MASS MEETING OF WORKERS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14306, 18 March 1912, Page 7

MASS MEETING OF WORKERS.

(PHESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, March 17. The Opera House was packed this afternoon, when a mass meeting of members of practically all tho unions in Auckland was held in connection with tho present Labour deadlock. Mr Eraser (president of the Labourers' Union), who was in the chair, said tho present meeting was unique in the history of Labour in Auckland, as showing that on matters of vital importance Labour was solid and united- Tho gauge* of battle had been thrown down, and Labour was going to show that it would bo taken up. Mr Hosser (secretary of tho Tramway Union) said the handwriting was on tho wall in regard to tho ruling class. He said the Mayor had taken up an indefensible attitude. Tho City Council had developed an intense love for tho Arbitration Act, and yet claimed exemption from many awards when they were made. The action of tho employers ■was striking at the principle of the right of the workers to unite. Tho representative of the Carters' Union said if a strike occurred, Mr Parr must take tho whole* blame for it. ■Mr King, a member of tho Executive of the General Labourers' Union, appealed to the workers to stand firm, and "not be afraid of the boss." Mr Scott Bennett (tho Socialist Party organiser) said tho dispute was_ not merely a fight between the Labourers' Union and tho Auckland City Council; it. had become a general fight, and was now a fight for unionism. What, ho asked, were they going to do in the mnttor? ,The employers had refused to back down, and he was going to ask tho meeting to say that there was sufficient solidarity among Labour in Auckland to make them do so. (Cheers) Among the other speakers "was Mr John Payne, M.P., who urged tho workers to return candidates for liamentAt the conclusion of tho meeting it was unanimously resolved that those present pledge themselves to sunport the Labour candidate that will be brought forward for the Mayoral chair.