Key Historical Idea
- From the National Government's perspective, they were on a "crusade" against the spread of Communism and sought to "get rid of" any militant, Communist movements in New Zealand. To end the industrial actions successfully, he devised harsh, and often brutal, heavy handed tactics aimed at suppressing Waterfront Workers' Union. Holland tried to establish authority over the militant WWU, and once Holland was confident that he was winning the Dispute, he wished to accelerate the Dispute to end through the use of the strike-breaking tactics and the use of specials to assist the police. The National Government also took advantage of declining support for the striking watersiders and the Labour Party, which enabled the Holland to gain a upper hand of the WWU and other militant unions.
- Despite the harsh Government responds, the waterside workers were determined that they would continue the strike actions in order to achieve the goal of changing the post-war working conditions in New Zealand. However, economic hardships and political pressures wore the striking workers down; the result being disintegration of the union movements and once a powerful Waterside Workers' Union.