DICTATORIAL LUMPERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 6

DICTATORIAL LUMPERS.

LYTTELTON MEN". j BACK IN A BODY OR NOT AT ALL. (Br TelceraDh—Press Association.) Christchurch, December 23. The old watersidors, with 0110 or two exceptions, persist in their attitude of refusing to return to their employment unless thoy aro reinstated as a body. As there aro now 103 Arbitrationists engaged on the waterfront, slid as most of them are giving entire satisfaction jfc cannot be expected that these men will bo put oif to allow members of the old union to return to work. It seems certain that many of the strikers who took a prominent part in the industrial crisis will havo to find employment elsewhere, and it is to prevent this happening that tlio men are reluctant to turn to.

On being seen by a reporter to-day, Mr. J. B. Clough, president of tho "new union, stated that although a number of applications had bcc>n received from members of tho old union they had not been dealt with to date, and it was likely that a meeting of tho new union would shortly be held to consider thom.

Mr. J. M'Combs, M.P., was in Lytteltori this morning, and had a conferenco with the shipping employers as the result of which tlio men wero advised to forward their applications to the now union. Mr. M'Combs subsequently handed ovor a batch of 300 applications from members of the old union, and thoy wore forwarded to the secretary of tho Arbitrationist Union..

Mr. M'Combs, 31 .P., protests emphatically against tho method adopted in connection with the enrolment of tho Arbitration Union. Tlio principle (ho states) is laid down in hundreds of awards that a union must bo open to any worker of good character and sober habits 011 payment of, a small entrance foe. He says this principle is violated by the now"union, which professes to Uphold tho principles of tho Arbitration Act. It was surely never tho intention of tlio Legislature to confer upon a fraudulent and spurious organisation, tho producti of connivanco between employers and men outside tho industry m which the employees are engaged, tho power to exclude from means of livelihood tho actual workers in the industry.