DONKEY-ROOM DECLARED CLOSED!

NZ Truth, Issue 438, 15 November 1913, Page 5

DONKEY-ROOM DECLARED CLOSED!

Men Without a Meeting Place.

Johnnie Fuller Comes to the Rescue.

In consequence of the Harbor Board having closed the waitingroom, the Waterside Workers* and Seamen's Unions were without a meeting place on Monday last, and were literally thrown out ■on to the street. On Tuesday last Johnnie Fuller came to their assistance, and offered the free use of tho old; Theatre Royal, which is m a most i convenient situation for gatherings of that kind. The first advantage taken of the kind and thoughtful offer was on Tuesday morning at 9. 80 /o'clock, when the Waterside Workers assembled en masse to receive tho latest news as to strike developments. " The place was packed from ceiling to floor, between 1500 and 1600 being present. ..."•,. Before business was proceeded with it was unanimously decided, amidst great applause, to ask "Truth's" representative to be present. At the conclusion of the business, a stentorian voice rang out, "THREE CHEERS FOR JOHNNIE FULLER !" The call was responded to with the greatest enthusiasm..- ; The chief object of the gathering was to keep the men informed of the trend of events \xp to date. In reply to questions and- to by speakers, the following were the facts bUcited. That-'the Executive of the Cooks' and Waiters' Union m \Vellington had decided to take no notice of the strike. In this connection, Elijah J. Carey came m for some severe handling, and it was indicated that steps would be taken to got into communication with the individual members of the union and find out the true position. ' In regard to -, the Harbor Board tally clerks TALLYING FOR "SCAB" LABOR, the Executive had taken action, and had asked permission to goon to the wharf and explain the position to the men. , George McKay, secretary to .the Wanganui Waterside Workors, was \ tho butt of some scathing remarks • over a paragraph that appeared m j Monday evening's paper, wherein it: j was stated that George had askod : the new "scab" organisation m Wei-" j lington to affiliate , with tho Waterside Workers' Federation, which request had been acceded to. Bob Sample said that McKay had now como OUT IN HIS TRUE COLORS, and his position could be definitely fixed, A voice from, tho drees circle .queried, "Are wo not sitting hero too long?" "Yos," retorted Chairman Glover.

"Apply to the Strike Committee. They 'will give you something to [do." ..... . . ..',-' | „ Semple announced, that, after : . the rally m Newtown Park the members of the General Laborers' Union, who happened to be present, remained behind, when it was arranged to call .a general meeting of that union, at which oflicers of the Strike Executive would be present, when the action of Secretary Reardon could be dealt with. Bob staled that, for a man, occupying the position of secretary to a union to make such statements as lie had made to the' press, showed that he was NOT FIT FOR THR POSITION. Parry stated that he had- nipt tho Engineers m meeting. They proved to bo sympathetic towards ' the struggle, and were prepared to help financially. They were also prepared not to handle "scab" material. Among the drivers a disagreeable feeling had existed at first, but that had soon • disappeared. They had decided to i iMAKF. COMMON CAUSK, and would come but at twelve o'clock that day. Tom Long, secretary to the Cooks' and Waiters' Union, Auckland, had wired to Carey, secretary ot the sister body m Wellington, a message of 110 words, asking that it make common cause m Labor's interests. In one llax-mill alone, m Otaki, where 120 men were employed, an appeal had been made far financial assistance to the Strike Distress Fund. The immediate response was £110. . Young and his co-delegateß had l met Bill Belcher and the representatives from Auckland and Dunedin on Monday night. I)i(Terencea had been adjusted, and unanimity prevailed.