THE FINAL PARADE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8611, 23 December 1913, Page 6

THE FINAL PARADE

STRIKERS RETURN TO WORK. ADDRESSES BY LEADERS. In accordance with tho announcemoat mads at Sunday’s meetings, a considerable number of the watersiders who struck assembled outside the Skating Rink in Vivian street between 7 and 8 a.m. yesterday, and, headed by tho union band, marched to the Svharf to sign on. Altogether, there were about 900 men present, and the front rankers included Messrs 1' • Curtice (president of tho old union), T. Donovan (president of tho Seamen's Union), and other prominent leaders. The members of tho procession were anything but down-hearted, and to look at them one would have thought they were going to a picnic instead of being about to return to work after a most severe industrial struggle. When tho procession reached W'aterloo quay a halt was called, and tho final addresses were delivered by tho leaders. Mr Curtice said that tho present might be tho last occasion on which he would address the men. (Cries of “No,” “No.”) Tho members of the union were now' at liberty to join the new union, since the strike was ended. Mr G. Farland touched on tho position general!, saying that the battle had been lost, but tho war would’go on, and they would eventually win. The pearaen had valiantly' stood by thorn until they had been betrayed by ono of their own number.

Mr T. Dowgray, acting-president of tho federation, said that it was “a retreat not a defeat,” and they would organise their forces so that they could win the fight. As far as “Tom”- Young was concerned, he was not ono of tho delegates who had made the agreement with tho shipowners. That was done by tho six delegates from Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, but if Mr Young knew what was going on he could not hope to escape from blame. Air Glover, chairman of tho local Strike Committee, remarked that he was a proud man to see tho men present such a solid front at the finish of the strike.

The other speakers included Mr T. Donovan and Mr Agnow (chairman of 'the Central Strike Committee), the latter urging political activity to capture . Parliament when tho November elections came round. The gathering then dispersed, a large crowd of the men making their way along to K shed to sign on with tho now Union.