TRADE CONGRESS SCENE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 237, 19 September 1922, Page 7

TRADE CONGRESS SCENE.

“LOW-DOWN TRICKS.” HAVELOCK WILSON ATTACKED. London, Sept. 8. “Blackmail,” “low-down tricks,” and “liar” were among the epithets bandied about during a scene at the Trade Union Congress, now meeting at Southport. A feud exists between seafarers unions. The president announced that Mr. J. Havelock Wilson’s Sailors and Firemen’s Union wished to meet the Manne Workers' Union in a conference with the general council. Mr. Cotter, secretary of the Marine Workers’ Union, said that the invitation was a trap and a fake. The congress itself must judge between the unions. He launched a heated attack on Mr. Wilson, and a voiVe in the gallery cried, “You’re a liar.” The interrupter was expelled. Mr. Cotter announced that Mr. Wilson’s union had served him with an injunction to prevent his appearance at the congress, and summoning him to the High Court that morning. “But I’m not there,” he said. “I’m here.” He accused Mr. Wilson of making arrangements detrimental to the maritime workers. The Sailors’ I nion delegates, in Mr. Wilson’s absence, replied taunting Mr. Cotter with attempting to play, a big part for which he was unfitted. Another delegate described Mr. Milson as the villain of the piece, who left the other delegates to do the dirty work. The chairman appealed to both unions to strive for unity, and the wrangle ended. “There has been a horrible feud between the Seamen’s and the Marine Workers’ Union,” said Mr. Cotter’s counsel, opposing an application to prevent Mr. Cotter representing the marine workers. Counsel alleged that it was merely an attempt to tie Mr. Cotter’s hands. The judge refused to continue the injunction, saying: “There is more in this than appears at first sight.”