SEAMEN SOLID.

NZ Truth, Issue 437, 8 November 1913, Page 6

SEAMEN SOLID.

Large and Enthusiastic Meeting. Perfect Unanimity and Solidarity i Prevail.

On /Mouday last members of the Seamen's Union ..met iti the waitingroomi^ "ilarbor Loard's buildings. t«'our hundred and "forty-five, men were- yr.sent, and only financial members wero admitted. In consequence' -''a largo number of men were, turned down. During, the week end all sorts Of rumors were rife us to the position cf Tom/ Young-, the secretary of the Union. These arose through telegrams thdt had appeared m the dally pre&s from members ynd officials of the Auckland ynion. 'TOM XOUNG WILL GET IIInLL," said one man. "He must jjtvo up either the l-'«Kleratton ;.'>r the Union," said another, A third, on learning that "Trish;s" rep. yas to be present.

This w l^ild.dxtbbtinß Bill IJelcher. Once by lather -ijohsidered o squelcher: But, m Wellington n-»w, Did he hleerhts HC-vw, There arc many who'd ' *v nd him to 1-I-- -~ f sir.

tsaid. "You will havt.i some fun to-day." Much, however, to everybody's ;surprujc, the meeting was unanimous, enihtistftstie and solid. t'racecdingh kisied .rom l'j o'clock ull half-p-isl, thro.-, ,-»nd ihrotißliout ihore ww* uot on,- dissentient vqic... every rekoiuiiou telns" carried amidst cntbusiaMk? .'lilieerins— ,s.» much for Ihc rUiability^or Danie Rumor. The key x. ihc uesition- -' t|uU:Uty showed »u»tU, , it was not a qu«»i»tloii of loyalty to the inlrike— that v>an ,jujKurwl before v wtrd'had IM-<-n uiK-r^t —but of thu Auckland and Dimedln bmnch'v of the Union, and the duul IKUiilion of Tom \..un«: uh l»r..jiid«-tu of the United Federation of t^abnr and HeoreLiry of tho Steum.a'^ r«it.»_ Younu utwnod the bull by Klvlm? '« >.hort r.'Kiimc of \.u%- \mH\\\on. and rwul v shraf of u.lexrauut from marly u'l the ports *o New iScaltn.d M'«nUn«: tv:

know what action .was to be taken Auckland and Dnnedin were 'the only "rifts m the lute.'' Auckland wired: t "As to Young's position m two organisations. Are You going to involve other centres .vithoui consulting them. — Gordon, for Executive." » Dunedin said, at the beginning of tht strike: ...*.» - ... . . "Executive" very desirous to have elfort made to restrain men from ceasing work. — Eelcher." ■ Then came another from Dunedin asking that Young should resign one or other of his positions. To this no reply had been sent. Another telegram' showed that ' - BELCHER HAD AGAIN INTERFERED by directly, over, the heads of the responsible orticers, advising: the m.a on the Maori not to cease work. Secretary Young reviewed the position of the branches of the Union 'in the three main centres. He said "thai for Over twelve, monthjs the central executive m. Wellington had been m a most difficult position, .is toey had TO FACE TWOVbfeAD at Auckland and Dunedin. In Auckland the Union was m the hands of the employers. One .member of the executive was the proprietor of fOur or five hairdresser's shops, while lit was President of the Master Hairdressers' Association. The President of the Auckland branch was President of the Engine-drivers' Association. In Dunedin the secretary, Bill Beicher, he declared, had done iv<thitig else for six months than expend the v'nio'n funds m the hire of motor ears, and other things appertaining to the man of When he was m Wellington he wanted ■■ a . motor . car to drive from the Union ottice t> the yjmce ot Gnion S. S. Co Harry Maxwell, another official m DunvaJn. was the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The President theie was the foreman of Speight's Brewery, while the same corporation was running •Belcher, and had put him on the Liceiisinj,' Eeneh. Throughout the speaker was, listened to A\*ith the greatest attention as he produced, one by one, his damning facts, and was interrupted by frequent applause. Not. a single dissentient voice was raised., Several speakers followed, and all upheld the action of the executive, and expressed confidence m their ' secretary. At various stages the following resolutions were past, and carried m the heartiest of manners:----"(1) That this mass meeting of members of the Seamen's Union conveys fraternal greetings to, and sympathy with, the watersiders now- fighting for tbeir just rights, and resolves that should 'scab* labor be employed at working cargo on the wharves or vessels or at bunkering ships our .members are to at once give twenty -four hours' notice to leave at the final port of discharge m accordance with the Shipping Act and clause 23 of the agreement 'with 'the steamship owners, and under no circumstances aro they to work ,cargo or bunker coal tvith v scab* labor. This being the policy followed by our secretary (Mr. Young) and the Wellington Executive since the commencement of the strike we heartily endorse their action m the dispute." "(2) It being necessary that the men employed at tho lighthouses ani their wives and families be supplied with provisions this mass meeting of members of the Seamen's Union resolves that the crew of the. Government s.s. Hinemoa be allowed to conti nue m their employment, fed long as the vessel Is exclusively employed at such lighthouse work; should she, be employed at any other work the craw are to give 24 hours' notice, to leave it their final port of discharge (Wellington)."' "(3) That we, the members of the Wellington branch of the Seamen's Union, condemn the action of any sailors or firemen asking jadvfce from Dunedin or Auckland, -\vlv3n they could get the best advice from the Wellington branch or the union. ..." ' "(1) That the Wellington branch ol the Sailors' and Fltem^n's Union Ignores, and will nut tolerate, Duuedln or Auckland , representatives demanding ' the- resignation of Mr. T. W. Young, either as „ president of tho United Federation of ■ Xdibor or secretary of the Seamen's Union; but this branch has 'every confidence m him as president of Iho U.F.1.., :;nd ,'flso as secretary of the. Wellington, branch ot tfic Seamen's Union, an 1 hope and trust he will hold bath positions to the bitter end."" The meeting broke up yvlth .throe cheers for thu workers* cause.