THE SEAMEN’S ATTITUDE

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

THE SEAMEN’S ATTITUDE

EXPLAINED BY MR BELCHER,

MR HICKEY’S CRITICISM RESENTED.

Press Association

DUNEDIN, December 22. In an interview to-day, Mr W. Belcher, secretary of the Dunedin branch of the Seamen’s Union, spoke on some phases of the strike and the seamen’s connection therewith. Mr Belcher said the men were involuntary and passive resistors when, owing to the stoppage of work on the wharves, they had no alternative hut to leave their vessels in accordance with the legal notice given them by the shipowners.

We can only abide by the agreement which was come to in Wellington,” said Mr Belcher, “ which stipulates that where it is possible men who had been thrown out of employment will resume work in the vessels they left. Of course, this will bo rather a difficult matter to adjust, owing to the fact that many of the men have, gone from one place to another, and the vessels they were discharged from _ have been scattered all over Australasia*. It must necessarily take some time, therefore, before matters simmer down into the old groove.” Referring to a Press Association telegram from Wellington, wherein Mr Hickey, secretary of the United Federation of Labour, was credited with saying that it was lack of information regarding the seamen’s likelihood to return to work that had prevented the strike from being called off several days ago, Mr Belcher quoted the report of Mr F. C. Smith, one of the Dunedin delegates to the seamen’s conference. Mr Smith absolutely denied the accuracy of Mr Hickey’s statement that it was lack of information regarding the seamen’s likelihood to return to work that had prevented the strike from being called off several days ago. “As to that statement, made by Mr Hickey in his official capacity as secretary of the Federation of Labour,” said Mr Smith, “it must bo given an emphatic denial in ordei to disabuse the public mind of the inference that the seamen were acting in discord from the other organisations connected with the trouble. Not only were tho Federation of Labour aware of the fact that th© seamen’s delegates were in communication with the shipowners and that certain terms had been set before them for settlement, but it was also known to the officials of the federation on December 14th. As a matter of fact, on December 15th. the Federation of Labour delegates, by 13 votes to 5, decided to call the strike off.”

“It is hard to conjecture or realise.” continued Mr Belcher, “why, with the conclusions of the waterside workers, with the inside information they had in their possession from other quarters, certain steps were not taken. Whether the statement published in tho telegram from AVellington has been officially given or not no ono seems to know ; but it is alleged in certain quarters that tho seamen and fire men, by agreeing to return to work, have been the cause of tho collapse of the struggle. As the Seamen’s T nion was not affiliated to tho United Federation of Labour, tho seamen were placed in a different position from that of the waterside workers and the miners. and they have shown by their actions that the white feather was never displayed until it was seen that all hope of a win was impossible, and that there were signs of dejection in the ranks of the federation itself. That body, according to press reports, gave spec die instructions to the various unions affiliated with it to return to work, and it was publicly stated that so long as the seamen held out the federation would be able to win. All recent events seem to point in a totally different direction, and it is not altogether fair to saddle the responsibility on the Seamen’s Union. Alembers of the latter body pondered long and carefully over the position, and by an overwhelming majority decided to return to work. Judging from the Wellington telegram and the rote taken at a largo meeting there as to whether the strike should bo declared off, it would appear that tho waterside workers had only been waiting and were apparently anxious for a lead to be given from somewhere to enable them to make a fresh start. “Of course,” went on Air Belcher, “tho seamen, and perhaps all the other organisations involved, feel it very keenly to he compelled to resume work under tho auspices of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Previous experience of that tribunal lias shown to a. large extent the almost 'impossibility of getting a fair hearing and a modicum of justice. For these reasons several of the largest and most

powerful organisations in the Dominion came to the conclusion to cancel their registration. Now that they have by force of circumstance-, been driven back to the Arbitration Court it is to be trusted that should they have to appeal to that tribunal, more consideration will be shown to them in future, than has been done in the past."