Hazlett and Glendining (Per Geo. R. Choeseman, Secretary).

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 19 June 1890, Page 30

Hazlett and Glendining (Per Geo. R. Choeseman, Secretary).

Maritime Labour Council of N.Z.

12th June 1890.

Messrs Hazlett and Glendining.

Gentlemen, — I am in rtceipt of your favour of the 11th iast., and in reply thereto would ask you to waive your objection to the two men named. The particular circumstauces surrounding this case, I think, might warrant you stretching a point, as there is no doubt mistakes have been made both by men and managers. The fact that the two men mentioned held prominent positions in the union, and by virtue of their position had to come to the front, should not be use J to debar them from going back to work, especially when we say that any future misconduct on any one's part will be dealt with by the union ; and I think you must be misinformed by Mr Williams when he states it would be impossible to work the mine peacefully if they were employed, and presumably you, as proprietors, cannot have any personal fueling in the matter beyond supporting your manager; therefore you might instruct him to give Blackie and Brooke their turn along with the rest, and thereby terminate the whole matter, as I really do not think it would be fair to sacrifice those two men.

Trusting to receive an early and favourable reply, — I remain, yours respectfully, John A. Millar, Secretary.

Vogel street, Dunadin, 12th June 1890. John A. Millar, Esq*, secretary Maritime Labour Council of New Zealand, Rattray street,

Dunedin.

Sir, — We have received yours of to-day's date, and regret that the union should still ask us to take lack Blackie and Brooke. We did not discharge these men because they were members of the union and occupy prominent positions in the union, but simply for the reasons already fully set forth in our letters now before you. We consider that we have met the union in a very liberal spirit, and we think it very hard that they should seek to force us to take men who have made themselves obnoxious and who have been discharged in strict conformity with union rules.

In fairness to ourselves, we are sorry we cannot comply with the wishes of the union in this respect. — We are, yours respectfully, Hazlett and Glendining (Per Geo. R. Cheeseman, secretary).

Vogel street, Dunedin, 12th Jane 1890. John A. Millar, Esq., Secretary Maritime Labour Council of New Zealand, Rattray street, Dunedin.

Sir,— Since writing you this afternoon we have just had an interview with Inspector Moore on his return from an official visit to Shag Point, and he informs us that Blackie stated to him that neither he nor Brooke had any desire to go back to the mine; and such being the case, we are at a loss to understand why the union should persist in pressing us to take these men back to our employment. — We are, yours respectfully, Hazlett and Glendinins (per Gfeo. R. Cheeseman, secretary).

Maritime Labour Council of New Zealand, 12th June 1890. Messrs Haelett and Glendining. Gentlemen, — Your favour of even date to hand, and I regret exceedingly that you decline to accept our proposal as there is no hope of any settlement on the conditions laid down by you now — viz., refusal to employ Brooke aud Blackie, as it brings us back to the same point at which we started. The only condition upon which we could accept those terms would be the dismissal of Mr Williams, then the two principals in the dispute would suffer alike, aa we can undoubtedly prove to the public that his actions were the primary cause of the dispute. As you have already refused to dismiss him, it is wasting time to further continue our efforts to come to an understanding, as, if we were to permit of your acting in this manner to those two men, it would simply mean intimidation of a very serious nature, in that it would show that trades unions allowed their leaders to be singled out for punishment, and this no union in the colonies would permit. As I have tried every means to conciliate aud settle this matter fairly and without prejudice and have failed, there is no other course open to me now but to take such steps as will lead to a distribution of the suffering between the proprietors of the mine and their lafco employes. Unless you can support any other course, I will be reluctantly forced to take this step on Monday, the 16th inst. Perhaps you are not aware that Mr Williams distinctly dismissed Blaokio because of his connection with the union, and also made use of the words that the secretary would be the next.— l remain, yours respectfully,

John A. Millar, Secretary.

Vogel street, Dunedin, 13th June 1890. John A. Millar, Esq., Secretary Maritime Labour Council of New Zealand, Rattray street, Dunedin.

Sir, — We have your letter of 12th inst., and we regret to notice that we are to be brought under the lash of the union on Monday. We think matters have reached that stage now when it is necessary to publish the correspondence. We accordingly send copies of the letters to the press. — We are, yours respectfully, Hazlett and Glendining. (Per Geb. R. Cheeseman, Secretary ) P,B. — Since writing the above we received your letter of datii, and we see no reason to alter our intention of sending the correspondence to the press.— H. aud G. (per G, R. C,)

Maritime Labour Counoil of N.2S 13th June 1890. Messrs Hazlett and Glendining. Gentlemen, — Your favour of even date just to hand. In consequence of information therein contained, I have deferred issuing notices to the various unions, and have wired to Brooke and Blackie to come in at once. It is not for the men we fight, but for the principle that no man shall be victimised because of bis conneotion with the union. — I remain, yours truly, John A. Millab, Secretary.