STORY OF THE CARPENTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 277, 20 November 1913, Page 6

STORY OF THE CARPENTERS.

AN ILLEGAL STRIKE. DECLARED BY SMALL MINORITY. MF/N" ORDERED BACK TO WORK. The strike of carpenters and joiners in Auckland, declared at a meeting attended by 15-t out of a total of 1414 members, has been declared illegal by the Executive Hoard, and the members have been ordered back to work, or forfeit the benefit- accruing under the constitution of the Amalgamated Society. This decision of the executive was communicated by Mr. Ivor Hazel (who has been in Auckland since Sunday in connection with the trouble I to the men at a meeting held in St. James' Hail last evening. There were about two hundred members present, and the proceedings were at times disorderly, a section 'being boisterously hostile to those in favour of resuming work. Mr. Hazel, who presided. rea.d the telegram from the executive:—""Seeing that agreement !■.■.;- heon arrived at re wages, hours, and preference for Dominion, these men are going to smash up good work done. Carry out rule -S. clause 12 (the executive stall have power to declare 1 a strike closed whenever they may deem the course necessary). Cannot agree to give clear card to members, Must give three months'' notice, according to rule, and pay up arrears." Explaining the message, Mr. Hazel stated that negotiations were in progress between representatives of the employers and the society for a Dominion award, and 1/6 an hour wages when news of the strike lof Auckland carpenters was received. The president then undertook to use his influence to get the men back in a week, as the strike was unauthorised, and the agreement will come into force when ratified by t.'.e Arbitration Court. The reference to the clear card was a reply to a suggestion made i>y the speaker to let any member break away, and form a new union of carpenters if he desired to do so. He advocated this course as the wisest for those opposed to arbitration to follow, and join Up with the Federation of Labour, instead of attempting 1o fos;er syndicalism or LW.W. methods in the ranks of a society that stands solidly for arbitration. 'The hostile clement jeered at this suggestion. Tracing the story of the strike. Mr. Hazel pointed out that Mr. Bloodworth, who was district secretary of the society and a member of the United Federation of l>abour Executive, presided at the meeting at which the resolution was carried deciding to down tools \vh"n special constables entered the city, but as a responsible officer, he should not have accepted a motion to that effect. If he wished to retain his connection with the Federation Executive, he would have to give up the society appointment. :\lr. Hazel said the executive was alive to the fact that in Auckland there were certain members out to smash the society because it was opposed to the s--vndicalist methods, and drastic measures had to be taken to maintain the prestige of the society. It was pointed out that a strike committee, of some description had been set up allegedly to represent the carpenters and joiners", and without request or any authority had taken possession of the Society's office. The committee 'had been

j called" -uipon to give up the key and I vacate the office. " Tlie chairman of that • committee"" said ■Mγ. Ilazfl. " boasts of | 25 years' membership, although lie hoi been in the Dominion only !U months. Thf first thing that caught my .-ye, when 1 entered the district oliico at ■Auckland, was the bonk of gener.ii rules of tin' Society placed in a frame and i hull" up on thf wall <lrupe.i in Wai-k. ■ with the Inters ' X.1.1 , .' written in thick blue pencil across two open pages. That kind of thing lias to be dealt with 'by Die controlling authority, and probably ni'-iirirs expulsion from the Society, '.'"lie members of the committee are equally to I bliuni- with the chairman." Mr. Hazel argued that the in.rei?.- of wages 10 1/0 an .hour -was not a bribe, baT represented £1,400 per week to the members in employment throughout i.no Dominion. He also drew attention to the fa«t that an attempt was made by the Auckland centre to draw all brunches in the various centres into the strike by telegraphing t;-> them that urgent action was" ntciwun', and completely ignoring the executive, 'Hie strike of carpenters was confined to Auckland, all the other <-.-.ntres waiting fur inrfruciiou- from the Executive BoarJ. The .proposition phio.ed before the meeting earlier in the week, and upon which :i vote was refused, was as follows: — -That we, the members of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenter? iind Joiners in the Auckland district, while onpot-ni to strikes, deeply deplore the suffering that must of necessity 'be entailed upon the wives and children of those on ,-irike, ask the Executive Board to donate the sum of £250 out of the 25 percent fund on behalf of the members .■■" the Society in New Zealand to th" committee who a.re t-aking upon themselves the duty ni ■proridins'the of life t.> uirr*p • who are in need; that we- agree to nyj.'<o la levy for t'.ie same purpose of '> poT cent f'n unmarried and 'l\ per cent on ] ra.irrifd members, and call upon nil member* in New Zealand to do li-kewi-e: and on receiving a favourable report from the Kxccntrve Board we. agree to resume work on Thursday 1710™"!!!!;." The position now is that a,U the nf.it■bem -with, the exception, of about 100, will iretnrn ia^awrk^t-coee,-