IMPORTANT.

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1927, Page 6

IMPORTANT.

Federated Seamen’s Union of! New Zealand. In view of the pernicous circulars issued by’ Messrs Young (lute Secretary) and Howell (lates assistant secretary) oi the Federated JScam.cn ‘s Union of New Zealand the following circular issued by the officials who are acting pro tern makes interesting reading. Fellow Members, —The manoeuvrings | oi NV. T. Young and the crew associat-l ed with him, having been exposed by the Commission of Investigation set up by members at the stop-work meetings in January, and composed of nine seagoing members, he and his coterie W’Cre removed from office by the Executive .Council, strictly’ in accordance with the rules. The derision of the Executive was endorsed by the stop-work meetings in all ports during .January’ and February, the Executive acted in the interests of the entire membership, ami; the members have since endorsed th- ; action of the Executive and are nowcollaborating with them in order to prevent Young and his satellites from breaking up our Federation. In an attempt to weaken our efforts for a United Body, W. T. Young ami Co are flooding the ships with pernicious circulars; these contain no defence, for even the evasive mind of Y’oung can .conceive no defence for his conduct. The circulars merely’ attack viciously, one or two individuals whom the members have placed in charge of affairs pro tern., until the mess that Young lias left can be cleaned up, ami the (‘lections held that ioung refused to

hold. The circulars are desperate. S.O.H. signals from a fast sinking ship, and are the only r method these individuals have of approaching members, they’ having been ordered off several ships in the port of Wellington by the crews, who will not tolerate their presence. To overcome this hostility’ the promoters of the Bogus Union are using IT.M. Mall in an attempt to undermine our Union. NVc give all statements contained in the circulars the lie direct, and it is pitiable to see the man we all trusted at one time rushing into print in desperation and succeeding in accomplishing nothing. We scorn to reply’ io Young and Co’s slanderous attacks oa individuals or to lower our manhood by meeting their filth with more filth. We warn members not to be side-tracked by these attacks on individuals. This is a ease of seven mon versus the entire union of 3,200 nmmbers. They are attempting to take your minds off the rea! issue by’ these cunning vitriolic attacks on individuals. It is an old game of the enemies of the workers to divide and conquer,’’ and this is also one of Young’s methods in an attempt to shake the solidarity of the members that has been manifested during this dispute. kßew'are of these snaketactics and keep in mind the real issue—-Toung .and Co. versus the Union! 'ITio Bogus Union has a fictitious membership of approximately 150 members which exists only on paper, and as far as we know, no bona-fide 'sea going member ipays into it, yet Mr Young is able to ‘rent an office in the busiest part of the City and issue thousands of circulars ;by post to the ships. It would bo interjesting to know* just from whore Mr | Young gets the £ s. d. to moot this larg“ '.expense. We solemnly and sincerely lay’ the following charges against. Mr Young and his executive and challenge ithem to refute same: —(1) Of being (leJliberate Union breakers, (2) Of deliberintolv and consciously acting again t the collective will of the membership: i (3) Of wilfully’ disobey’iig the niau- ■ dates of the members and the rosolnitions of the Executive Council; (H Of jdismissing Felix Newfield, the T.yffeliton agent, who was elected to office !>v |a vote of 1,371; (5) With attempting to Iclose the Lvttelton office without conjsulting the membership; (»•) With the registering of an entirely' now organisation; (7) With illegally’ using the funds of the Wellington Local by’ transferring same to Bogus Union (£2673); I (St) And we further charge NV. T. I Young of sending an untrue document to the Bank, when ho w.as transferring the foregoing funds* With nt tempt ing to mislead members and influence

their minds by malicious attacks on in flividuals; (10) Witli registering an op

position union and opening a rival office at Wellington, and thereby openly’ attempting to disrupt our organisation. These charges are not made loosolv, they’ can be proven by reference to the official documents in the Union office, thev are not macle with slanderous in-, tent, but in the interests of the member- ; ship as a -whole. Your officials are carrying on the work of the Seamen’s I nion; they’ must he protected against the vicious attack of Tom Young and his clique. T.et your answer to Young’s charges be a display of solidarity’ that will make this union-smasher realise that the seamen are not going to bo led astray bv any’ aparent henchmen of the 'hipowners. On behalf of the Executive Council, representing a membership of throe thousand two hundred homfide seamen. E. P. NValsTi, General President: F. Newfield, General Secretary