STRIKE BALLOT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 6 January 1923, Page 11

STRIKE BALLOT.

BY ALLIANCE OF LABOUR

PROTEST AGAINST REDUCED { WAGES.

(BY TELEGEAPH —PEESS ASSOCIATION ) I WELLINGTON, Jan. 6. : Ihe- New Zealand Alliance of Laboui is taking a ballot, closing or January 15, on the question of ceasing work as a protest against the reduction in wages ordered by the Arbitration Court last year, r The watersiders, who are affiliated 3 with the alliance, have also taken a , separate ballot in respect to their own - award, and the result is - expected to - be announced in a few days. J Regarding the alliance's action, the » a SS i S tant,secretary for 'tho, Employers' , -Federation states that the employers t generally are not greatly concerned J j over the possibility of a general 'strike, as they cannot imagine any ►leader who would accept the responsi- ; bility of ordering it,- even had' it been approved by the \ ballot. The probability of the workers desiring to strike was even more remote. A strike on a large scale would throw the Dominion back into the depression from which it is emerging but could not he successful... as it would not have public support. I A general strike would-be a severe1 Mow to trades unionism, and would be' « ? nd *£ the Alliance oTXabour. An-j ■???•. of one lmP°rtant union says that the alliance has done nothing but I talk ever since it came into existence.' Its own organisation is its weakness, and by its own 'constitution it has stultified itself again and again-. If it was an opportune time to strike now/ he says, the seamen must have been in the wrong when they left off. work early in November. f In alliance circles it is stated tnat the ballot is ho mere threat at all as alleged, but will be acted upon if the verdict is favourable by the executive calling out the affiliated organisations It is considered that the workers will he able tp stand the financial strain of a prolonged struggle. •' A gentleman closely in touch with! the industrial situation says that the strike ballot Fas a direct challenge to the arbitration system, and argues that the fact that the cost of living is falling is evidence that the employees have passed,on tho reduction in wagesto the public.. i