UP IN ARMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1359, 9 February 1912, Page 5

UP IN ARMS.

A LEAGUE OF CITIZENS. TO RESIST STRIKES. INITIATING A CAMPAIGN. Nearly ono hundred and fifty persona attended a meeting of tho Wellington Citizens' League, held in the Chamber of C'onnncrco last evening. Mr. 11. C. Tewsley (president of (he Chamber of Commerce) acted as chairman. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. T. Hullinger, J. Godber, and others. One iif those who attended was Inspector Fuller, a well-known figure since, tho tramway strike. Starting tho objects of tho meeting, tho chairman remarked that the tramway trouble through which the city had recently passed had made tho pcoplo of Wellington begin (o think that a time hod arrived when it was necessary Hint something should be done to alter tho conditions that existed between employers and employees. (Hear, hear.) In tho public reserves and domains notice boards were erected asking citizens to protect their own property. The object of tho formation of the Citizens' League was to apply the same principles to the municipal life of the city as applied to tho protection of its reserves. If citizens did not protect their own property thero would shortly be such a chaotic condition of things, not only in Wellington, but in New Zealand generally, as would make, life and industry impossible. (Applause.) The Citizens' League included in its objects— To secure tho advancement of the City, of Wellington. To educate public opinion regarding all matters of interest to the city. To secure clean administration of the city's a flairs. To influence the action of, all city, municipal, and local bodies in the directions calculated to bo in the city's best interests. To secure the return of candidates for municipal honours- who will, in the opinion of the league, give the best services to tho city. What the League Has Done. The league had played an active part during the last municipal election'in endeavouring to secure the return of men who would best safeguard the municipal life of Wellington. He "was pleased to know that Hie league had assisted to secure tho return of men who were among the most valuable members of the council. The conditions under which the late strike was settled represented a mistake on the part of tho council. In order that a repetition, of that mistake might be obviated it was very necessary that some sort of legislation should be provided which would prevent a dislocation of the service' upon which the city depended. The Citizens' League, was absolutely noh-polilical. It consisted simply of a. number of commercial men having largo interests in the city, who would endeavour to see Hint (ho best interests of (he city were conserved. Thero■ was no intention of taking up any sectional attitude at all, but only of doing Hint which members conceived to be in the interests of every portion of the community, (pnlauso every portion of I he community. (Applause.) The league found 'it exceedingly difficult to get men to come out into the open and express their views for the lienefit of their fellowmen. It was to be regretted Hint this was the case, for it. boenmeenchduy more evident that the lima had arrived when men must come out who had tho courage of their convictions and take their part in the fight (hat would have to have to go on. (Applause.) It was a matter for regret that so many bodies of men were led by bad leaders. The members of the Tramways Union, had they been wisely counselled, would have come to a very different conclusion than they did. (Hear, hear.) 'flic tramway servants were a fine body of men, and, given good leaders, would soon be on (he right, (rack. He moved:— "That tho Wellington Citizens' League hereby puts on record its senso ' of disappointment at the result of the recent negotiations in connection with (ho tramway strike." Mr. Towsloy said that he wished it to be clearly understood Hint no personal reflection upon the members of the council was intended. 'J'he resolution was based upon the view that the council bad allowed the authority vested in it to bo taken nway by an outside .body having no part or parcel in the direction of (he business and finances of the city corporation. Irresponsible Dictation. Councillors had allowed n body that had no power in the country to force its authority upon them and make them subservient to its will. The league should enciulonvour to secure that, nothing of tha kind occurred in future. Their eon- . tention that that tho City Council, should have persisted longer in its first attitude, nud given tho citizens of Wellington a chance of backing them up. Had (lie council done this it would have gained a stronger position than by giving ' way as it had done. (Applause.) Tho executive, of the league considered that it would be well to have an executive, among the tramway employees that would bo recognised by (he council, and would have authority to go (o it in referonco to any mailers in dispute with a view In their settlement. Vailing a settlement, there should be resort lon court of some kind so that in' any case disputes might ho settled without, a cessation of work. ■ Concluding, Mr. Tewsley hoped that llioso -~, present would discuss tho business before them dispassionately, and arrive at. some conclusion that would be for (he benefit of all concerned. (Applause.) The City Betrayed. Sir. A. L. Wilson opined .thai Ilia motion before the meeting did not gp far enough. In the past; he had been proud to be a citizen of Wellington, but when he came down on (ho morning after (ho settlement he felt ashamed of being one. Ho felt that the interests of Wellington ami of New Zealand had been betraved by tho City Council of Wellington. ("Applause.) There were some good men in the council, but others had failed to rise to the occasion. Had it been known that Iho council intended to back down on (ho tramway question u meeting of five thousand or ten thousand people, would have gathered round the Town 11 nil to say "No." Continuing, Mr. Wilson said that he felt that thty were not going (o have pence for long, and that (he sooner they prepared to meet renewed hostilities tho better. (Applause.) Ho did nol blnmo the men who had Inken part in the lain struggle, but he blamed tile men who led them. "An nrniy of lions led by assess," described (he position. (Laughter.) People must organise from end to end of New Zealand in defence of Hieir rights, lie continued, The speeches made during tho strike at the Hnsin Reserve were rank anarchyi Many of the workers wore men of good intellect, but the leaders of Hie workers to-day were not calculated to inspire confidence in u popular movement. On Behalf of the Men. Mr. 13. Gallichan said ho. had not come there to support the resolution. Ho did not support the attitude which (he men had taken up, but, an tho chairman had rightly said, the Wellington Iromwoynien wero a very line body of men. Men who worked for two weeks' for nothing in order to get a chance of working lor a year at ll{d. an hour deserved some consideration. While not supporting tho men in Hie attitude they had taken up, he blamed tho City Council for the whole affair. Instead of confining its attention to matters of broad policy, the council had pottered with matters of detail. A matter that should have been settled twelve months ago had been allowed to drnrr on until the fnt was in the fire. Referring to a statement by the Tramwavs Engineer about 50 faked, tickets, Mr. Gallichan stated Hint Hie, whole of these tickets were obtained from a sinele individual, who had been put out of the service. The Tramways Manner should be given a full and free and independent control of the men. If this were done there would be no strikes. Mr, Gallichan moved as on amendment:— "That the Wellington Citizens' League hereby puts on record its sense of disappointment at the negotiations in connection with the tramway strike not having been dealt with by tho general manager." After sonve delay, Mr. Butcher wound-

Ed the amendment, stating that ho did eo in order to open up a discussion. There was somo further discussion about tho tramwaymen until a speaker got up to remark that ho understood that tho meeting had assembled to discuss measures for tho prevention of strikes in future. Tho Council Blamed. Mr. E. C. Jack said that 'he personally thought Hint tho City Council was very niuch to blamo for what had occurred. It should have trusted its manager. To a great extent he had lost confidence in thu council. .Ho considered that in every city in the Dominion citizens should band together to resist tho inroads of irresponsible bodies liko the Federation of Labour. As a worker liimself ho said that 310 good worker required tho assistance »f such a body as tho Federation of Labour. (Applause.) -Air. J. P. Maxwell said that ho had not lost conlidenco in the council, but considered that the league should impress upon it that citizens desired it to uphold tho law and the authority with .which it was invested. * Playing Ducks and Drakes. Mt. T. Orr remarked that it was awful to think that a few irresponsible peoplo could play ducks and drakes with the city property. It was essential that the law-abiding citizens of Wellington should hand together in order to prevent the appearance of a state of chaos. People could.'not■bo,too. earnest in this matter. Evils such as they had met to combat grew "often .because they were neglected. "The mob that you have to deal with," said Mr. Orr, "will not bo placated." Ho went on to remark that if his hearers did not set earnestly to work they would lose their heads as Louis Capet lost his. (Laughter.) A man who 'could not protect his head, said Mr. Orr, did not deserve to have one. ' "Put down 'your foot and keep it there," was his concluding advice. The Motion Amended,, The chairman now" announced that, ,<vith his approval. ;/Mr... ' Maxwell had amended tho. original resolution' as>. follows :— .. "That the Wellington Citizens' ;Lcaguc hereby puts on record its disappointment that, in tho recent negotiations in connecticin with the tramways strike, the authority of tho council was not properly maintained." Mr. Gallichan's amendment, upon being put_ to the voto was defeated by a large majority, only two votes being cast in its favour. ■".•; A proposal, by .Mr. Jack, to insert the word, "keen" before, "disapnointmenlr" in the original motion,' was agreed to. Mr. G. A.' Hurley, at this stage, proposed, as an amendment, that the league assure thej,co;uncil of its -Utmost support in upholding-the city's:rights in future. It was eventually decided \to add Mr, Hurley's.amendment to the original motion,: vwhich was' then : . parsed, almost unanimously. In its final'torm the molion l-ea'dsi-S ',' "''•,. "That the. Wellington . Citizen's League hereby puts oh .record its sense of keen, disappointment that in the. rocent u n'egotiations ; in connection with tho tramway strike tho authority: of the council was not properly maintained, and tenders to the City Corporation its assurance of tho utmost support of the' city's rights in the future." . A Militant Proposal, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt proposed the following resolution:— "That tho league take activo steps .to promote tho passing \ of an Act whereby any public servant, who, in contravention of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, takes part in any strike shall, ipso facto, be deemed to have forfeited all claim to'superannuation and other- privileges attached to his position." Supporting his resolution, Mr. Hunt Contended thai a public servant" enjoyed special privileges, and should be willing to carry special obligations, and to incur special penalties in the event of his breaking tho law. No remedy of this nntiiro coiild be called hard or reactionary. Public services, the tramway service, among them, were among the pillars upon which society rested, and no interference with them should bo tolerated. So much had been heard lately about militant labour that it was about timo something was heard about the militant citizen. (Applause.) Mr. Maxwell said that it was not more laws that were required, but men with backbone and grit to administer the laws that existed. The motion was .carried, a good many of those present abstaining from voting one way or .the other. Tho chairman announced that the annual meeting of tho league would be held in ten days or a fortnight and asked members to do what they could to induco others to join. Resistance fo Strikes. Mr. Hurley, at this point, roso with the remark that, in his view, thoy had assembled that evening to say what they wore, going to do when the next strike toofi place. Now they were going away withont saving it. Ho proposed: "That a committee be sot up to report to the next meeting of this league upon the best means of organ- ' ising resistance to any future strike." Tho motion, which was received with applause, was seconded in several places ■and was carried by a practically unanimous vote. It was agreed that the executive of the league, together with Mr, Hurley, should act as a, committee for the " purpose lamed. Sympathy for Brisbane, On the motion of Mr. J. M'lntosh, it was decided to forward n resolution of sympathy to the citizens who are engaged in resisting the strikers in Brisbane. "They are doing what wo should havo ■done here," remarked Mr. M'lntosh in proposing his resolution.