MR. HICKEY'S SOLICITATIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 144, 15 December 1913, Page 8

MR. HICKEY'S SOLICITATIONS

UNENCHANTED "COMRADES." On 17th November Mr. P. H. Hickey, general secretary and treasurer of the United Federation of Labour, wrote sis follows to Mr. M. J. Mack, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants: — "On behalf of my executive, I am directed .to call the attention of your council to the fact that your organisation is on the side of the employers in the present conflict, by the transportation of 'scabs,' special constables, and produce to be handled by 'scab' labour. Because of the vital issues at stake in this dispute, 1 and because the winning or losing of this fight means so much to organised labour, we now call upon our comrades in the railway service to flatly decline to any longer be used as means of defeating us. We realise that if the railwaymen take up the attitude of frankly and boldly declaring themselves with us in this battle they will play an important part in smashing down the present obstinacy on the part of the employers For these reasons we appeal to you to refuse to handle 'scab' material or material handled by 'scab' labour, to refuse to transport 'scabs' or 'scab' policemen," On the 18th November Mr. Mack replied as follows :-r"l beg to acknowledge receipt of your communciaUon of the 17th, drawing my council's attention to certain aspects of the present industrial dispute on the waterfront. In reply, I am instructed to advise you that my executive have decided to take no part in the dispute above referred to, and that our members will continue to carry out their usual duties in connection with the railway service." Then Mr. Hickey wrote direct to the branch secretaries and members. United Federation of Labour, 19th November, 1913. Branch secretary and members, A.S.R.S. Comrades, — I am directed by my executive to forward you the enclosed copy of correspondence between the Federation Executive and the council of the A.S.R.S. We feel that the transportation of scabs, scab products, and scab policemen is such a serious infringement of all principles of unionism that we are in duty bound to call your attention to it. — On behalf of the executive, I am, fraternally yours, V. H. Hickey, secre-tary-treasurer. The Amalgamated Society's Executive

Council having informed all members that it had decided not to take any part in the dispute, Mr. M. J. Mack, general secretary, wrote to the branches as follows: — "Dear Sir, — It has just come to my knowledge that the United' Federation of Labour have issued a circular to all branches enclosing therewith a copy of the correspondence between that organisation and your executive. To prevent misunderstanding, and to avoid any complications, I would urge upon you the necessity of being guided strictly by your council, who are fully seized of all the facts, and before any action is taken that they be consulted." DISTRESSED RAILWAY MEN. With regard to subscribing to relief funds, Mr. Mack addressed all branches as follows. — "I understand that quito a number of our branches are taking up a subscription on behalf of the distressed workers in connection with the present strike, and in doing so I would ask your branch to bear in mind the fact that from 150 to 160 of our members in Christchurch and Lyttelton are thrown out of employment by reason of the strike, and I understand are, almost without exception, married men. Our casuals in Timaru are somewhat similarly affected, and if your branch is doing anything in the direction I have indicated I think it would be as well if the money were forwarded to this office | and transmitted to the various places as required. I certainly think that our own members who are suffering as a consequence of the strike should receive first consideration."