WATERSIDE WORKERS’ STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 31

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ STRIKE.

A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. WORK AT THE PRINCIPAL PORTS TIED UP. STRONG ATTITUDE AGAINST FREE LABOUR. SHORTAGE OF FOOD SUPPLIES. WELLINGTON, October 28. The appearance of the 'Wellington wharves to-day has been such as probably was never see® before since the port possessed shipping facilities worth mentioning. Early in the forenoon a procession of ships started towards Kaiwarra Bight, and by the afternoon the whole waterfront from Clyde quay to Pipitea breastwork was bare of ships excepting the. ferry boat Maori at the Queen’s wharf, H.M.S. Psyche (an unexpected arrival) at the Wool jetty, the Ijarbour ferry boats, and one or two tugs in the outer anchorage. The vessels laid up include the Athenic, Corinthic, Rimutaka, Dorset, Northern, and the Hercules, representing in themselves some 50,000 tons, and all idle. Then there are the Union Company’s steamers Mararoa, Wairuna, Kaiapoi, Pohcrua, the Government cable steamer Tutanekai, the coasters Himitangi, Blenheim, lima, Aorere, Stormbird, Ripple. Kahu, Nikau, the Blackball collier Ngahere, and other vessels; also the coal hulks—in all, roughly, 70,000 tons of shipping doing nothing. The wharves are deserted and the stores arc closed. This is the outstanding result of seven days’ watersiders’ strike.

The Strike Committee held a meeting lasting all day, but nothin.g that transpired was divulged to the press. A mass meeting in Post Office square was addressed by labour leaders. The most importajit speaker was Mr E. Canham, president of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union, who, in the course of his address, referred to the visit of the warship which had just arrived. As an ex-man-o’-warsman, ho would urge the men not to como into conflict with the naval men, who were well drilled and disc'plincd, and who would be able to walk right through a crowd even of the size he was addressing. It was useless for the strikers to resist them unless they were as well disciplined and trained as the bluejackets. With the departure of the vessels for the stream affaire on the outside assumed a new aspect, the strikers setting themselves the task of preventing provisions and laundry from going aboard. The result of the strike is already being felt in the shortage of various produce and food supplies. Sugar is scarce, and the price has been raised. There is a shortage also of flour, potatoes, and other produce.

MASS MEETING OF STRIKERS EXTRAVAGANT SPEECHES WELLINGTON, October 29. A mass meeting of waterside workers this morning discussed the proposals resulting from last night’s conference, and decided to reject them. It is understood that the men insist on being allowed to return to work under the complete conditions in the agreement in force up to the time of the strike. The Strike Committee decided to-day that no more racehorses were to be allowed to pass through the gates of the wharf, and that trainers who took any down to the wharf entrance would do so at their own risk. Forty-nine racehorses intended for the New Zealand Cup meeting are held up at TTcntham. An attempt to land Sir Daniel from the Ulimuroa to-day had to be abandoned. A number of mounted men from the country have arrived, and arc patrolling up and down in front of the wharves. Early in the day they vverc subjected to booliooing and to howling by the crowd. H.M.S. Psyche is being kept free from the shore and the people by a posse of naval policemen. Mr Holland addressed a meeting in Post Office square this afternoon, and referred to the farmers’ proposals to work the wharves themselves. Even if the farmers felt inclined to leave their own work and do “scab” labour they could not fill all the places. A man who deserted his side in international warfare, which was only the warfare between the ruling classes, was called a traitor, and deemed worthy ol death. If it were not seditious and unlawful. he would say that nothing could be too bad for a man who played thfe traitor to his class in a strike. The man who was now Chief Secretary of New South Wales caidr in the big maritime strike, that if he had the legal choice of shooting a dog or shooting a blackleg he would rather shoot the blackleg. He advised the men to stick solidly" together, but if it came to a fight let them fight strongly, fight solidly, and like hell. The papers were deprecating violence and publishing misleading reports. The way to deal with that was to got the Typographical Association not to “ecab” on the w-orkers by setting lying reports—then the papers would be unable to publish their lying reports and lying advertisements. Another appeal to the police not to turn on their own class and become ‘‘the tools of capitalists ” was made by Mr Holland, who suggested that when “ scabs ” came down to the wharf the police should run them in. They could easily find a charge against them. The police were never at a loss for that.

Mr Bailey, chairman of the meeting, said he had read that the grooms that were attending the horses of the mounted constables who were distributed in different parts of the city wore being paid at the rate of 10s a day. He advocated that any persona in the audience who knew the grooms fihould try and induce them to cease work. They could drop a few matches or indulge in a little sabotage, which, ho added, was the Latest method of industrial warfare. Among the sneakers at the afternoon meeting was Mr P. C. Webb, M.P. He did not refer to the strike, saying that that was the men’s business, and not a subject for parliamentary interference, but he advised the strikers not to touch intoxicating liquor until the trouble was over. The fipht had to be won by strong men solid m their organisation, and sober. THREATS OF A LEADER. (From Ora Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 29. Mr P. Fraser, president of tho Social

Democratic party, hotly denounced “scab labour during the course of a vehement speech. As long as there was no attempt to take the bread away from the strikers’ wives and children, he said, there would be no violence, but if an effort was instir tuted to work the cargo with “scabs” then it would have to be prevented, even if every one of the strikers was shot dead. As he had stated the previous day, they would not be starved out. There was food in the shape here, that was produced by the working class, and the shops, if necessary, could be broken into by the working class. So long as there was food in Wellington they were not going to starve. So long as there was a sheep in tho country they could send out foraging parties to get it. POSITION AT AUCKLAND. ALL THE WATERSIDE WORKERS ON STRIKE. AUCKLAND, October 29. Acting under instructions from the executive of the United Federation of Labour, the whole of the waterside workers struck work this morning. Work on tho wharves is generally at a standstill, except on the steamers of tho Northern Company, the crews performing what work is necessary. The Press Committee of the Waterside Workers’ Union states that the seamen are ready to stand by it. Tiie seamen on the barque Canopus refused to load bricks into that vessel.

Mr Semple states that the coal miners in the dominion are ready absolutely to a man to take action when called upon. The mass meeting of tho waterside workers this morning lasted an hour and a-half. Mr Semple was the only speaker. Tho following resolution was carried: — “ That this meeting of Auckland waterside workers thoroughly endorses the action of the Transport Executive and tho executive of the United Federation of Labour in calling out the different unions affiliated in order to bring about a speedy and victorious settlement; and further express its unswerving loyalty to the federation and its fellow-workers in the conflict with the masters until the successful termination of the present trouble.” Tho scameji on the Richardson steamer Squall and on the Westport Coal Company’s steamer Canopus have intimated that they are not prepared to handle cargo. A good deal of significance attaches to the fact that H.M.S Pyramus, which sailed from Auckland last night for Napier and Wellington, returned to port this morning. She lay in the stream for a time, and shortly before 10 a.m. was brought up alongside tho Queen’s wharf. A persistence of strike conditions wi 1 be a serious matter for the big theatrical firms. J. C. Williamsoji (Ltd.) has at present no fewer than throe companies touring New Zealand, and if they are stuck up in New Zealand it will mean, Mr Royle says, a loss of £BOO a day for J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) tate to take it.”

Tho matter of the employment of free labour was put to Mi Semple, in company with other prominent unionists, this mornin". and tho attitude and the rcnlv indicated that they were not seriously perturbed about the success of such a movement. “First, lot us call such labour by its proper name, ’ scabbery,’ remarked one of the unionists; and Mr Semple added: “We will make it so hot for free labour that the employers will not get sufficient to be of very much service to them. If we are driven to take the extreme stfcp, wc are not going to hesitate to take it.”

WESTPORT MEN CEASE WORK. WESTPORT, October 29. Work at the waterside was practically brought to a standstill this evening when the waterside workers met, and after a lengthy discussion resolved : “ That wo cease work until the dispute's at Huntly and Wellington arc satisfactorily settled.’’ There are some 10,000 tons of coal available for shipment. All the trucks and bins are full, and unless some relief is immediately afforded the mines will have to cease work. TIMBER ACCUMULATING. (From Ocb Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, October 29. The transporters strike threatens to have a very serious effect on the coal and timber trade of the West Coast. At present the trouble is mostly felt in the sawxnilling industry. In the coal trade the trouble will become more pronounced as time wears on, as with vessels being laid up there will be no means of transport, and the mines will perforce be brought to a standstill. POSITION AT BLUFF. INVERCARGILL, October 29. There is but little likelihood of the trouble extending to Bluff, since the Bluff waterside work ere are working under an Arbitration Court award, and are therefore on quite a different footing from the unions which are unregistered. In view' of this position the Bluff waterside workers are hardly likely to consider themselves involved in the dispute, and should the trouble extend beyond Wellington they would bo almost certain to point out that, working under an Arbitration Court award, a strike would expose them to the risk or proceedings at law, and possibly to heavy penalties. SHIPOWNERS’ OFFICIAL STATEMENT. UNION OFFICIALS UNBENDING. WELLINGTON, October 29. An official statement regarding the negotiations between the shipowners and the representatives of the men was made by Mr N. M’Robio (secretary to the Shipowners’ Executive) to a reporter to-night. “ I was authorised by the executive,” said Mr M’Robie. “to make a public statement in connection with the negotiations that have been entered into for a settlement at the instigation of the Prime Minister. Mr Massey took steps to bring about a conference between the parties last week, and, as already published, the parties concerned mot in conference last evening, and Mr Massey presided “ The shipowners submitted the following proposals for the settlement of the dispute : Q) That the employers adhere to the terms of the resolution passed on Saturday last, that they could not see their way to resume work under the late agreement, but that they were agreeable, if the men resume work and form a fresh organisation, to enter into an agreement for a term on the basis of wages now being paid, without any material alteration of the agreement

under which the men have been working—tho agreement to be registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in order to ensure a definite guarantee that the terras of the aagreement will be carried out faithfully (2) That, in the event of failure to secure a settlement under the foregoing resolution, the committee authorise the delegates to resuscitate the late agreement under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act for a period of three years. (3) That the delegates be authorised to extend the present agreement for a period of three years from date to cover tho whole dominion, with a penalty of £IOOO. (4 That the delegates be authorised to extend tho late agreement for a period of. three years from date, to apply to Wellington only, with a penalty of £SOO for the stoppage of work as defined by clause 25 of the late agreement. “In regard to the first suggestion that tho employers were agreeable to work being resumed under the late agreement, and that they would only treat with a new organisation, the agreement arrived at to bo registered under the Arbitration Act. tho union’s representatives would not entertain the idea when it was placed before them. When they were asked what they were prepared to do to bring about a settlement, the one and only offer that was made by them during the whole conference was a reinstatement unconditionally and a revival of the late agreement. Tho employers could not see their way to entertain the suggestion, as there was no guarantee given beyond a verbal statement of tho representatives of the union that they would carry out their agreement in its entirety. The second proposition made by tho employers was that they were prepared to renew the late agreement under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act for three years, and would waive their desire for tho formation of a new organisation, and thus recognise the United Federation of Labour. This was also turned down, and still no solution was forthcoming from the other side.

“To show that the employers were in earnest in their desire to arrive at an agreement, they made an offer to forgo the registration of the agreement under the Arbitration Act, and further, were prepared to recognise the United Federation of Labour provided that tho present agreement with the Waterside Workers’ Union, which would have terminated in the ordinary course of events at tho end of January, should be renewed from that date for a period of three yours, but tho employers insisting on the penalty of £IOOO for the stoppage of work, as defined: by clause 28 of the late agreement. The representatives of the waterside workers said that they had no authority to make arrangements tor an agreement operating in other centres. In view of this, the employers went a step further, and were agreeable that the same conditions should apply to the award in Wellington as was provided in a previous suggestion—that the penalty should bo £SOO for a stoppage of work. Whatever tho penalty was it would be the same for both sides.

"It will be seen by the. foregoing- that tho employers have done their very utmost to arrive at a solution of this unfortunate trouble, but it is very evident that the representatives of tho waterside workers have no desire to heal the breach. The employers went a stop farther and agreed, if the Arbitration Court would not suit them, that Sir Joshua Wiliams should be asked to arbitrate in the case of further trouble. At tho conclusion of the conference held last night it was understood that clause 4 of the proposals submitted by the employers was more acceptable to tho representatives of the men, and that this question will bo put to a meeting of waterside workers this morning. During tho morning the employers received intimation that the matter had been discussed, and the following motion carried: —‘That this union, not having the power to make a sectional agreement for Wellington alone, as proposed by tho employers, decides to miorm the employers that wp will only accept the present national agreement in its entirety until January 31. Any other action would be traitorous to our co-partners in tho national agreement.’ When the representatives of tho workers convoyed tho terms of the resolution to the chairman of tho local shipowners’ executive (Mr W. A. Kennedy), no thought there might bo a misunderstanding aa to tho interpretation of the fourth proposition tuaue by tho employers regarding the penalty, and in order to give the waterside workers another opportunity to discuss the matter he moat clearly and definitely stated that the penalty would only apply to tho cessation of work as defined by clause 28. Ho thought that perhaps tho union had interpreted it that the penalty could bo applied in cases of any other breach of tho agreement, but this was never intended by the employers. During the afternoon the shipowners were assured that the position was again discussed by tho union, and they {the employers) assumed it was laid fairly before the members, and the following resolution was arrived at; —“Tho men want tho agreement reinstated without any guarantee as to stop-work meetings, especially in view of tho agreement being a national one. They are of opinion that if any such condition is put into an agreement it should be considered and discussed when tho now national agreement comes forward next year. Such a proposition, if agreed to, would then apply to all ports of New Zealand. Respecting tho question of Sir Joshua Williams acting as arbitrator, the men aro of opinion that there is nothing to arbitrate upon except one point—that it, whether the agreement shall be reinstated or otherwise.’

Regarding the bulletin issued by the union, Mr M'Robic said that it was full of misrepresentation. The statement that the exploiters, which he understood to mean the employers, tore up the agreement was absolutely untrue. The employers had been willing to renew the agreement, but they wanted a guarantee that the conditions would be carried out. He wanted to say the whole position had been reviewed calmly by the employers, and their deliberations had only been arrived at after very careful consideration, and they trusted that the saner section of the waterside workers would realise that the employers wore determined to see this matter through, and if wiser counsels should not prevail within the next few days they could rest assured that steps would be taken to have the goods handled on the wharf. Already offers were coming in from the country, and to-day the Farmers’ Unions in Eketahuna and Masterton and the provincial executive in Palmerston North will meet to discuss the position with the desirability of supplying men for working the cargo on the wharf “ The employers recognise that this question is of national importance,” concluded Mr M'Robie, “ because it affects the whole of the industries in New Zealand, and they are determined that the Federation of Labour is not going to be recognised in

future agreements, and steps will bo taken in each centre to have the wharves manned by free labourers. The cargo is going to bo handled whether the waterside workers do it or not.”

SPECIAL CONSTABLES ARRIVE. T , WELLINGTON, October 29. Just before 11.30 some excitement was caused by the arrival of a score or more or special constables from the country. They were met at the station by a dozen mounted constables, and escorted to tho I .iamb ton quay station. This march was fir from being dull. With the special cyclo picket organisations, the strikers soon heard of the arrival of the men, and rallied round immediately. Fortunately their numbers were.small, and their activity was confined chiefly to hovering on the flanks of th* specials, and calling out opprobrious and vile epithets.

Some of the language being used by tho strikers in their oratorical efforts at present is original, whatever else it may be. On» of the best efforts was made on Sunday, when one speaker declared; ‘‘Wo will fight until wo can wipe the tears from our eyes with the slack of our stomachs.”

ONEHUNGA MEN OUT. AUCKLAND, October 29. The result of a conference of' the Qnehunga waters do workers is now to hand. The men, numbering about 70, have decided not to resume to-morrow. CHEESE EXPORTS’ HELD BACK. Tho hold-up of the shipping at Wellington consequent on tho strike there cf tho waterside workers is already havin'* it* / effect in Otago and Southland, as the = fortnight’s make of the southern cheese factories —4500 cases —which was to have gone north for transhipment at Wellington to the' Rimutaka cannot, of course, now bo loaded,and has had to be stored in the meantime by the individual factories.