The Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1922. THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16895, 21 November 1922, Page 6

The Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1922. THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

The indications are that the seamen w~ho brought about the shipping holdup are anxious to get back to work. They have come to the conclusion that nothing is to be gained bv continuing a struggle which was a hopeless ono from the verv beginning. It ig ini possible to come to any other conclusion than that the men were very badly led, and were rushed into a course of action to which many cf them were privately opposed. Tt is no uncommon thing to hear a seaman who is on strike bitterly complaining that- loyalty to his union has compelled him to adopt an attitude with which he has no real sympathy. The executive of the Seamen’s Union i endeavouring to perpetuate the fiction that the union has no responsibility for the strike, and that the action taken was individual, not collective. The public is not likely to be misled by such a transparent misrepresentation. The course of events is ten’ clearly set out in the statement issued by the Shipowners’ Federation Before the strike became general the executive of the Seamen’s Union suggested that the shipowners should agree to re~ executo the agreement of 1920, inste-a.l of insisting on the award being observed. The executive was informed that the award must be observed, and a. few days later concerted action was taken to bring about the effect of ;i strike. Following a stop-work meeting the crews of all the vessels in Wellington gave notice, and similar action was taken in other ports. The reason given was that the award of the Arbitration Court was unacceptable, as it reduced wages, and imposed reactionary conditions of labour. The wages reduction was not peculiar to seamen, as it has affected practical!y a!l workmen who come under the operation of awards. As for as the conditions of labour are concerned, there w’as no attempt to give the award a fair trial. It is generally recognised now that employers gain nothing by demanding anything unreasonable from their employees, and it is certain that if experience had revealed anything unjust or unreasonable there would have been no opposition to a revision. The seamen, however, were beguiled into an impulsive strike which their own calmer judgment, as well as that, of the community, must condemn. Apparently the strikers are now prepared to return to their ships, but the Shiptee from the Union executive that the tactics adopted ten days ago will-not again be pursued. It is beyond question that the shipowners are entitled to such a guarantee, hut it is extremely doubtful whether it will he of any real value. We can regard the strike only as a deliberate and calculated attack on the Arbitration Court and the principle of arbitration. No judicial institution can survive the flagrant and unpenalised defiance of its judgments. If the workers who desire the Court, to he retained do not make their voices heard they will wake up <ome morning and find that it has disappeared. There are wreckers abroad, and they will accomplish them object if thev do nor receive a decisive check.