CASCADE DISPUTE.

Grey River Argus, 25 September 1928, Page 3

CASCADE DISPUTE.

CAPITALIST PRESS TACTICS (To Hie Editor) Sir, — The Welfare League in its statement on the Cascade Dispute attempted to defend the action of the Cascade Tribute Party in making a private contract with the company at a mine whore a collective agreement between" the union and Iho conn.anx wiks already in existence. By thus coming out openly in favour of group and individual contracts, the Welfare 'League unwittingly suppal d the final proof that such contracts are against the interests of the miners as a-whole. The Welfare League is ar. organisa tiou set up by the Employers of New Zealand for the purpose of conducting anti-Labour propaganda. .Its voice is the voice of the employing class. When it supports a move to enable employers tM bargain with individuals or with small groups instead of with the unions, the miners and all other sections- of the organised workers realise that that move is in the interests of the employers. Through long and bitter experience (he miners have learned the necessity of unity’ in dealing with the mine-ow-n.ers They know that the institution of contracts such as that entr red into by the Cascade Coal Company and the Tribute Party can only have the effect of breaking down that unity a’ready attained, and weakening their organisation. Nominally the right to bargain collectively with the employers would still remain with the unions even if the practicjo of individual contracts were allowed to creep in. but in reality the right would have bern lost as their ability to bargain effectively would 1 have vanished. That being so tin miners have opposed and will continue to oppose such contracts no matter what specious apologies may be put forward for them by the employers' propogan dists. The demonstration at Denniston was organised by the Denniston miners a*s a protest against an attack on their union, which attack had taken the form ‘ of the introduction of non-union LaluaH our and the making of a contract out consulting the union. The fare League dared not contradict statement that it was a peaceful and * ordeily demonstration, but, determined , to discredit the Denniston minors at all • costs, it stated that “the members of r the Tribute Party were lectured *lO and : some inflammatory references were 1 made.” The only “inflammatory” : references that it could produce were (1) an alleged statement by tin* secretary of the Denniston Miners’ I Union that he had received a code message that the Tribute Party were coming up the hill; and (2> an alleged statement by the chairman of the union advising the members of the tribute party to return to Westport as he was apprehensive as to what might happen should they decide to coijiinuo to their destination. Inflammatory , indeed! The code message needs no j explanation, as it will be evident to anyone but the Welfare League that t no intelligent body would organise a demonstration to impress their protest upon a party without making sure that the party in question would he present., With r gard to the, chairman ’-1 statement that he was apprehensive as. to what might liappei: etc., .the fact remains that his apprehension was unfounded. Nothing happ-.ned. In spite of the fact that their mat r /M interests wen- a.t stake, the miir r.< kept cool and relied upon reason. The Cascade dispute affected them much more intimnteiy than it affect'd say, Mr Coates, yet it is reliably reported that he faiie 1 to mainta n an entirely judicial attitude when the dispute wa< discussed in Parliament. That makes the conduct of th/- Denniston miners all the more creaitable to them. Tri the light of the e facts, it is amusing to rea l that ‘‘The hope was expressed that no further .fforts would b.e made to intimidate and a promise given that if any such steps were taken the Gofvernment would afford potection to these workers seeking to exercise their liberties.” Tlv Tory Government, is well known to the workers as a “protector’’ i.f their liberties. In regard to the settlement arrived at between the parties concerned in the Cascade dispute, an official • tate meat will be issued by the N.Z. Alliance of Labour. Alleged reports originating from c.ther sources should be disregarded. I am etc., A. McLAGAN, iS’eeretary;, United Mine Workers of N.Z