TROUBLE ON MANUKA

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 200, 25 May 1925, Page 9

TROUBLE ON MANUKA

THE CASE FOR THE MEN To solicit the solidarity and support of workers in connection .with, the trouble on the Union Company s Manuka, members of tlie vessel’s crew held a meeting in tho Communist Hall last night. There was an attendance ./I about 300, and many could not gam admission The principal speaker was Air. N. Lyons, who declared that the items on the menu which the crew had presented to the company, and which the latter had stated was too expensive, could be procured at any restaurant tor one shilling or one and threepence, and that (lie few extra pence incurred in catering ins provided for in the menu) did not. warrant the ''high-handed action of the Union Steam Ship Company in tying up the Manuka.” “J have been described as a paid agitator, and the ring’.adcr in this t rouble, proceeded Mr, Lyons, "but it is-n well-known fact Hint ail who take an active part in attempting io belter tl'.e condition of the worker, according to some scribes ■levelop whiskers overnight, and appear as a Bolshevik. (Laughter.) Tam only a worker, the same as the other members of tho crew, and any action tha. has been taken by the crew of t.lie Manuka has been the. action of the ranit ami file, and there were no leaders. At this stage voices from various quarters of the halt confirmed the statements made by the speakers. Mr. Lyons condemned tho actions ot “craft union officials,” who, be doclaredl, had a bad habit of. misleading the workers “They are mtslcaders, =ai<l the sneaker. , , , , After other speakers had addressed the meeting, the following resolution was carried: “This meeting condemns tlie action of t'*e Union Steam Ship Company in tying up the Manuka, ami victimising the crew because ot stand for better conditions, -''nd calls upon all organised labour to support them in their trouble?