AUCKLAND LABOR CRISIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12705, 7 March 1912, Page 7

AUCKLAND LABOR CRISIS.

MEN NOT . liEADY TO STRIKE.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night. The Federation of Labor is not'"evidencing any undue haste m coming to grips with the local bodies m regard to the deadlock over the general laborers' dispute. This is taken as a very wise precaution until the Federation officers have sounded the various federated .unions as to their attitude m regard to a conflict. While the- employers generally regard it as an evidence of weakness, the fact of 300 or ACQ day laborers going on strike may delay building operations'and public .works,' but nobody would suffer much except the men on. strike, and there would be no doubt 'of tho uitiriiate result. It is beginning to be recognised that the tramway union is tire strongest, card that the Federation can ''plav and 1 the' public is awaiting with interest and some anxiety to know what the decision of the tramway employees ay ill be m the ov*nt of .-a general strike being declared. A report has been circulated that although the tramway employees realise they must cease work if called upon to do .so, ii would go* much against- the" grain for them to strike. This statement was absolutely scouted by a. prominent .member of the Tramways Union this morning, who informed a Star representative that every man m the union would cease work, 10-morrow if lh-e> Federation asked t-hem to do so. A meeting of the Tramways Union to consider the position will be held on Friday. 'l"he report that an organiser had visited the King Country and enlisted the services of 3CO farmers m the m: terests of the employers m the event of a strike, has been denied by Mr A. iSchmidlt (Provincial Scretary of the Farmers' Union). At the same time Mr iSchmitt admitted that it was not impossible that the farmers would take action if they found it necessary to do so m order to protect their own interests. "I am sorry that the name of. the Farmers' Union has been brought into the matter," declared Mr Schmitt.. "and it would be as a last resort if they found that their own interests are. to be prejudiced that the farmers would interfere." . "

This jnorning- there was registered at the office of the Registrar of the Arbitration Court a new union to be known as the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies' Laborers' Union of Workers. The union is 150 strong, and its creation will come as a set-off to the Federation of Labor at the present time since the establishment of the new organisation has been carried out with the ( utmost secrecy.

The Mayor of Auckland (Mr C. J. Parr) informed a press representative that; the desire for a separate institution had edme mainly from men who had been for many years, engaged m municipal work and; f elf thaft-tlrey should ndlf b_> m a position to be called out on. strike and to leave the city services at any moment without a chance of first goin-j- to the Conciliation Council or Arbitration Court. Nearly all' the ' members bf .'the new union were men who did not belong to the General Laborers' "Union, and considered tha tthev would be doing better for- themselves by a regular process, of arbitration than by being associated with the. Federation of Labor. They j preferred to join m with nearly all the 'artisan unionists m New Zealand m (sticking to. .'the 'Arbitration Act. The new union started with a membership of 150 strong,, and requests have been received from other local body employees fov permission to come, into the organisation.. They would have nothing to do with the Federation of Labor, it realising, of course,'-* that on the principle of a sreneral strikeYwhich was the basis o^the Federation they could be called out at. any time' -and leave the whole of .the city service*? : ' : afc a standstill. 0(n tho occasion of 'thel'strike three months ago 200 of the city "and Grey Lynn workers^ remained ■loyal.'-.. 'They' •were, non-unionists, and are the men who were now forming this" new organisation. The General, Laborers'. Union meeting to-night was attended, by about 4CO or 500. members. Mr P. ' Fraser (president) occupied tho -chair, , and .federation officials were present. The meeting, which was not omen, to the pre_s, occupied about, three hours, but it is understood that matters we*r6!re l > feri:ed ,to the Federation of LaboE*"'^'^.'m > L'' , S,nd"t.'hat the general tone of. i th*3' ; m > .eei;ins' was 'against,. an immediate stride**, as '-thi "''%\ni& was inopportune, -as -'tl?p. employers. 's>vfere ready and the meK #,e^e iioi. ' . ' j"'. ; : f The. Auckland and;. S*it*>iTrban Local Bodies' Assdcja'tion^rlecfdcd , to-ni«?bt to recommend thY local ;'].Mfes i which its members represent. to.a dopt tbe schedule of wages which the City Counpil has decided to/ pay. ■. '.,