PROBLEM FOR SEAMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 186, 6 August 1913, Page 6

PROBLEM FOR SEAMEN.

AMALGAMATION WITH " BED FEDS." PROPOSED BY EXECUTIVE. '' RESENTED BY AUCKLAND UNIOK A BAUDOT IX PKOOR.ESP. A very considerable amount of interest is being manifested in the ballot at present in jrojrress in Auckland upon the question of the desirability of the Seamen's Union joining tho United Federation of 'Labour. Feeling in Auckland, in fact, is running iiigh on the subject. There are, in Xew Zealand, over 3,000 members of the union. Auckland and Dunedin branches, each having a membership of about 800, will, it is believed, vote almost eu bloc against affiliation with the Federation, but doubts are entertained as to what attitude the Wellington branch, consisting of 1,600 members, will take. The position as it confronts members of the Seamen's Tin ion is summed up in an appeal by Messrs. Wm. Belcher, W. T. Young, and D. Donovan, in favour of amalgamation, and. in a warning issued by Messrs. Nixon. Milbank, and Mackie. of the Auckland Union, over Mr. Mackie's signature, as to why the scheme for amalgamation should not be approved. A PLEA FOR AMALGAMATION. Mesers. Belcher, Young, and Donovan, in their circular communication, favouring amalgamation with the new Labour bodies created by the Unity Congress, point out (ha"t tho said Congress was the largest ever held south of the line, and that it was "marked with an enthusiasm and earnestness which sounds well for the future of the New Zealand Labour movement." The result was a decisioii to establish an industrial constitution to be known as the United Federation of Labour, and a political body to he "known as the Social Democrat party.

"The constitution and rules wonld give our union the same right to conduct our own business as in th& past," continues the circular from the headquarters staff,

"and thoroughly safeguard our union against being involved in a strike by some union -A-hioh lias not consulted \is as to the causes leading; up to same. Our union would form part of a National Transport Workers' Department, which would be governed by an executive consisting of representatives of the Seamen's Union. 'Waterside Workers' Union, Cooks and Stewards' Union, Drivers' Union, Tramways Union, and Railways Union, and all would work in harmony for the common good of each. By our union adopting nnd becoming a part of the new organisation we are taking the only step that will tend to protect us as a \inion against tbe arrogant -and persistent encroaches upon our union by a powerfully - entrenched, magnificentlyequipped, and merciiMs foe —the Shipowners' Feleration. which speaks with one voice along with the Employers' Federation against the improvement of the conditions of our members. We urge our members to throw in their lot with this movement, and to vote for amalgamation with the new bodies, and thereby help to guard your interests and the interests of the toiling men and women at both points of attack."

A PROTEST AGAINST AFFILIATION. Mr. Kdwiird Mackie, one of t?hc Auckland delegates to the Unity Congress, in a circular issued in reply to that of Messrs. Belcher, Young, and Donovan.: states that the benefits to be derived by following the advice given was problematical. The cost was certain—the capitation, fixed at 4/ per member per annum, would coJ?t the Auckland branch £160 per year, and the Xew Zealand branchps £700 per year. For what? The right to condiict their own business would not be preserved to them. On the contrary, they would be at the whim; and caprice of the national executive—l the same peoplf who engineered the j Waihi fiasco, and the Auckland General Labourers' debacle; who could, in the event of an outside union striking, impose a levy of 10 per cent, meaning a reduction in the wages of firemen by £1 and seamen In- 16/ per month. ''The National Transport Workers" Depart - mp.nt mentioned exists only in thfl imagination of the signatories, ,, adds Mr. Mackie, "since tho Cooks and Stewards' Union was not represented at thn Congress, the tramwaymen have entered into a mutual agreement with the em-ploy-era for a term, and the railwayman definitely withdrew from the conference. The expenses of the Auckland delegates to the conference cost £78. What your expenses would be if you decided to throw in your lot with the United Federation of Labour cannot even be guessed at"

"THE HANI* OF ESAU." "One statement of the trio. (Messrs. Belcher, Young, and Donovan) must be emphatically denied."' continues Mr. Mackie, "and that is: 'Of the Seamen's Union delegates attending Congress a huge majority favour our union amalgamating Tvifcli the new body.' The thTce Auckland delegates (Messrs. Nison. Milbank, and mj\self) distinctly oppose such action. Messrs. Carney and Allen, of Wellington, have not. signed the unauthorised appeal issued: neither have (Messrs. Mackenzie, Maxwell, and Davies, of T>trnedin; and all these were authorised representatives of the Seamen's Union. To cap all. Mr. Belcher represented the Chemical Manure Workers and the Alexandra United Labour party, and Mr. Young was without portfolio. Verily, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.'"

In conclusion Mr. Mackie reminds members of the Union that it, is to brother members in. Australia (with whom they are affiliated) that they first owe fcllegianee, and "they or we must not be unduly prejudiced in affiliating with a tot of professionals alien to our movenient. 7 ' He calls attention to the fact that only a month or two ago the New South Wales branch of the Seamen'a Union, when asked to join the N.B.W. Federation of Labour, carried the following resolution: "Under our present constitution we cannot sec our way clear to join the Federation of Labour in N.S.W., as we are a Federation covering the whole of Australia." "Now, fellow members, is not this resolution enough to warrant us in refusing to be coerced by the dictum of the trio," concludes the circular, "and decline to be inveigled into federating with a proposed organisation whose leaders know as much about, the life of a s.ailnr as 1 do about the winner of the next Melbourne f'nip?" .

UTHKR YIF,V.>. On making inquiries vininn" >pamcn in ' Aucklon-.l this morning, th* feeling was ! ili.u the ballot now in progro?.< would re-.ult in a -u'.<>;anu;\l vote iigains! ;\malgiiw.ition. "if we have to be exploited :it nil. we wr-uld «nonor be exploited by i.!v rhipfwnerc than by pevipatetii. , agitators, trjuideruig around [the country," said one man protnine&t in

the Union. Another ventured a strong criticism upon the action of Mr. Belcher, general secretary of tire Union in New Zealand, whose "signature was attached to a eircnlar favouring amalgamation with the Federation, and yet who only yesterday, at Wellington, in publicly welcoming Sir Joseph Ward, declared that Sir Joseph was the only leader for the Liberal party, and that he (Mr. Belt&er) wotdd next election be standing for Parliament in the Liberal interests.

Mr. J. K. Kneen, secretory of the Auckland Union, when seen on the subject, declined to make any statement, iv View of the fact that » ballot b now in progress.