THE LABOUR DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14929, 29 February 1912, Page 9

THE LABOUR DEADLOCK.

STRIKE MAY COME ANY TIME.

THE UNION'S ATTITUDE.

[WHARF WORKERS' RESOLUTION

A strike of the General Labourers' Union ' rany he expected at any time, according to may i" - i ,: information received by a Herald reporter Inst evening. The officials of the union have made no announcement of their ". intention in I he matter, but it is regarded ng not unlikely that the union will be called out l" day. The union virtually de» rided some lime ago upon striking if the local bodies and other employers did not evaut a conference, and though the matter was referred to tho Federation of Labour, Ilia intention of the union to strike is stated to have been so strung that it, would have done " even against' the advice of the Federation. _ _ If tho union strikes with the approval of the federation, other affiliated unions will probably lie involved at once. If it has not the federation's acquiescence the .same thing is likely to happen later, as the federation will feci bound to support the union in its attempt to coerce the employers, A complete deadlock has apparently been reached; but tho attitude of dm Labourers' Union and of the federation lias been very different from that adopted by them in connection with the strike of the union some months ago, There has been little or no open talk of an impending strike, and the endeavours of tho labourers' advocates to secure a conference, in the face of a determination declared by the employers to bo unalterable, suggests that a strike would be much more distasteful to the federation now than it was last year. Little or no change was effected yesterday in the position between the local bodies arid the union. The | officials of tho Federation of Labour hav« continued their endeavours to break down the determination of the employers not to meet the union except under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. On the . other hand the employers have mado up their minds completely not to shift from their many times repeated decision. A meeting of the Employers' Association was hold yesterday in committee, and expressed firm determination only to make on agreement under the Act. Will the Labourers Secede? There is also a suggestion tlmt some ci the labourers are tiring of tho strain, 1 for a rumour has gained some currency thai a proposal to register the anion again under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act would not be unwelcome. Such a step would, after the numerous declarations of the local bodies and other employers, enable the union to confidently approach the "other side" with requests for betterment of pay and working conditions. Naturally, as tho Federation of Labour, under its existing rules, can only affiliate unregistered unions, a proposition of the kind would be combated by its organisers very strongly. Waterside Workers' Sympathy. The Waterside Workers* Union held a meeting yesterday morning to express its opinion regarding the labour difficulty. About 500 men were present, and strong sympathy with Ihe Labourers' Union and the federation in their non-success in securing a conference was expressed. Tho following resolution was unanimously adopted This meeting of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union emphatically condemns the action, of tho Mayor, the City . ,Council, the Harbour Board, and tho varii.: ous other publicly elected local bodies, in » refusing to meet the representatives of the General Labourers' Union, and the Federation of Labour, for the purpose of arranging improved world conditions for the general labourers; declares that by ;. their attitude, the public bodies have constituted themselves the tools of the employers, and havo deliberately insuked organised labour throughout. New Zealand, . thereby placing tho workers in an intolerable position, and straining their endurance to breaking point. As members of one of the federated unions of New Zealand, recognising that the interests of tho general labourers are our interests, we call upon the City Council and other publicly sleeted local bodies to reconsider their decisions, receive tho representatives of the federation, and refuse to incur the respenslbilty of widespread industrial trouble," The City Council's Attitude. The Mayor of Auckland said that there was no fresh development to report yesterday ; and nothing was likely to be done on behalf of the City Council until its meeting to-night. (The requests of the city workmen had been engaging his attention daily, and would be considered at a meeting to be held this evening. Mr. Bush, \ the city engineer, was busy upon a report upon outaido conditions, and was to have it ready at the earliest possible time. A FIRM AND UNITED STAND. ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYERS. , Tlio Employers' Association in Auckland is taking no active steps in connection with the present trouble, though an ad visory committee, consisting of the president (Mr. David Goldie) and vice-presi-dents (Messrs. C. Rhodes and E.A.Craig), has bwn set up to keep in touch with the progress of event?. This committee had an informal consultation with I ho Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) yesterday, tho business discussed being of a private nature. Tho attitude of employers towards tho present state of affair.-; in connection with labour conditions generally, and in Auckland in particular, was explained to a Herald representative by Mr. Goldie yesterday. He said that, tho Advisory Committee of the association, after going some- ;.. what fully into the question of tho present unrest in connection with labour in tho Dominion, was unanimous in the opinion as to the desirability of recommending plovers to take a firm, and united stand in safeguarding not only their own interests but also those of the general public. It the increases asked for in wages, and reductions in hours, are to bo Conceded whenever demanded, the public would he pnying very much more for labour than what was equitable and fair. What was 'wanted, and' must, be had at any cos!-, was a fair day's work for a fair , day's pay. And with "this a cessation in the. demands of tho men for further con- .> Nssions, tit any rate for a reasonable ~ period, must also take place. Not only ■'"[ Was this required in the interests of the ""■ employers but in the interests of tlio em- '■"-'' ployees themselves. Persons with capital :':■■ at their command had refused no later :.v than this week to put money into an enterprise where the employment of labour war a predominant feature, because < of .'"' , the possibility of the enterprise being "•-'•■" crippled by the unfair demands of men ■*V" through their labour leaders. ''~• "If the men want to meet their em- .",,- plovers to put before them what they '■ ,;.consider to be grievances,"- continued Mr. Goblin. ."JU34 them A? *o on the under-

Wind themselves to carry out the agreement ionic to for a fixed and definite period, the agreement tftahe confirmed by the Courts provided for''the purpose. If the men will follow these linos it will, in my opinion, be to their benefit."

Mr. Ooldie wont on to point out that in Queensland lately, when some 40-odd unions came out on strike, they found it necessary for some to return to work to support those who, it was resolved by the leaders, should continue the strike. This was done notwithstanding the fact that sympathisers from other States contributed to the strike fund, the Auckland Tramways Union sending forward £50 to this object. Rut the sum thus obtained was of very little value in a strike where some thousands of men and their dependents were involved. "It may be said."' added Mr. Goldie, " that the employers suffered as well as their employees. This may bo granted, but they did not suffer to the same extent. As time goes on employers will suffer less, for the continued introduction of automatic machinery, and the importation of goods from countries where labour unrest is an unknown factor in the manufacture, of such, will enable the importer to use these to supersede, goods which would be manufactured here if men would be willing to accept a reasonable and fair thing.''