MARCH TO WORK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1939, 23 December 1913, Page 6

MARCH TO WORK.

LUMPERS PROCESSION*

TOTTERING FEDERATION,

THE LEADERS AT GRIPS,

MR. W. T. YOUNG RESIGNS.

PART THE SEAMEN PLAYED.

SUMMED UP BY MR. BELCHER,

It was announced at Sunday night's lueotiug at 'ho Opera House that the strikers would return to work next morning. They were, it was stated, to iorm a procession and march 011 to tho wharf-head. Shortly after 7 a.m. j'es'iterday a crowd began to muster in front of the Vivian Street Skating Rink, and hySS a.m. therewas a considerable number: of people in the vicinity A few n:inut«s later tho old Waterside Workers' Band mado it'j appearance, and at 8.20 a.m. a procession—consisting of about 1000 mon, women, and children— moved off in tho direction of the wharves. Marching in the front ranks ,wero Messrs. F. CJurtico (president of the old Watewidcrs' Union), Geo. Farland (secretary), T. Donovan (president of tlio Wellington branch of the Sea'wen's Union), and other parties who had been associated with the strike. •'Tlio procession attracted some attention, shopkeepers and their assistants mustering at their,doorways'to witness the march. Tlio parado was perforce orderly, but. at intervals tho old cries— "Are wo do.vnhoarted" and "Aro we scabs"—were repeated. When tho procession had 'Worked its .way down Jervois Quay and past the wharves .there was a little jeering at tlio moji working on tho wharves, and a squad of mounted "specials" received their sliars of the hooting. 011 reaching tho Harbour Board's K Shed a halt was called, and tho' strikers and their sympathisers gathered in a body to hear the final addresses of their leaders. Leaders' Last Speeches. The first speech was given by Mr. F. 3urtice, president of the old union, who stated inter alia that the present might, Ijo tho last occasion 011 which ho might address the men. (Cries of "No, 110.") In conclusion, the late president, who lias been through two strikes in this country, told members of the union that they wore at liberty to join tho newWaterside Workers' Union- since the strike had bce.i declared at an end.

Mr. George Farland' stated that the --"'baTtle had been lost, but/that the war would go 011 just tijo same. The seamen had stood by -tiiem till they were betrayed by one of their own members. According to, Sir. T. Dowgray, actingpresident of the United Federation of Labour, their action in, declaring the strike off. had rbeon a retreat, not a defeat. Referring to Mr. Young, late president of the Federation of Labour and secretary of tho local branch of tho Seamen's' '(Jfuon, Mr. Dowgray stated that ho (Mr. Young)' had not been 0110 of , the ■ delegates fro'm tho Seamen's Unions" who had fixed up ' the'agreement with, tho Ship Owners' Federation.': The speaker explained that tlio agreement had'been' arranged by six delegates, who' hailfed from Auckland, Wellington, and If, however, the' secretary of the Wellington- Seamen's Union knew what was going,on. he, could not liopo to be exonerated from ( blarae in connection with tho coilapso of tho strike. ---•"7 Other', speakers tfere:.Mr. Glover, chairman .ofothe local Striko Commitchairman of the central Striko Committee,, and Mr. T. Donovan, president of tho local branch of tho Seamen's Union. At the'"conclusion of the . meeting cheers were given for all tho leaders, and tho gathering dispersed. SubsO'qucntly a large, body of men made their way towards K shed, with the object of signing on tho new union. * The Rush for Employment. For, two hours the secretary of tho , new .Waterside Union and his assistant were busily engaged in signing on exstrikers. A que'uo..was formed outsids a sido doof, -'and the men were admitted to tho oiiice two or three at a time. A squad of mounted . special constables Vero in attendance, and a few members j>f the regular, forco controlled the traffic. During the morning 2-10 names were added to the new union's books, and then a.haltwas called. During tho interval tho executive of the now union held a meeting, at which it was decided not to admit any moro members till applicants had been examined and accepted by tho executive. Tho signing on recommenced again at 2 p.m. and concluded at 5 p.m. During that timo some 312 men signed a papei which had tho following paragraph at "tho top:— ... "We, tlio undersigned, aro desirous, of obtaining employment a.l members of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers, provided our applications arc acceptable by tho members of tho executive of tho said union.'' Altogether, some 582 men placed their names on tlio roll; during tho four lours-in winch it was open. New Unionists to Have Preference. Strange to say, on the very day that "tho old watersiders applied for: work there was a shortage of labour. This, •of course, was fortunate for the men who had signed during tho morning. 'Assoon us thoy.had bceoitie members of tlio ,union, work was offering, and con•sidcrabl.y over 100 men wcro found em:;,p!oyment. It is estimated that fully i 1000 men were at work on tho water"'front yesterday, SOU of whom were employed by the Harbour Board alono. iTIio Union Company has all the labour that it will require till after Christmas, and other companies arc in tho same position. ■ • TJiero aro about 2100 members of tiie now union, who are entitled to preferonce, but, of that number, about COO are away at sea. It is anticipated that many men who have been working on the wharves will return to tlio country after the holidays. Even if this does happen, there will be a sufficient number of unionists to cope with tho work offering. Tho preference rulo 'will be strictly enforced, and men who joined tho neiv union prior to Monday, December 8, will bo givon the first ro'fusal of employment. Afterwards, exstrikers will be offered work. Present indications point to a number of exstrikers being shut out of employment, but, judging'by the rush to sign on yesterday,, the men seem determined to take, "pot luck."_ It has been .stated that more men will bo taken on as tho ranks of the country .members de- ' creaso. Ship. Manning. Besides the old .watersiders tho seamen and firemen wero rushing back yesterday, and over 200 men we.ro engaged nil various vessels. • .Tlio-Government Shipping Office was kept very busy all day, and a considerable number of men were to be seen standing about in groups, outside the .office during tlio day. There aro still far too many men offering, and it will be to give all employment before, the New Year. .It w the intention of the Union Company not to send crews, to man vesFfls whiHi have boon laid up at other poits. tho reason being that per® aro.

plontv of men available everywhere. A considerable number of captains and officers and engineers who stood loyal to tlio Union Company during the recent striko went south by tlio Waliino last evening for orders.

Meanwhile special constables guard the entrances to tlio wharves, and nobody is allowed through the gates without a pass.