STEEL AND IRON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12757, 29 September 1919, Page 8

STEEL AND IRON.

TRADES COUNCIL RESOLUTION. A SUGGESTED BOYCOTT'. The -following motion was passed •<* a- meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council on Saturday: “That this council and special meeting of unionists requests tii« federation of federations and trades councils, and the New Zealand Labour Party, to urge upon all unionists, industrialists and the people of New Zealand generally, to buy no more iron or steel implements of American manufacture until thesteelworkers’ strike is settled. W■* make this request because of ti;e atrocious conduct of the employers' gunmen in attacking and shooting down women and children, as reported in the cables of to-day.” Local merchants who were seen this morning were not greatly concerned about tliis resolution. They pointed out- that the purchasers of the imnlomerts belonged to the farming con: munity, who were not in the least likely to respond to invitations of this kind issued by the Trades and Labour Council, The cable referred to by the Trades and La Dour Council was dated from Washington on September 20, and was worded as follows: Giving evidence before the Con.oressional investigation of the Steel Trust s truce, Mr Fitzpatrick, the men’s representative, said that the Steel Trust had raised large funds to nreveut trades unionism establishing itself in the industry. When the unions wore formed the Trust- reduced working hours and increased wages in an effort to forestall Labour organisations. Conditions in the industrv were atrocious. He declared that the Steel Trust employed gunmen to sheet the Labour organisert,. Ho also stated that a woman organiser, while trying to protect children during a not, was killed on the snot. Mr Fitzpatrick added that union men were unable to talk m the streets about steel company affairs without attack. The police entered houses and assaulted unionists. The company also employed gunmen to shoot anyone prominent in Labour circles. President Wilson himself had asked the head of the Steel Trust to arbitrate in the present dispute, but Mr Gary had refused. The beads of the Steel Trust- refused to make a statement. 'Three hundred and fiftv thousand men are now idle, and the strike is spreading. Mr I itzpatrick assured the committee that the strikers would agree to the settlement or the dispute by an Arbitrati°ti Board, if appointed bv Mr Wilson-