LYTTELTON WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 35, 18 March 1914, Page 6

LYTTELTON WATERSIDE WORKERS.

To the Editor of TE3' BV2T. Sir,—-While expressing'sympathy with the Lyttelton ex-strikers in the unfortunate position in which they tow find themselves, or, in the words of Mr Davcy, having "to eat the leek," I faifi to fiml in the speeches made before our local M.iVs yesterday any propter reasoft given why the employers of wharf labour should depart from the attitude* they :; have taken up 'since 7 Wd "Wrike* began, namely, in giving preference of employment to the men, who helped to» open the port,3 n <lthus,- with the assistance 6f the special staythe -hand t)f anarchy and revolution.. One speaker said that ' * the employers; were, applying the lash.'' The ' employers are doing nothing of the kind,, but they are obliged. <6 keep faith Withs the arbitrationists. - B»t does sound odd to hear.a Bed Fed. complaining of the lash? Was there ever a. more cruel and heartless application of the lash on< the whole community than that which was lately applied by the> Bed Feds, for the space of about twomonths? _ inflicted on many business people, ""but. loss aajd suffering had to be endured by innocent people, in tlie ranks., And, if now the' .foolish strikers are* suffering from loss of employment, on whose shoulders rests the blame? It is; not a, bit mean .to throwaiiy blame? whatever on the .employers? • About the middle of November,.' X think,' the Defence Committee, as ~ it. is called, Wrote to the Waterside? Workers' Union, asking that the men. should resume work v at, once,, as ,|hj» port , c ould not be kept; closed indefinitely. It wa§ oiit" th&t- ir" they failed to do this, ether' Workers; would be engaged, ,;, whose.services: would be retained, ev.fn "if keeping out men who had'workied for years at the port. Now, how was this: friendly overture treatedf The chairman the -Waterside tWe^kers'jCbnlmittee teplied; referring' 'the" DefenceCommittee to the executive at Wellingtoo,. which had their unbounded confidenee J to settle the present?:dispute."" He also wished the employers to . understand that the men were.not out mef-ely out of loyalty to their fellow-workers in.. Wellington, ' ' but to show out < undisguised- contempt -for the Arbitration Act.'' This correspondent? - appeared in the daily papers at the .time, should be perused by these interested.: " Now, who encouraged the Lyttelton. wharf, labourers to remain on strike and Vring the present trouble: iipjon ; themi Was not one James M'CohiDs one, of their shining lights! And yet he 'has the effrontery to attack the employers.. It seems to me that, seeing Mr M 'Combs and a few-others taken responsible part in the late war against 1 the community, had now better take ujfoii themselves the : task of' • solving the problem -of' how-those who participated ir. this war can obtain work. Is not this, sir, a reasonable proposition! —I am, etc., ' NEMESIS. - Mareh 17, 1914. , -