THE STRIKERS AT THE PARK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 8

THE STRIKERS AT THE PARK.

IN THE EVENING;

STRIKE LEADERS'. OPINIONS,

When the Waterside Workers' procession arrived at - Newtown Park last night, there were 200 or 300 people present, but tho attendance gradually swelled until there wore upwards of 2000 people on tho flat and around the bank. Mr. F. Curtice,_ presido-nt 'or the Watersiders' Union, was the first speaker. He gave a denial to the runiour that lie was gains to to the wharf with tho first free labourer. Ho declared that ho was with tho watersiders. Ho also denied that officers of the union

wore receiving pay during striko timo. From tlie first day the w hole of their wages had been in the collectionbox. He appealed to every young New Zoalander to stick to them.Mr. Hickey on the Press, ... Mr. P. Hickey had something to say about tho press. Referring to a contemporary's criticism of the Federation of labour, ho said ho did not. think that paper could claim much credit for tho way it had bandied the strike. "As for Tub Dominion," continued Mr. Hickey. n wo know wliat to expect from that

paper. But let mo say thjs for ri'iiß Dominion*—the leading artictes in that paper aro not so despicable as those appearing irt tho "New Zealand Tiroes." 'Inn IJoitiNjon at least is honest. (Hear, hear.) But as for tho "Times," it is tho worst worst kind of a hypocrite. Mr. I-lickey then paid a compliment to ine 'Wellington watcrsiders on tho manner in winch they had conducted themselves during the strike, and urged theni not to draw upon them tho special constables. It was significant, ho pointed out, 'that in "all their raids," | tlicy had hardly over hit a waterside worker. The Masters' Case, Mr. Madeimo declared that tho question at issue was, whether the workers should bo forced under tho Arbitration Act, or whether they should have tho right to organiso as they thought fit. ITe moved: —"That this meeting of Wellington citizens, after reading tho masters' case, and having heard tho men's side from tho speakers is of opinion that tho action of tho masters in attempting to force tho workers under tho Arbitration Act is despicable and unjustifiable." On Coin to Gaol. Mr. Semplo spoke on the lines of previous addresses. He believed the Government had been discussing the question of putting the leaders of this strike in gaol, but ho did not caro for their gaol. "I don't want to £co any of thorn fellows go to gaol," ho added, "those fellows with the big chests out of plumb. Why should they wish mo and my colleagues any harm?" Loading s.s. Athenlc. , Mr. W. T. Young declared that even if the Atheoic came alongside tho wharf and was loaded she would .never got out j of port, because members of her crew, though working on Homo articles, were prepared to do a month's imprisonment j sooner than take her out. The Railway Man. Mr. Voyco, of Lyttelton, assured the gathering that tho men at his port would remain solid. He had also been told that tho railway men -would stand to them, and as a member of the executive, he was going to move that an appeal should be madoto tho railways. He did not know if the Lyttelton men had been thieving or pillaging—(laughter) —but he had been informed by them that relief was not wanted. They had said they could live whilo there were : potatoes in tho fields and rabbits on the hills. Ho knew that they had plenty of ammunition, though li© did not know that it had all been paid for. They were, however, more iortunate down there, because they could go out on the hills and shoot rabbits, and they might accidentally 4 Bhoot a sheep, though ho hoped they were not in the habit of doing that sore of thing. Mr. Payne, M.P., also spoke, and in I referring to the railway men, said it was not likely they would lose their. | superannuation if they came out on j strike, because the workers would see | to it that they returned a Government j next election to attend to that.