THE NEW UNION REGISTERED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 8

THE NEW UNION REGISTERED.

OF AEBITRATIONISTS.

THE NEED TO UNLOCK THE PORT.

The new anion of waterside workers formed at the Mount Cook Barracks on ; Wednesday ..evening; was registered under the Industrial Coiisiliaition and A.r- : bit-ration Act at the Laboar Department between 11 a.m. and noon yesterday. It was registered under tho title of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers. Early yesterday afternoon there were nearly seventy namßs on tho roll, and at open meetings held on the Glasgow Wharf whilst wait-: ing for tho word to commence work other members were formally proposed. When the chairman put tlio proposal eloctisg three new members there was a chorus of "Ayes" that really sounded like a cheer. Gritty Lot of Men. After the members of tho new union Were assembled the organiser asked if any of them could drive an ■ hydraulic crane. "Yes —I can!" said a typieal countryman from the outer fringe of tho crowd. When lie came forward he was again nsked if he could drive an hydraulic crane. "Oh, I thought yon said a bullock dray!" and there was a shout of laugli- ; tor. / A pushing photographer with an ingiatiatnig smile asked tlio members of the union if they would mind being photographed. One and al] declared that they had not the slightest objection, and there and then stepped forward to breast the camera. These men aro evidently a gritty lot, and look like going through with the job. They do not care at all for those who threaten violence. They are here to see tho port cleared. Many of tho

members, of the new union, pro formers, farmers' sons, and farm labourers from; anywhere between. PaJmorston North •arid Now Plymouth—a hard-looking lot that know what work is. Talk With the Organiser. During tho afternoon a reporter bad a talk with the organiser of the new: union. 111.reply to questions he made the following statement: —*"I haven't the union book here with me. Tho secretary's got it, and lie's out in the street with the mounted men: Bilt I know ! there are well over 60, and 1 others are coming in; The unioii .was registered this morning by Mr. Sykes. We've got a good lot of men for a start, and 1 thews are others coming. 'Some of thom thought if they became members of the union that they would liavo to stay ill Wellington permanently. It was explained to them that this was not so, though . there may W a call for them to continue working indefinitely fo.f the. present. They realise tiliat the present condition, of things with their chief port closed up is no good to them, and they j intend to work here to enable their produce to bo shipped abroad and other goods to come in. Personally," ho continued, "I believe that fS per cent, of the men on the waterside would be only too glad to resume work under the Act, and under the good' conditions now offered ftem, if it wasn't for the scorching they wauld get from leaders of a certain type—men whoso occupation depends on the troubles they bo skilfully manufacture. "I know, that a great many'of the reasonable men among the strikers are' tired, of it all, and would bo willing to go back to work tc-merrow if they were allowed.AVol'l, here .is -their chance) If tiher£ are waterside workers who wish to work, and assure themselves for the future, our men are prepared to step out at any time. The money is good,

and our fellows do not mind earning a few pounds in the easy way tho wa.tersiders make their money, but we aro prepared to hiind over the organisation to the men as soon as they liko to come along. At t!he same time w.e will do our best to bar tlio 'Red Feds.' They are no good to tho worker—no good to tho community." Unlock the Port, Some otter interesting facts regard-; ing the formation of t'ho new Arbitration Union were clicitcd by a reporter in conversation with fine of the officials elected on Wednesday evening. As previously reported, a meeting was held at tho barracks that evening., when an address was delivered by Sir. 6. : Sykes, M.P. for Masterton. The offl- ; cial interviewed explained that tho no* gotiations between tho employers and tho Federation of Labour had proved abortive, and that- the employers would liave an Arbitration union or nothing; .Tho farmers in the. contingent were beginning to be anxious at the delay in. tho shipment of their produce, and wet® also chafing at being kept cooped up in tlio barracks without doing anything. . It was accordingly decided that as tno striking union had had tlio opportunity of registering under the Arbitration Act, and had declined to avail themselves of it, a Union should bo formed by tlio farmer's themseLv.es. This was done, because, to a man, they recognised.- that unionism .was here. to stay. They were ' nftt inimical to men who belonged to. a reasonable union under proper direction, Tbo main point with t-ho farmers Was that their .produco was being hung, up here, ana that tlvey were losing their mai'ket.. Ibo dairy farmers were especially anxious, because their produce was particularly liable to deterioration. Tlio jkiry far* mer had only one season—the summer —and he had to wait through an unprofitable' winter for that season to come round. It • was therefore a matter of considerable anxiety to him that his produce should bo allowed to lie on the wharves when ho had promise of a successful season.-with good prices. "We are not here," the .speaker continued, "to do anyone out of a . job. Directly those who want work and not strife are ready to come back and re-. sumo the handling of oar produce, We . will go back to our farms. It is proliable that same will stay as permanent men if tlio work suits them. We aro not hero to do any man out of a job wlio has a wifo and family to support. We are simply hero to see that our produce is shipped and finds it's mar* kefc, and we shall stay here, if necessary, until we aro old. men in order to «e«; that it is shipped.'"