Still, after or without an inquiry by the Industrial Court, a strike or lock-out may occur. Then the primary duty of the Government is to stand firm, refuse all concessions, and protect the community; nothing less is adequate for the maintenance of social order. Too often employers and Unions complacently think that the Government should stand aside and let them fight it out over the prostrate public. In saying that they forget the paramount interests of the community. Every principle of democratic government negatives the right of a section of the community so to attempt to enforce its arbitrary will, and where, by refusing an independent arbitration and then calling a strike or lock-out, it does so, it is the plain duty of the Government to provide for the continuance of public services and to maintain a skeleton organization in being for that purpose. This is not acting as strike-breaker between employer and employed. But let not the measures for the protection of the community be taken in stealth. Why should there be any secrecy about the matter? The obligation and intention of the Government always so to act should be openly affirmed. As Labour has officially adopted the anti-social policy of “direct action,” the Trade Disputes Act of 1906 should be repealed. Whatever reason of political expediency—there was none in law or in logic—justified the application of the Act to cases of economic strikes between employers and employed, no pretext remains for its retention in cases of strikes against the community, especially where an independent inquiry has been refused. The Government can successfully measure its strength against any such strike, if only it will give the fullest possible publicity to the issues, for public opinion will always split like a steel wedge the solidarity of such anti-social action. Wages in Unorganized Industries