THE RECENT STRIKE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15962, 3 January 1914, Page 10

THE RECENT STRIKE.

LOCAL ACTIVITY. About 180 waterside workers were employed at the Dunedin wharves yesterday, ovor 30 of this number being members of tho old union which came out on strike. The vessols worked were the Kamona, Katoa, Brisbane, and Whakatane. Tho first-named steamer has nearly 40,000 bags of sugar for this port. This consignment should bo sufficient to meet all immediate requirements, and further parcels should how. - come on again from Auckland with their!, previous regularity. The Kamona should be cleared to-day. . ,Two additional steamers —tho Westralia *£$" Manuka —will be worked to-day, so that the waterside workers should experience busy time.

" ANXIOUS TO BECOME ARBITRA-

TIONISTS. (Pib United Pafcss Association.) AUCKLAND, January 2. ,-i Now that the holiday season is over those men who were at ono time members of tho old Waterside Workers' Union aro anxious to declare their adherence to the principles of the new Arbitration Union. Tired of a fairly long period of strike and of the dire results of the voluntary refusal of work tlbeso ex-strikers havo resolved on obtaining admission to the ranks of the new union if possible. A special committeo was s'efc up by tho new organisation to deal with applications for admission, and on Wednesday about 200 men were examined. To-day the committeo resumed its deliberations, and about 170 work-seekers appeared before it. These were minutely examined its to their tendencies in labour affairs, and those displaying regard or sympathy for Syndicalism were promptly' informed that their services would be of no avail to the new union. Between 30 and 40 men signed on", as arbitration unionists, but the remainder were informed that their applications would be further considered. An announcement as to whether these men will be'accepted or not is to be made on Monday.-

SHIPWRIGHTS RESUME WORK.

4RBITRATIONISTS THREATTNED. ~ (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 2. ''The members of the Shipwrights' branch of : the old Waterside Workers' Union today recommenced work under tho old conditions save for the fact that their union Ms 'been registered under the Arbitration Act.' It was from tho 6trike of the shipwrights, on October 8, that the big strike grew. After 11 weeks of unemployment they have gained nothing; neither the penny per hour increase in wages nor the travelling time. The unemployment is not ended yet, for to-day there was not work for half of the men who struck. The' labour problem, however, will adjust itself gradually -as boats which rcquiro overhaul come to port. t"A'll 6orts of tales are current to the effect that the admittedly smaller number of exstrikers now at work on tho Wellington wharves was giving the arbitrationists a bad time. The word 'scab," though officially Jforbidden, is used freely enough when officials are oat of earshot, and threats of violence are not uncommon. A middle-aged waterside worker called at fihe' . office of the Dominion to-day, and stated, that owing to the treatment he had received from ex-strikers who were now working on the waterfront and the threats made by them he was not going to work there any more. He said also that others were following suit. Ho alleged that little' things were oonstantly being done " accidentally on purpose" to insult and even injure the Arbitrationist workers, and that he had been warned on these terms— "If you go down there again wo will settle you." _He had furthermore been informed that if he didn't cease working on the waterfront ho would bo pushed over thV, wharf. He had, therefore, decided tnSt. it was dangerous to continue to work watersider, and he proposed to look fcSr pther work.

WEST COAST MINERS. TO RESUME WORK ON MONDAY. (Pee United Press Association.) WESTPORT, January 2. _The majorities in favour of the resumpfiM of work at the collieries under the Arbitration Act were: Dennieton 35, Millerfqn 25, and Stockton 40. The men who Md joined the new union did not vote! The men marched to sign on to the strains of band music at Denniston, and t^ie' singing of "Keep the Red Flag Flying", at Granity. The companies issued notices, to some of tho old employees that tjiey were not required in tho meantime— at Denniston 20, at Millerton 16, and at Stockton 13. The list includes nearly all the . officials of tho old federation. Meetings'. of the unions are being held to consider this feature of the end of the strike. Jhe present arrangements are that* work in ' the collieries will be resumed on Mon-

LYTTELTON EX-STRIKERS. Tf!'" ( _ ( - ATTEMPT TO FORM A UNION. ■■■>* (Pi* United Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHURCJH, January 2. .'The result of tljo visit of Messrs M'Combs arid Voyce to Wellington ia regarded with great satisfaction in labour circles. It',is considered certain that the ex-strikers' right of. into the new arbitration union Without censorship by the employers or a Ballot by the arbitration workers will be established. Mr Voyce applied for the rejyijhration of the old union under the Arbitration Act, on the ground that a trado lijjj'ipn was entitled to such registration under clause 8 of the Act, also that bona fide , workers were refused admission to the rmw arbitration union. "I have to inform you,',' writes the Registrar, " that tho question as to whether registration shall be glinted to your union has been referred to' the Crown Law Office. lam advised that registration should be refused, for tyjc reason that already a union is registered under the Act, to which your members. might conveniently belong—namely, the.Xyttelton Wharf Labourers' Union. I may say that it was pointed out to the Grown Law Officer that while about 100 members of your body had been admitted bv the Lyttelton Wharf Labourers' Union, admission had been refused to over 300 other applicants belonging to y.our organisation. The Crown Law Officer advises that Rlile-4 of the rules of the Lyttelton Wharf Labourers' Union entitles any person desiring to be employed about the wharves in ■ .Lyttelton, whether actually employed or not, to admission to membership. 1 have wired to tie secretary of that union intimating the nature of this advice. lie Crpwn Law Officer considers the question at ; v issue in this matter a very important opo under the Act, and points out that if I-were to register your union there would be; no appeal under the Act from my decision, whereas if I refuse it will be open to ; your union to appeal to the Arbitration Court. In this way the decision of the court can be obtained. The Crown Law Officer also consicfera it desirable that the decision of the court should be obtained at,,an early date. I consider that if an application is made through the Clerk of Awards at Christchnrch the President of the Arbitration Court may see his way to arrange for an early sitting."