WATERSIDERS' STRIKE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 12121, 24 December 1913, Page 1

WATERSIDERS' STRIKE.

(I'er Press Association.) Wellington, December 23. There was a great crowd of appli cants for work at the wharves to-day and the queue formed caused such con gestion • that traffic was impeded • an> •the police had to clear the wnitin men off the wharf. The Arbitration Union's huge mem bership roll is unwieldy, and the Exe cntive is in a quandary. A specia meeting has been arranged to considei the problem. The men enrolled to-day signed. : conditional form "provided our applications are acceptable to the Executive.' -The total number working' to-day i: 1600, including 100 strikers who jomec yesterday. The guard of specials at the en trailer ■to the wharf was withdrawn, and the passage was completely free to-day foi the -first time for eigirt weeks. The United Labor Party, in setting out the facts of the late strike, concludes the official statement as follows: •'A plain survey of the situation must convince the public and all true unionists that the United Federation, of Labor's revolutionary policy is one of disruption in the Labor movement and of deliberate .anarchy as affecting the public interests. Through the Federation's advocate in the Waterside Workers' Union they broke up their own union, rebels tore up their conscitution, disregarded agreements they had. made, aiid plunged themselves and their fellow workers and the whole country into serious trouble. The existence of this propaganda of irresponsible revolutionary action has destroyed many workers' unions which took years of hard toil to create. The remedy lies iu the hands ol the workers. Knell individual, musttake an active and intelligent part in the affairs of his union. If sound trades unionism is to five it can only be by straight-out repudiation of the doctrines and methods of insane revolutionism. Workers must return to the constructive lines of action, which enabled trades councils in past years to secure most of the Labor legislation we possess. Our union must 'federate together in one, not to violate or oppose the law of our country, but to uphold the law and make it better for our people as fi whole." • A total of 680 old watersiders joined: the new union this morning. The total membership is now over 3000, and there are still 500 strikers desiring 'to join. The wharves were worked by 1600 men to-day. " -

Christcliureli, December 28. Enrolment forms for .admission to the arbitration union were distributed at the strikers' camp to-day. Some of them were filled, but the men are not accepting the conditions readily. They feel that nuclei- the system of supervision and ballot in connection with die enrolment victimisation will 'occur. It was stated on behalf of the new union that it will not permit icself to be swamped by strikers, but this seems inevitable. There are only 230 arbitration members, and 300 aL least must lie added t<> meec the requirements of the port. j

The port was busy to-day, the workf>rs including a number of ex-strikers. Inquiries made among the arbitration workers, who include special constables, show that many do not intend remaining, and probably the New Year will find most of the strikers back at work. Some already have taken other employment. The strike camp will be maintained until the New Year.

| STRIKERS DEBARRED. Cliristchurch, December 23. ]" Mr M'Comb's protests emphatically after the confluence with the employers against the method adopted in connection with the enrolment of the Arbitration Union. The principle is laid down in hundreds of awards that the union must be. open to any worker of good character and sober habits on payment of a small entrance fee. He says this principle is violated by the new union, which professes to ilphold the principles of the Arbitration Act. Surely it was never tile intention of the Legislature to confer upon fraudulent and spurious organisations, the products of connivance between employers and men outside the industry in -which the employers are engaged, the power' to exclude from a means of livelihood the actual workers in that industry.

HUNTLY AGREEMENT. . . . Auckland, December 23. The agreement entered into between tlie Taupiri Coal Co. and tho Huntly miners provides that the union undertakes not to cancel its registration under the Arbitration Act; the union shall .expel any. member who becomes connected with the Federation of Labor or any similar body, in default of which the Company may dismiss him without notive. Provision is also made for a fortnight's notice on either side, but, employees may be instantly dismissed for inciting the workers to disregard the provisions of. any clause in the agreement .or in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The union shall not assist in. any. strike till .'after a secret ballot has been taken .and' carired by a four-fifths, majority, six weeks' notice being subsequently given to the Company, under a penalty of■ £SOO a day. The Company undertakes, on the other hand, not to unnecessarily cease work, and ••in the event of so doing will pay £SOO a. day to tho union during the lock-out. WHARF WORK SCARCE. Auckland, December 23. Work on the waterfront is scarce. Many of the former.-strikers gathered on the wharves to-day, but were dis-' pleased when a notice was posted, up stating that no applications for- membership of the new union would he considered until after the New Year holidays. The busy .period is expected then.