THE LABOUR SITUATION.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 262, 7 November 1913, Page 2

THE LABOUR SITUATION.

A second contingent of farmers ; and business men were enrolled 1 as special constables on Tuesday last. The committee formed to carry out this work had been very busy during the day, with the result that some thirty-five mounted men were assembled in Market Street at 5 p.m. ready to take their departure for Hamilton where they would join the main body of men prior to leaving for Auckland. Captain Bluck was placed in charge of the men. Mr C. Alexander, chairman of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, said the men were under the direction of the Union, and would be so until they reached Hamilton, after which they would take their orders from officers appointed by the Government. lie pointed out the necessity of obeying their leaders, and carrying out the orders given to them. A great deal depended on them, and he hoped they would endeavour to “ keep their heads.” He hoped their services would not be required, but if they were, that they would do their duty. (Cheers). Captain Bluck then addressed a few words to the men, and amidst cheering the company left for Hamilton. The organising committee were again busy on Wednesday enrolling volunteers from the outlying districts, and as a result a further detachment was despatched to Hamilton from Te Awamutu at 5 o’clock. The men, who numbered close on 50, assembled at the post office, and were placed in charge of Col. Ryder until they reached Hamilton, where they were then placed under the command of Government officers. Before leaving, the chairman of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union (Mr C. Alexander) gave the men some good advice as to the manner of conducting themselves, and in:--pressed upon them the necessity of obeying those officers placed in authority over them. Three hearty cheers were given for the men, as they took their departure.

WAIKATO CONTINGENT. The men spent a wet night in camp at Otahuhu on Wednesday.

Reinforcements were constantly arriving in camp during the night. ' At daybreak some 1,300 men were in camp.

Some 400 men were selected, and at 4 o’clock were mounted and moved off, and the domain was reached before 7 o’clock, where a detachment of the Permanent Artillery was encamped under Major Brawne, of the General Staff, Wellington. The operations were watched by a large number of the Exhibition workmen, and groaning and hooting ensued. At a meeting of the Exhibition workmen sympathy was expressed with the strikers, and they decided that if free labour was introduced they would cease work.

A detachment of Te Aroha men, while riding in from Otahuhu to the domain at 8 o’clock, were stoned by a number of road workmen. They were with difficulty prevented from charging the men and using their batons. Both butchers and bakers refused to supply the men with food, but a good stock: of other provisions were available. A large staff of cooks is in attendance and the men have nothing to complain as far as this is concerned.

The train conveying the Pluntly miners to Auckland pulled up for a time at Otahuhu, and a free fight was narrowly averted. Mr Parr (Mayor of Auckland), Major Lusk (president of the Farmers’ Union), and Mr Ross (a member of the executive) are at present at the camp conferring on the situation.

INCIDENT AT FRANETON. Just before the special train left Frankton for Westfield on Tuesday night with 320 special constables and 320 horses aboard, it was discovered that no less than eighteen Westinghouse brake couplings had been very skilfully and very completely cut. It took two hours to rectify the damage done. Had the train left Frankton with the undiscovered damage, and wanted the appliance of the Westinghouse brakes on any decline, the consequence might have been very serious indeed.

DOINGS IN WELLINGtON. The principal event in Wellington on Wednesday was the shipping of the stranded racehorses to Christchurch. The Federation, after refusing once again in the morning, gave way and allowed them to go, but, fearing trouble from the watersiders’ section of malcontents, mounted special constables were turned out in the afternoon to prevent any interference.

There was a formidable array of cavalry, nearly 1000 strong, all swinging a baton. They rode through the streets to the railway wharf. They had not gone far when stones were thrown, but nothing serious occurred. The head of the brigade had reached the wlrarf and the rest were strung along Featherston street. There a mob of men, who bv.no means appeared to be all strikers, attacked them. Many of the rioters wore straw

hats, but were not connected with the strike.

The specials, who charged up and down the street, were received with stones, glass, and wood. The horses and men received a good number of wounds, and the rioters did not escape either. Some nine arrests were effected. About 30 persons were injured. Meanwhile the main body of specials had solidly barred off the wharf, and the horses were shipped without hindrance on the Maunganui, which left for Lyttelton at 8.40.

It is stated that the authorities in Wellington are contemplating loading the Athenic. There are over ninety trucks of cheese in the yard and along the line awaiting shipment. Free labourers are expected from Wajryrapa, and the men will live on the ship while working cargo.

NEW UNION FORMED

Negotiations have been in progress in Auckland in the direction of securing adequate labour for working the cargo on the wharves and with this end in view a new union registered under the Arbitration Act has been formed, and this has been done, it is stated, without much difficulty. “ A hundred picked men have been chosen and a union legally formed and constituted,” stated a shipping representative yesterday morning. He indicated that the lines along which they have been working has been practically to establish a union of permanent hands by guaranteeing the men full time weekly, with overtime when worked, thus securing stability in the future, as well as the services of ( a good class of workmen.”

The speakers at the mass meeting yesterday called upon the strikers and sympathisers to be in readiness to meet any possible development in the strike. “We don’t want a conflict, but prefer to settle this trouble peacefully,” was the tenor of the remarks of the speakers, but it was indicated that if force was necessary it would be exercised. Various rumours are in circulation as to how the strikers will cope with the situation should there be actual personal conflict.' The strikers assert that they are prepared for any emergency;-'

that they are not afraid of the consequences, tnd confidently rely on securing a victory over whatever forces are arrayed against them.

THE POSITION UNCHANGED By Telegraph—Special to POST. (Received 10.15 a.m.) Auckland, this day. There is no marked change in the position regarding the strike. Yesterday an important statement was made by the Prime' Minister in the House during the afternoon. The Conciliation Commissioner in the Wellington district is submitting proposals to both parties to the Wellington dispute, which if agreed to require legislation to bring them, info effect. There is a possibility of an agreement between the parties, but from message received at a late hour the Commissioner has placed two proposals before the Federation of Labour with a view to clearing the way to a settlement. After consideration the Federation of Labour failed to agree fo the suggestions. The Conciliation Commissioner of the northern district is still at liuntly, but no announcement has yet been made as to the result of Mr Harle Giles’ efforts to brings about a settlement there. At a meeting of the Watersiders Union yesterday it was resolved not to resume work until the Wellington dispute is settled. A camp was formed yesterday morning in the domain, over 500 men being drafted from the farmers’ camp at Otahuhu. Further contingents of farmers have assembled at Otahuhu from the far North-'-Kaiwaka, South Taurapga and Te Puke —thus bringing the total strength 1,300. Important manifesto setting forth position and attitude of employers in the present dispute is issued. Auckland Employes Association have accordingly issued a manifesto. The Auckland employers have decided to rigidly support the Wellington employers’ attitude regarding making it compulsory that registration under Arbitration Act be a basis of settlement.

Significant development occurred at Wellington yesterday afternoon. The loading of the cargo steamer Athenic proceeded without interruption during three hours. A new union was formed, under the Arbitration Act, and tl,ie men went to work under the protection of a strong guard. No> attempt was made to molest the or workmen. Work isje* sumed this morning, and prepat tion is rapidly being completed for the resumption of work. at". Auckland wharves. The people of Auckland who use trams will have to walk tomorrow, as the coal supplies at the tramway power house are exhausted. The manager is therefore compelled to announce the complete suspension of the service.

The Riverina, under normal conditions, would have sailed from Sydney for. Auckland yes • terday, but • did not leave the wharf, and her departure is postponed indefinitely, as the wharf labourers have decided not to

work cargo to or from New Zealand until the strike terminates.

AN OPEN LETTER

An open letter has been acldresed by Major H.B. Lusk, provincial president of the Farmers’ Union, to “organised labour and the public of the province of Auckland.” gjhe writer points out that the fcgreat proportion of the farmers ure workers, with very small capital, absolutely dependent upon the sale of their produce, consisting or butter, cheese, meat, wool, etc. There is no one to pay them wages, or preserve their wives and families from absolute ruin if their produce is kept there and allowed to rot. Exported farm products represent ninetenths of the income which comes into the Dominion. Major Lusk points out that if this is stopped —even for a short time —not only the farmers, but the whole country, will be ruined. . “We do not constitute ourselves judges or arbitrators as to any dispute that the unions have with the employers, and do not mix ourselves up with other people’s quarrels ar disputes. But we cannot afford to have our produce left to rot, and we claim the right to > handle, ship or unship our own goods; and failing the ordinary channel for so doing, we intend to do so ourselves. In all fairness, the waterside workers should admit' this, and we hope Jfta, the honest and intelligent ™en of Auckland will not endeavour to prevent us from so doing. If, however, they determine to resist our perfectly legal and proper action in managing our own busi--1 ness, then they must not blame us for causing trouble. We make this true and plain statement of our position in the hope of preventing trouble, and with the most sincere wishes for the pros--perity and true freedom of all our fellow-citizens.”

A special general meeting of the Kio ICio branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was called last Monday to discuss the proposal to enrol special police for duty in Auckland. Considerable eagerness was shown by the younger members, no fewer than eleven enrolling. ID It is stated that there are up-Pb-ards of 20,000 tons of general TUliLVcliandise held up, owing to the vessels in Auckland Harbour being unable to discharge their cargoes. There are forty vessels . ; . nchored in the stream. ' "Stucks of sugar are fast becoming depleted, and if the present difficulty be not settled very soon, it is anticipated that several firms in Auckland will be obliged to shorten hands. Messrs Okey and Wilkinson, M;P.’s., waited on the Prime Minister on Wednesday and pointed out the great hardship that will be imposed on Taranaki dairy farmers in the event of the usual twentieth payment being withheld on account of the -> strikes preventing shipments. It U was suggested that the Government might guarantee, the banks making advances on produce in cool and other stores until shipments could be made. Mr Massey promised to give consideration to the proposal, but he pointed out the request could only be given effect to by, legislation. Perhaps one of the most important resolutions that have so far, been adopted by the various , rrades unions of Auckland with respect to the present position of industrial strife was that passed > bv the executive committee of the ■ Auckland Enginedrivers’ Union. I It expressed the unanimous feel- ■ ing of • the members of the ■ committee and was as follows: F “ That the executive committee of } the Auckland Certificated Engine >' Drivers’ Union extends its sympathy to the workers now on strike, and is prepared, if necessary, to advise its members not to

handle coal that has been conu .laminated by free labour.” The rate of pay of the waterside workers prior to the strike is stated to have been Is 5d an hour ordinary time; 2s 2d an hour overtime up to 10 p.m.; 2s ■3d an hour overtime 10 p.m. to 8 a.m, For special' work special rates of pay were provided, coal carriers, the highest paid, receiv- < ing 2s an hour ordinary time and 3s an hour overtime. Mr P. C. Webb, M.P., in appealing to the strikers and to refrain from Hmting disturbance in Wellington, said thousands of workers :i< =uts of the Dominion were ■ strike and were fighting tor the cause which was dearer to them all than life itself —the sjicred cause of the labour movement. Against the regular police |1 they had no grievance, but they | had against “ these bushrangers,” | who had been brought from the | country to ride roughshod over f. them. In answer to a question in

V to Commissioner Cullen, I the speaker said “1 shall deal L with him and other assassins on the floor of the House.” a result of the happenings &■ Street, Wellington, on HH&duy evening, an artillery had a narrow escape. The of his overcoat below tjie ■list, was pierced by a revolver ■Kflet. Had the course of the been altered by a few ■dies the officer vvould unMjWubtedly have been killed. of the members of the contingent of horse|SKien now in Wellington, in rcto the present strike, and of the farmers who HH volunteered their services, There seems to be an amongst a certain

class of the community that we are here looking for troublespoiling for a fight. Such is not the case. Our mission here is to make peace, and if this can be achieved without the use of force, we shall be better pleased. Out own opinion as to the quickest and most effective method of ending the trouble is to arrest the agitators who are inciting the men _to lawlessness. In making this statement, I do not wish it to be thought for one moment that I or any of my friends wish to challenge the right of anyone to free speech on this momentous question, but there is a sharp distinction between the free speech which is the birthright of every Britisher and the inflammatory, seditious speeches of these strike leaders. We who have come down from the country are mostly hard-work-ing small farmers, whose sympathies are with the working man, but the whole prosperity of the country is now at stake, and we are determined to see this business through at any cost; What we would like to receive—and in this I believe I am voicing a unanimous opinion—is instructions to place the agitators under arrest, and we have a sufficiently powerful force to do this at short notice. In accomplishing this we feel that we should be rendering the whole populace of New Zealand, and incidentally the waterside workers, signal service.’ Twenty men arrived from Kawhia at 2 o’clock this morning and left again for Hamilton at 4, where they join the main body which left Te Awamutu on Wednesday afternoon.

CREAMERY SUPPLIES. The chairman of the local branch New Zealand Farmers’ Union this morning telegraphed to Mr Pacey, manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association with reference to creamery supplies, to which he has received the following reply: — “ Statement in newspapers that there is no storage arid no fuel at Auckland absolutely without foundation. There will be enough storage and fuel for some weeks. It may be difficult at a few creameries to maintain fuel supplies, but expect to manage.