN POLITICS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received June 7, 9.25 a.m.) LON’DON, June 5. Mr. Thomas,, secretary of the Railwayman's Union, states , that his executive interviewed Mr. Lloyd George and asked for a. special British and special L’ish Trades Union Congress to try to bridge the gulf between the Irish people and the Government. Mr. Lloyd George, replying, regretted the attitude of the Irish railwaymen and stated that the Government could not tolerate any discrimination in regard to various classes of goods. The Government was bound to take every stop to maintain order. The Premier pointed out that trades unionism now sought to influence political decisions, not by the ordinary machinery of the State, but by threats of disorganising the industries of the country. That was a serious issue, which ho took up at once. He would regard it is a complete abdication by the Government if they were in the least to countenance the demand. The issue raised was similar to the recent issue in France, which ended so disastrously for trades unionism in Franco. He declined to believe that the National Union of Railwaymeu would embark on a policy which tho Trade Union Congress absolutely refused to sanction in connection with another important matter of public policy. Mr. Thomas said lie recognised that to support the strikers in Ireland meant a declaration of war on the Gov-ernment.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GOVERNMENT MUST RULE. AND NOT THE UNIONS. (Received June 7, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 5. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to the railwaymen’s deputation, said, regarding the position in Ireland, that within a very short time there had been 48 murders of police and 120 attempted murders. Men were shot down while carrying out the elementary duty of tho preservation of order, yet when a box of revolvers was sent to these men to enable them to defend their lives, a trade union threatens to stop all traffic in Ireland, notwithstanding the fact that murderers, with revolvers in their pockets, were' carried backwards and forwards on the railways. “We cannot,” he added, “have that whatever it costs.” “It means,” he said, “that railwaymen have refused to work trains carrying troops.” He declared most emphatically that the Government could not possibly agree to the action of any section discriminating against Government traffic or accept any decree issued by any body, no matter how powerful, denying to the Government tho essential facilities for carrying out its functions.—Renter.