PROPOSED HARBOUR BOARD UNION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1914, Page 10

PROPOSED HARBOUR BOARD UNION

TO IHE EDITOR. , Sir,— l would like to ask Mr. Curtice three questions The fust is : Does lie think the majority of the preference men don't see through (his new union as another attempt by ex-strikers to obtain their old places before tiie winter sets in? Some ot us once belonged to the Ited Feds, and we are suspicious of anything that comes from them, seeing * they taught us to send all agreements to hell. But when we gave them some of their own physic, they called us scabs. Second question : Can he tell me how many of the old bands signed Mr. Donovan's requisition? 1 think 1 can answer, "Not one." This requisition looks lige scabbery on. the Red Feds. What a, victory to have Mr. Donovan, the man. who took the. chair at the strike meetings in His Majesty's and took Tom Young's place for a while on our side, begging us to .sign | Third question: ] would like Mr. Curtice to tell the board why he was go opposed to a Harbour Board "Union when 1 and several others proposed it at the time we joined the Red Feds? Did.it. be say then, and again when he was president, ahd again at the strike meetings—when the Harbour Board men wanted to cry the strike off — that we couldn't have sectionalism, because we all belong to one big union? Does ba forget? I don't. Why this turn now? Is he scabbing on the men that could find over six thousand pounds bail foi* Semple, Holland, and Young, and left the worker to exist on 10s • worth of groceries a week, or is it a game of bluff, as Mr. Rickey would say?. Will Mi: Curtice agree to this, seeing the board is so considerate— have no union at all ; le£ the board decide ; we are willing, Is Mr. Curtice;'/ In conclusion, may 1 offer a suggestion to the members of the board? Compare the signatures on tho requisition and those on the pay-sheet for the week ended 24th March, and you will find the reason of this new union, Enforce the preference clause and you will have plenty of deputations, and we will still have the deaf-and-dumb society till they want a subscription. Insist on a, rule that everything should be decidpd by secret ballot, tho right to appoint half the executive and. leave to enfoice preference clause. Then 1 don't thu>k there would be any more talk of a tcob union on the Arbitration Union.— l am, etc.. 14-YEAR HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEE. Wellington, 26th March, ISH.