ON STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 6

ON STRIKE.

DISSATISFIED MARKERS. ■ RIFLE MEETING TIED UP. Thero is no Target-Markers' Union in Wellington, but an incident ivliieh occurred at Trentham during the firing for the Opaki Match (No., 4), on Thursday, shows that when an emergency arises a union can be organised on the spot, and prefer, certain doinands from tho employers, which, if refused, might very easily tio up an important rille mooting. Shortly before 5.30 p.m. the range-tele-phone 'at the 700' yards mound rang, and file operator in charge was made tho recipient of . a'message to the effect that tho markers, having taken ail things into consideration, : had como to the conclusion that they had'marked long enough; thore'had been, to them',' an abnormal, number of challenges,'and they felt that their'integrity was the subject of controversy; they were pro-' pared to go' on —for a consideration.'. Their ultimatum • was; overtimo rates, or tho targets would be .turned down. ■ • Wothing further transpired until 6 o'clock, when the targets unanimously swung round to tho horizontal, while a row of impotent riflorfien lay oil the 700 yards mound and heaped . bitter anathema upoii tho invisiblo markers. -~ The secretary, Private C. H. Aamodt,. of tho Wellington Guards, was in the ! range office, busy over his score sheets, when news was brought to him that nine\. markers had left the trenches and were com-' ing clown to the .'office for their money. "'They'll'get uo money," said lie, wrathfully,' "nor beer either," he added, as lib reached for the key and put it in his pocket. A shadow fell across tho door-way,' and a group of markers appeared. "What, d'ye want?" inquired the secretary, coldly. . : "Our monoy," said the spokesman of tho group. "Y/e ve done enough," he explained. "You'll get no money to-night," was the emphatic reply. ■ Meanwhile, volunteers wore being enlisted to fill the breach. . Someone suggested, to the malcontents that there would, bo no iitrm in returning to duty. Their domands .would be dulyj considered by the executive of the Association. Two saw ..the wisdom of Eiieli a course and' wont back to the trenchcs. Tho remainder squatted down on the grass .and discussed ' the .situation ostentatiously and audibly. The targets had by this time been re-manned, arid firing was resumed. In reply to a question, Mr. 'Aamodt (secrotary), said , that tho markers wero engaged for the day, at a fee of 10s. per man. There was no question of a fixed time-limit.' . One of tho markers, interviewed as to his side of tho question, said that tho most important factor in the situation, so far as he himself , was . concerned, was tho bitter recollection of a previous meeting. It had poured all day, and ho had been drenched to tho skin. Ho was marking for the last few shots, and 'most of tho riflemen. had gone •olf to the station. The last man finally completed his rounds and departed, without "p----prisiiig tho dripping marker in tho trench of the fact. Tho consequence was that he missed the train, walked to the Upper Hutt station, to catch tho .express, and discovered that he was a penny short of the fare. To mako a long story short, be complained that tho markers at these meetings did not receive enough consideration. ' ' The general opinion was, that in .-refusingduty during the .progress of the firing, the marked did wrong; serious inconvenience resulted, and the nrrangemonta were thrown all behind. Yt'hatpv'er dissatisfaction, wellgrounded or otherwise, that was felt by the. markers, the proper course would have been to make representations for tho formal consideration of their grievances by the executive.