THE RETURN OF THE TAXI.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14834, 27 November 1913, Page 8

THE RETURN OF THE TAXI.

A FEW SIDELIGHTS ON RECENT EVENTS.. " * To-day, the Square and. the streets will be once more alive with taxis. There have been a Uw, run by their owners, since Monday, but the big proprietaries did not figure among them. They did not wish to risk valuable cars before the "specials" so completely took control, even though they could have got many men to run them. So the cars had a rest, but the chauffeurs had not. They were opposed to the strike from the first, with few exceptions. At tho Drivers' Union meeting on Friday night, when the striko Was decided upon, those of them who were there fought against, it, and claimed exemption strongly. Thoy could not ccc how their coming out was going to help the watersiders of Wellington to hold "stop work" meetings which they had already promised they wouldn't hold again it only they would be taken back to the work they had thrown away, but with the Federation of their, undoing still on their backs. The strike was, however, carried in spito of the taxi folks dissatisfaction which was quoted as another evidence of the, superb "solidarity of Labour." Then the fight ~ for exemption was made, and renewed at a public meeting on Monday, and renewed again yesterday; It was carried by the meeting, so was the carrying of bread, and of cases to the Hospital. And then a Labour light got up and declared that it must be all strike or none. There • must be no exceptions. The heavy penalties of the 1903. Act were lightly disregarded as. regards bread, etc. The taxi men found themselves sinking with the common Federation millstone. The objectors, declared that they might carry luggage, and luggage was cargo and cargo was against the Federation's dictum. So everything that had been carried by the meeting was promptly, thrown overboard before the meeting closed. At the close of the meeting it. was understood that there were-to be no exceptions of any kind. Afterwards it was decided that burials could take place with the permission of tho secretary of- the Drivers' Union. It was understood at that stage also, that they must be conducted by union labour. This was again modified by permitting the burials to take place even without the; permission of the secretary in special circumstances.. Meantime came the Monday meeting.,' ' At that the question of exemptions, was again raised, and again the taxi men were refused. There were dramatic moments at that meeting.; One of the loudest leaders against the exemptions, one of the strongest in favour of. a fight aoutrance, thundered that no consideration whatever would-induce him

to abandon the militant position. He and they- must not give in till victory was won, and especially they must teach these' "scabs" of "specials" a lesson. For himself, he would stay oat till there was not a boot to his foot, and tramp from here to Nelson barefooted, living on rabbits, before he would go back to work or consent to anyone else going back. His earnestness, his strength of lung, and his eloquence helped the other leaders to carry the day. The exemption-seekers were turned down. Next day the irreconcilable die-hard, the man who would never surrender while there was a "scab" or a "special" in Canterbury—and a rabbit on the kills — wa s quietly back at work, industriously driving his employer's dray. His boots were sound, the rabbits undecimated. The taxi-drivers and the rest were still "out," still seeking exemption. They were told that their union could do nothing. It was in the hands of "the men higher up"—the Strike Committee. The Strike Committee was tried. It turned them down. It was not responsible. They must appeal to their union. Onco more they appealed. Yesterday it was all fought out again. It was understood that if tho appeal did not succeed, the taxis would be onco more chauffeurefi anyhow, if it meant the formation of a now union. It was the caso of the racehorses at Wellington over again, when -permission was generously granted to ship when it was found they were being shipped at Wellington despite tho prohibition. The case of the Navua's fruit over again- This time the union found it could give them permission. It exempted them, permitted them to return to work this mornine. But they are to contribute ten shillings weekly a piece to the strike fund.