THE RECENT STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3123, 28 January 1914, Page 9

THE RECENT STRIKE.

UNEMPLOYED AT WESTPORT. WESTPORT, January 15 Eighty-one unemployed, with 174 dependents, have registered their names with the Government labour agent. All the old hands resumed work at the Seddonville State mine on Monday.

WELLINGTON WHARF LABOURERS’ UNION.

(From Odh Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 15. Since the Red Federation element in the ranks of the ex-strikers was badly beaten at the rowdy meeting which was held in the “ donkey room ” at the wharf, two silent battles have been fought between the members of the ex-strikers’ union and the executive of the new Wharf Labourers’ Union. The latest happenings have proved that certain members of the old union have been doing their utmost to gain a controlling interest in the new union’s affairs. Two requisitions calling upon the executive of the new union to hold special meetings have been received. These requisitions have been considered, and replies are about to be sent to the interested parties stating that the meetings cannot be held as requested. The result of these two silent battles has been decided in favour of the new executive.

The following are copies of the two requisitions and replies thereto: — Requisition No. 1. —“Tn accordance with rule 20, subclause (a), which states, inter alia: Special meetings of the union shall be held whenever the executive thinks fit, or when any six members of the union by notice in writing to the secretary so request. Such notice shall specify the nature of the business to b© transacted.’ We, the undersigned, financial members of the Wellington Wharf Labourers’ Union, registered, request that you, in accordance with'the abovequoted rule, do hereby call a special meeting of the union to discuss—(l) .The finances of the union; (2) the organisation of the union, present, past, and future; and (3) any other business connected with the union that is likely to affect the welfare of same and of its members, and we suggest that such meeting should be held on Saturday, January 17, 1914, in tj,ie * donkey room,’ at ■2 o’clock p.m., to discuss the business set forth in this requisition, or such other place as may be found suitable.” The requisition was signed by 63 members. The reply furnished to the foregoing was as follows: —Mr E. Kennedy, and other requisitioniets. Dear Sirs,—l am directed by the executive of the union to acknowledge receipt of your requisition, and to inform you that it is advised that your notice does not comply with rule 20, in that the meeting proposed is not for the transaction of any business, but for the purpose of a general vague diecu&iion, and that it does not specify with sufficient particularity what is the business proposed to be transacted. The executive therefore regrets that it is unable to comply with your requisition. It will, however, be happy to call a meeting if desired to discuss specific resolutions relating to the reorganisation of the union, or the alteration or revision of the rules, or for the appintment of a committee to consider these questions, and that of the finances, and report to the union. A requisition signed by seven ex-strikers was then received, as follows: —“Secretary Wellington Wharf Labourers’ Industrial Union of Workers, —In terms of rule 20 of the above union’s rules, we, the undersigned six members of the above union, dp hereby request you forthwith to convene a special meeting of the union. The business to be transacted is for the purpose of considering the following resolutions —* (1) That a committee be appointed of three members of the above union to take charge of the union’s books, and subject them to a thorough investigation, and to report to a meeting to be subsequently held. (2) That pending the completion of such investigation the president be instructed to suspend the present secretary and his assistants from duty, and that two acting secretaries be nominated at the meeting to be appointed. Such acting secretaries to hold office for such a period as the union in general meeting may decide.’ ”

Those who forwarded the above received the following reply : —“Mr P. C. Green and other requisitionista. Dear Sirs, —I am directed by the executive of the union to acknowledge the receipt of your requisition of January 13, 1914-, and to inform you that it is advised that the resolutions proposed are such as, if passed by a meeting of the union, would be ultra vires. It regrets, therefore, that it cannot see its way to comply with your request, but will be glad to convene a meeting if you will modify your resolutions so as to put them into a form in which they can be legally carried.’’

DISTRESS IN AUCKLAND. (From Oir» Own Cost RESPONDENT A

AUCKLAND, January 16. Careful inquiries show that there is much distress in the city among married men who recently went out on strike, who have now lost their occupations, and whose domestic responsibilities make it impossible for them to seek work elsewhere. There is only a very small sum available to the Strike Committee, and it is far from being sufficient to relievo all of the moat pressing cases of distress. In many cases small sums are being advanced to prevent actual hunger, but no attempt can bo made to aid strikers in paying their rent. Bailiffs have boon put into numerous houses, and in some cases evictions have taken place, but no case is known of agents having taken possession of a man’s furniture. One private bailiff has been so impressed with certain cases of poverty that he has paid out of his own pocket sufficient rent to procure houses for indigent persons, and he is in communication with country friends with a view to obtaining employment for men whom he regards a-S the victims of unfortunate circumstances, and whose families are faced with the dread of finding themselves at any moment homeless and hungry. On Thursday morning a man who had a family of 13 children, and therefore cannot leave the city, had to be given aid Another whoso family numbers five said that he had not' eaten food since 3 p.m. the previous day. There was a little food in his house, but it was for his children. Very meagre additions are now being received to the relief, but this morning n business man, after making a searching cross-examination of the officials, handed over £lO for the relief of the innocent sufferers. On account of the disorganisation that has taken place in the ranks of the waterside workers who wont out on strike, It is impossible to give an estimate of the aumber of men in need of pressing employ-

mont, but a meeting is to be held to ascertain the position. Objection has been raised in regard to the request made by the Auckland Labour Department to local bodies and other employers for information as to employees who have taken part in the recent strike, as there is some suspicion that the information will be used for the compilation of a black list. The chief inspector of the department here repudiated any suggestion of victimisation. The information asked was required in the ordinary routine of the department as to breaches of the award. All that concerned the department was the observance of the law. Without the information asked for it was impossible to report the number of breaches of the Act committed. Possibly such information would be followed by pi’osecution, but most decidedly the names were not filed for the purpose of victimisation.

WELLINGTON UNION. WELLINGTON, January 16.

The membership of the Seamen’s Union is 1600. It is the largest urjion registered under the Arbitration Act. The agreement now in force is similar, except in one or two not very important particulars, to the old one.

DRIVERS’ UNION.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 15.

The judgment given to-day by the Arbitration Court in the case brought by the Canterbury Motor Oar, Horse Drivers, and Livery Stable Employees’ Union states that after leaving work while a dispute was under consideration it was reported by the newspapers that the members of the defendant union had engaged in a strike, whereupon the court caused inquiries to be made, and obtained a written statement from Mr Hunter, secretary of the union, who said that the strike” had been ordered by a majority of the union members on November 24, but was called off as far as most of the men were concerned three days later. “ These .facts,” says the judgment, “show that the union was guilty of an offence under section 6 of the Act, and is liable to have its registration suspended.” The court was of opinion that under the circumstances it should refuse to make an award. The case was therefore dismissed. It might be the case that the workers immediately concerned in the dispute were opposed to the strike, and were therefore suffering for the blunders of others. The drivel’s of the motor delivery vehicles could join the new union and obtain an award through tho latter. No such union was available in the case of the livery stable employees. The court recommend the employers to pay these workers the minimum wage fixed by tho last Auckland award—namely, £2 8s weekly.

THE POSTAL SERVICES,

HOW DIFFICULTIES WERE OVERCOME.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 16.

To a reporter to-day, the lion. R. H. Rhodes, Postmaster-general, gave some indication in the course of an interview of the measures that had to be taken by the Department during the recent strike. “ ihe industrial crisis had the effect of disorganising the Department’s .-orvices in ail directions,” he said. “ JNot only were tne effects ielt locally, but they were extended to the mail steamers wnich were scheduled to sad for America, Australia, and the United K.ngdom. The effects were particularly felt at Wellington. The Moata, for tan Francisco, was detained for five days, and communication with Sydney was sustamed from Wellington direct cniy, the Steamer services from Bluff and Auckland being suspended. Coastal traffic was reduced to comparatively few boats. As far as the Welimgcon-Lyttehon ferry service wao concerned, the slower steamers, Pateena and the Mapourika, and the small Queen of the South had to be subsidised. ‘Owing to these substitutions for the Maori, and, for some part of the time, the Wahine, the mails arriving at Wellington and at Lyttelton missed the expresses —not only the first express at Lyttelton, but on many occasions the second. The Auckland district also suffered to a great extent, although every effort was made by engaging small steamers to provide for keeping up mail communication with places north of Auckland. The Nelson connection had to be maintained by subsidising the Nikau. This small steamer made three trips a week between. Wel,:ngton and Nelson, via Picton. The Gisborne service was suspended for some time. During the first part of the strike Messrs Richardso’t Bros.’ steamers from Napier were kept running, but after a week or so the men came out, and there was no service either from Napier or from Auckland down the East Coast except by the small steamer Tangaroa, which once a week managed to make a trip from Gisborne to Napier. For a considerable time there was no steamer communication with the West Coast of the South Island, and consequently the very heavy mails usually forwarded to Wellington for despatch by steamer had to be diverted to Christchurch and transmitted by coach and train to their destination. The contractor for the conveyance of the mails between the railheads rose to the occasion, and, in spite of the material increases of mail matter, and particularly of parcels, he carried through the service in a very satisfactory manner, and, when necessary, provided special conveyances to meet the difficulty. Even with this provision, on many occasions portion of the hamper mail had to be left over for carriage the following day. In many other directions also special coaches and conveyances had to bo engaged in order to keep the mail services running as closely as possible to time-table. The parcel post was affected to a very considerable extent, as many articles were forwarded through the post which the public had not hitherto thought of sending otherwise than by steamer. At the request of a local body in Dunedin it was determined, during the period in question, to extend at same rate the weight limit of parcels from 111 b to 211 b for parcels to places served by rail and steamer. The concession was very readily availed of, and is still in force. For the four weeks ended December 27 the number of extra weight parcels posted at Christchurch amounted to 860, at Dunedin to 732, and at Wellington to 1908. The additional cost to the department mused bv these special arrangements,'’ said the Minister, “is not yet available, but it will amount to a considerable sum.”

FIREMEN FINED FOR ASSAULT. CHRISTCHURCH, January 19. About 220 men were employed at Lyitel ton to-day, including 70 ex-strikers.

Some firemen belonging tq the Turakina were fined £2 each for assaulting two other arbitrationists, and £2 also for assaulting the police.

PROSECUTION IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, January 19.

An incident connected with the recent strike had its sequel in the Police Court today, when Richard James Scofield was charged with the use of insulting language. It was stated that on November 19 a number of City Council employees were at work in Gundry street. A strike picket came along, with the accused as spokesman. The men did not seem inclined to cease work, and peaceful persuasion developed into the beginning of a disturbance. Fortunately special constables arrived just in time, and the strikers left. It was during the disturbance that the accused was said to have made use of the language. 'The defence was a total denial that the accused used insulting language. Accused was convicted and fined £3, with £4- 8s costs. THE WEST COAST. RESUMPTION AT STATE MINE. DEADLOCK AT BLACKBALL. (From Our Own Correspondent) GREYMOUTH, January 19. After having been idle for close on 12 weeks, work was resumed at the State mine this morning. It was expected that a number of men would have to leave the district, but such is not the case, as all hands are to be found work, but under the Arbitration Act. During the past week conferences were held between the management and the men, the former demanding a general reduction in wages. It has been agreed on the main question to submit the matter to Mr P Hally, Conciliation Commissioner. Failing a settlement, the new agreement as to wages, etc., will be. submitted to the Arbitration Court. Several reductions as to wages have been made. Each man engaged at the mine has lost over £SO as the result of the strike. Arrangements have been made to restart the Paparoa coal mine to-morrow, this decision being the outcome of * negotiations between the management and the men. No free labour will be employed. A settlement in regard to the strike at Blackball, however, appears to be very remote at the present juncture. The recommendation of the local manager to the directors of tho company to let the men resume work on the old agreement was turned down by them. The directors insist that before the mine is reopened the men will have to sign the new agreement laid down by them, which means a reduction in the hewing rate of fully 20 per cent. The rate paid for extracting pillars in tho old agreement was 2s 2d per ton. In the new agreement the company wants to reduce the amount to Is lOd per ton, making a reduction of 4d per ton In other solid workings the company demands a reduction of 2d per ton. In addition to this it wants the miners to do their own trucking up to 50 yards, as against 22 yards in the old agreement, also to run the first jig from the flat sheet. These reductions the men staunchly resist but are prepared to have the whole matter submitted unconditionally to the Arbitration Court.At a meeting of the union held last night it was decided to interview Mr Hally, the Conciliation Commissioner, when he arrives on the Coast in the course of a few days, and place the facts of the position before him, with a view to having a settlement arrived at. It was also decided to telegraph to the Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister), tho Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of Mines), and a number of other Ministers and members asking them to use dieir endeavours to have the dispute settled by a sitting of the Arbitration Court as speedily as possible. Tho manager informed the union’s dele gates on Saturday afternoon that his instructions from his directors were that as soon as ho could obtain 40 men who would sign the new agreement he was to open tho mine. Judging from all the information received, it is very doubtful if he will be successful in securing the names of four persons to sign the agreement. At the beginning of the recent strike the services of about 60 Greymouth Harbour Board employees were dispensed with, the business of the port having been brougnt practically to a standstill. With the exception of two or three who are at work on the dredge, none of these men have yet been reinstated, but the question will in all probability be dealt with at to-morrow evening's meeting of the Harbour Board. The sawmills have resumed running, and quite a transformation scene has been effected from desertion to life and activity. Several changes, however, have taken place among the men, some having gone farther afield, and never returned. WOMEN IN THE FRAY. SIDELIGHT ON RECENT OCCURRENCES. (Fnou Our Own Correspondent ) GREYMOUTH January 19 An interesting and lurid sidelight on the strike occurrences at Blackball was shod in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth to-day, when Mary Jamieson was charged that on December 6, at Blackball, she did use insulting words—-viz., “ You dirty scab.” to one Lawrence Mori; also that on the 22nd of the same month, at the same place, she used the words, “ You b rotten scab,” also to Lawrence Mori. When the first charge was read the defendant admitted that she used the words, but to the second charge, using several adjectives, she replied : “ I did not say it, and there is not a person in Blackball can say I did.” Defendant was further charged with assaulting Lawrence Mori, to which the defendant replied to the usual question of “ Guilty or not guilty” : “ Yes, I did; if throwing cowdirt in his face is assault, I did it.” Inspector Phair outlined the case, and called Lawrence Mori, who said that recently he had acted at Blackball as secretary in connection with tho formation of the new union under the Arbitration Act. Witness was going along the street when the defendant came from her home and called out: ‘‘You scab, you dirty scab; you take the broad out of my mouth.” _ She then picked up cowdung and throw it in h : « f»co and over his clothes. She also struck witness with what appeared to be cardboard rolled up. Witness saw the constable later, who advised him to go home and change his clothes. On December 6, when he was returning from fishing the defendant called him “ a dirty scab.” The defendant was a neighbour of his, and previously there had been no trouble between them. He gave her no provocation whatever.

Constable MTvor said ho saw Mori on the 22nd plastered all over with cowdung. The complainant had said Mrs Jamieson had thrown it, but witness had seen nothing of the assault. He had not heard the defendant use bad language The defendant said that she saw Mori for the first time after the formation of the new union. She had said to him: “ You dirty scab, you take the bread out of my children's mouths.” The cowdung had not been put there on purpose, as hinted by the informant. She was not ashamed of what she had said.

The defendant said she would admit anything she had done, but would swear she had never used the words in the information. She had been a decent woman in Blackball for 20 years, and they (meaning the arbitrationists) had brought the trouble op themselves.

Hie Worship said defendant did not appear to feel her position. If she were a man he would imprison her. The assault and language was unprovoked. The defendant admitted using the words—words one would hardly expect bo hear in the slums of London. She would bo fined £2 10s on each of the charges of insulting language, and £5 on the charge of assault. Defendant was further charged with using the word “ blackleg ” to James Scott. Asked how she pleaded, she said: “I only regret that I did not give him enough.” After evidence had been taken, the magistrate said that if there was anything further in the above connection brought before him, ■and the present fines did hot prove a sufficient deterrent, he would have to try other means of punishment. He would bo forced to take the step of committing to prison without the option of a fine. Accused would be convicted on this fourth charge, and as the fines already inflicted amounted to £lO, he intended to let that amount cover the whole of the offences.

Mary Rogers pleaded “ Not guilty ” to using insulting words—namely, “ You dirty scab’ ’ —to Lawrence Mori. It was stated that defendant was the ringleader of the women who went up and down the streets for the purpose of taking an active part against those who had the formation of a new union in hand. Defendant absolutely denied the charge, and in answer to the magistrate as to how long she had been in New Zealand, stated that she had been in the dominion all her life. The magistrate said he was quite satisfied the words had been used, and that the. defendant had only tried to throw dust an the eyes of the court. She would be convicted and fined £5. David M'Cann was charged that, on December 23, at Greymouth, he did use insulting words—to wit, “Are you one of those scabs? It is a pity you did not break your neck instead of your leg.”— Albert O’Brien, a wharf labourer, said -hat on December 23 he met with an accident, and was removed to the hospital. Whilst he was on his way there M‘Cann came along and said; “You’re one of those b scabs, and it is a pity you had not had your head crushed.” This was said to witness whilst he was lying on a stretcher. Witness was a member of the new Arbitration Union —There was no appearance of defendant, who was convicted and fined £5. POSITION AT BLACKBALL. BRIGHTER OUTLOOK. IFbom Oce Own Corbespondent.) GREYMOUTH, January 20. Matters in connection with the present industrial crisis prevailing at Blackball present a much brighter hope for a settlement. The manager of the Blackball Company (Mr W. Leitch) approached Mr H. Pinch (the president of the local union) asking him to place before the members of his union the advisability of opening up fresh negotiations with a view to a settlement. This offer the president accepted, and a conference is being held to-day. Tire manager informed the president that any matters that either side could not agree upon would stand in abeyance until the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr Halley). arrived. As a result of to-day’s conference certain proposals will be made to a meeting of the union to-night, the outcome of which will have an important bearing on the situation. EX-STRIKERS SEEK FOR WORK. AUCKLAND, January 21. Despite an exceptionally large amount of work -on the waterfront, upwards of 200 men were unable to find employment this morning. Only a few picked men belonging to the old union have been admitted to membership. In addition to the surpluslabour in the new union, there are between 400 and 500 men belonging to the old Waterside Union who are finding great difficulty in obtaining employment. TROUBLE AT WELLINGTON. FORTY MEN DISMISSED. (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 20. There was great excitement at Miramar throughout this afternoon and evening owing to the development of trouble amongst the men engaged m discharging coal from the steamer Harflete at the Miramar wharf. So serious an aspect did matters assume in the early part of the evening that it was deemed advisable to send out a detachment of police to the scene, and this had the effect of quelling what appeared to be serious trouble brewing. The Harflete commenced the discharge of 2000 tons of Newcastle coal at the Miramar wharf last Friday morning. The vessel carries a Chinese crew with English officers. When the men started work there was an indication early enough, that they disliked the presence of the Celestials, but after a day’s work the resentment seems to have worn off. On Monday morning there were 40 men engaged an the work of discharging, the coal being loaded into trucks and railed along the wharf to the Miramar gasworks. It will be remembered that travelling time and payment for it was the cause of the shipwrights’ strike in October last; so travelling time and time for meals was the cause of the trouble at Miramar. Some 20 or 30 of the men have been in the habit of obtaining rheir meals at a boarding-house situated close to the gasworks, and kept by a Mrs Anderson. The latter charged the men Is a meal. It has been the custom for one of the workers to go across to Mrs Anderson each morning and give her an idea of how many men wore likely to be requiring dinner, so that she could make preparations accordingly. On Monday there was some grumbling on the part of the men as to the quality and quantity of food supplied them for thenshilling. They alleged that there was too much sameness about the food. Mrs Anderson told them plainly that if they did not

like the table they could somewhere else to dine. At tea-time tic, Monday tho grumbling grew worse, and some of the njen left the boarding-house in a “ huff.’* Yesterday morning one of the men went over to tell Mrs Anderson that there would be 19 men in to dinner. At the same time he said that things would have to be a little better j there must be a change of diet. Mrs Anderson was exasperated. She had arranged the following menu, which is the sort of meal she has been providing all along: —Roast beef, roast mutton, potatoes and green peas, plum pudding, jam, bread, cheese (ad lib.), tea or coffee. Mrs Anderson grew tired of the grumbling, and at 10.30 a.m. she sent a polite note to the men intimating that from that day she would discontinue the supply of meals for tea. She say# she had been providing cold meat and pickles, jam, bread, cheese, and: tea for this, also she charged the men a shilling a head. The men on receiving the note declared that they would have to have two hours off for lunch. They therefore knocked off work at 11.30 a.m., and of their own accord did not go back till 1.30 p.m. A largo number of them went to town or to Kilbirnie for their mid-day meal. Moat of them arrived back on the wharf at 1.15 p.m., and here they hold a consultation lasting for a quarter of an hour, and then burned to. On hearing of the men’s action, the agents of tho Harflete gave the foreman of the job instructions that all (40) men were to be paid off at 5 o’clock. The men were informed before tbat hour of what was going to happen, but although resentment *wae apparent, with » noticeable slackening off in the speed discharge, most of them worked right on. Another consultation near the gasworks took place at 5 o’clock, and the result of thi# it is understood was that if any men came to take their places on the vessel they would make things warm for tho newcomers. In the meantime, the agents of the Hcrflete bad signed on a fresh batch of coalics, there being a surplus of labour on .the wharves. In the city these were not hard to find, but a misunderstanding arose. The agents required the 35 men to start work at 6 p.m., but confused directions resulted in only 11 new hands making their appearance at Miramar. It was then that the trouble arose. At 5.45 p-m. the first of the new hands got off the car at the train shelter near the gasworks. Immediately thev did so they were approached by half a 'dozen of the discharged men, who dared them to start work. There was some warm talk, and the new hands were threatened that they would b’o “flattened out,” have their heads smashed, and would suffer all kinds of injury on their way home after 10 p.m., which was knocking off time. So serious did things become that the police were sent for. and a constable arrived from Kilbirnie. Two of the new hands would not face the situation, and went back to town, but the other nine started work at & p.m As soon as work had commenced the bull rope on the winch snapped, and two baskets of coal fell on to two men underneath. They were knocked on to tho wharf, but were uninjured. An examination of the rope showed that it had been cut almost in two with a knife. Another bull rope lying on deck was found similarly cut in two places. To protect new hands coming from work a sergeant and eight constable# were sent from the city, and although there were rumours of disturbers lying in ambush for men. the latter reached their homes safely under escort. WORKING THE HARFLEET. WELLINGTON, January 21. In connection with the strike of the men who were unloading the Harfleet at Miramar, the strikers’ places were filled this morning and work was going on satisfactorily. It is anticipated that the balance of the cargo will be landed to-day, and that the ship will leave for Newcastle either to-night or to-morrow. BLACKBALL MINES. REOPEN TO-MORROW. GREYMOUTH, January 21. Negotiations for opening tho Blackball mines proved successful to-day, when it was decided to re-open on Friday morning. The only items in dispute are the questions of working pillars and trucking. Mines other than Blackball pay 2s, while Blackball pays 2s 2d. The directors want to be in Jine with the other mines, and decided to reduce to 2s. This was not agreed to, but eventually a compromise was effected, and the men are to receive 2s Id when work recommences. Only arbitration labour will be employed. GREYMOUTH HARBOUR BOxARD. LOSS OF REVENUE. fFaou Cna Owv Corksspondkwt.) GREYMOUTH, January 22 The revenue of the Greymouth Harbour Board shows a shrinkage of about £7OOO compared with this period last year. As the shipping is still restricted, the full loss of. revenue for the year will probably total some £IO,OOO. Tho loss is wholly the outcome of the strike and consequent closing of the port and stoppage of the coal export. Tho loss of revenue means that the board will have £IO,OOO less to spend on works. OPAWA’S AMATEUR STOKERS LONDON, January 21. The Daily Mail states that the Opawa’a amateur stokers and trimmers worked excellently. They maintained a fraction of a knot below the normal speed. There was no shirking, though the men suffered severely from the heat in the tropics.