A STATEMENT DENIED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 10

A STATEMENT DENIED

Sir,—l have read tho two resolutions passed at the meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union, last-night, the effect of same being to misrepresent the present unfortunate position in the eyes of the public, and I feel I cannot let these pass without placing some plain facts before you. '

The first resolution passed endorses the action of their delegates jn refusing to submit the dispute to the Arbitration Court. Are the people of New Zealand going to sit down any longer and allow a body of men to defy the laws of the country, more especially seeing that the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation is encouraging the introduction of the I.W.AV. principles in carrying out their the "go slow" policy—of which I will give you concrete cases when dealing with the second resolution? I can assure the public the demands nlaced before the employers by this federation were simply impossible, and had the shipping companies' conceded pnv one of them thev would have enpnled every trade and industry in this The federation's proposed improved working conditions are, the roost absurd and unworkable lot ever placed before any body of employers, and I will go as far as to sav that any emplover favourably considering same would be a partv to encouraging this federation to fully adopt the I.W.W. principles in carrying out their work. nit The second resolution passed last night "»ad as follows:— _. "That this meeting of Wellington Waterside Workers . emphaticallv denies the statement made by the'employers that the members impeded or refused to work on troopships or ships carrying pro- , ducc commandeered by the Imperial authorities, nnr is it their m-

tention to do so." The spirit of this resolution has not been carried out by the 'men in the past in respect to steamers carrying foodstuffs commandeered by tho Imperial authorities for the feeding _oE our troops and the British public I'or instance, on January 30,'a.u.ome liner loading at this port commenced loading cheese'with one gang of men at 1 p.m., and worked until 5 p.m.—four hours. The quantity of cheese loaded during that time was 425 crates, whereas a reasonable' quantity that, should bo loaded in four hours would be between 1500.and 1600 crates. On the same vessel, loading frozen meat, for the Imperial authorities, one morning .this week two gangs, working Irom 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., put on board four trucks between them when they should easily have loaded four trucks each._ Similar concreto cases could be given in respect to the loading of another Homo liner. . There is another lying here tn discharge herxargo. This vessel U badlv required to convey frozen meat, cheese, and wool as urgently as nossihle to tho Mother Country, and it is impossible to load her until she has completed the discharge of her inward • oar"o The watersiders have deliberated held this vessel up because they refuse to dump her cargo, as required by the employers—a system that has been in vogue here and at other ports Tor years—their ' objection being, no doubt, that they arc afraid of doing six ilavs' work in three days, their present policy being to do three clays' work in ' I "do not' think I am exaggerating the position when I say nearly all of us havo a brother, son, or some relative, in the trenches, sacrificing their blood for the defence of our country, and •who are in urgent need of our food productions. I think vc have in our midst a small body of : meh apparently willing to hinder our'troops" in '.obtaining their supplies from this-country. Let me'.n'slrquitefrankly; are Mie men who. deliberately introduce the "Go Slow" policy of the I.W/vv. in carryin" niifc their duties, in this countrr worthy to he called Britishers? ' I will give 'them tho credit of apparently overlooking the fact that by adopting their present tactics they arc assisting the ori»mv. and now that jt has been pointed out-to them. Ido hone, as men, they will amend their methods of working', and uot.do as little as they can, but put their backs into it and do their best.—l am, etc., .-HUBERT L. NATHAN. [ February 2.,