ORGANISED LABOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 11

ORGANISED LABOUR

THE ARBITRATION ACT. WORKERS AND THEIR DEMANDS. Mr W. H. Hampton (president Wellington Trades and Labour Council), speaking at a smoke concert of the Wellington Tin Plate and Sheet Metal Workers’ Union on Wednesday night, in reply to the toast of “Organised Labour,” said labour in Now Zealand had never been so thoroughly organised as it was at present, and at no time in the history of the country had it required such organisation so much. From the events of the past few months the workers must recognise tha£ there was a stern fight before them —tne fight of their lives—arid success depended on their consolidation and organisation. Labour was well organised in tho different centres, but it was not consolidated, and consolidation was required for a complete victory. By the "events of the past few months ho referred chiefly, or course, to the Blackball strike. After detailing reasons for tho strike Mr Hampton said that tho Blackball miners were not fighting against the’ Conciliation and Arbitration Act. They wanted tho Act upheld so long as it was administered impartially. Certain unions were certainly disagreeing with certain decisions of the Arbitration Court. They were not dissatisfied with the Act, however, but with the way in which political influence perverted the Application of the Act. They wero not prepared to have tho law enforced against them without also haring it enforced against the other side. The Blackball men, continued the speaker, went on strike because it was only by striking that they could get their grievances before tho country. Mr Hampton pointed out many cases in which large firms had caused lock-outs because their employees would not agree to suggestions that the mfen should break clauses in awards which were in favour of the employees. Were Cabinet meetings held in connection with these? How many members of Parliamentf had interests in these concerns? Such things as these caused the Blackball men to strike. Mr Hampton, then referred to the anti-strike clause in the Act. For eleven years before it was inserted in the Act, said he, the workers had got along without it, and without any trouble. It was around this clause that the great fight of the next few months was going to centre. The workers were either going to get it out or have the men who declined to put it.out put out of Parliament themselves. He appealed to the workers to stand by the cause and to wield the great power the ballot-box gave them.