"TURNED DOWN."

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 2

"TURNED DOWN."

FEDERATION OF LABOUR REPUDIATED. UNION'S REPLY TO CIRCULAR. (IPKCIAL TO "TUB ?RttS.") AUCKLAND, May 25. At a largely attended meeting of members of the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Employees' Union, held recently. a circular was received from the Fedteration of Labour inviting the Union to Iβ represented at a conference to bo held in Wellington on Jul> 7th with the object of "combining the forces of Labour and adopting a common line of political action." Tho circular was adversely criticised, and it was left to tho executive committee to frame a reply.

The reply has now been forwarded to the United Federation of Labour. Ie states that the proposals put forward in the Federation's circular letter-are grotesque, and points out that Unions are invited to a conference with a bait of "One union, one delegate, one vote." The circular does not even suggest that remits be submitted. Seeing that the Federation of Labour has tho support only of the smaller unions possessing a membership of from fifteen upwards, is it feasible that our union, which has a membership of 1050. equivalent to the membership of from ten to twenty of the unions in sympathy with —or to put it more correctly—duped by ti« Federation should enbmit to having only the same voting power. If the Federation were earnest in its endeavour to obtain the real feeling of the majority of thp workers, proportionate representation have been, unhesitatingly decided upon. "The proposals,'' proceeds the reply "are also insulting, because the Federation, in its malicious disappointment; describes theOhinemuri Mines and Bat; teries . Union as the 'bosses' union.' It has vainly tried to declare Waihi to be a black town. It has printed a Ecurrilous pamphlet bristling with misrepresentations and with statements ab sofutely fact. It has also published in the pamphlet the names of members of our. union who would norsacrifice their manhood and submit thei r consciences and principle to the ignorant leadership of that organisation which has proved to be the greatest union-destroyer, strife-creator, and home-breaker that this country hai ever had to tolerate. Now that th* Federation finds its funds depleted, its membership pitifully weak, and its influence a laughingstock, and finds that the general public is not only unsympathetic, but hc«tile to its anarchical, revolutionary, I.W.W. teachings and practices, it crawls with ludicroas pleadings under the pretext or 'successfully protecting the mutual interest of organised labour,' to this union, which has been subject to its insults, abuse, misrepresentations, ana sneaking, underhand methods ever since it was formed, a union comprised of men who belonged to the previous union which the Federation ruined financially and numerically, and into which it introduced the bitterness which now exists amongst the men who sTiould iiave constituted tho strongest union in New Zealand." The reply also describes the circular as hypocritical, and proceeds:—"For these reasons and for numerous others which it will find clearly set out in the reply yon received from tho Westport Waterside Workers' Union, we could not under any circumstances entertain for a single moment the idea of condeecending to insult any member of our union by even suggesting to nominate him as a delegate to attend such a farcical conference as your circular suggests. "Wβ trust that the above facts, with which you are already only too familiar, will awaken that sense of manhood which ought to oxist even in the misleaders of the Federation of Labour, and that they will cause a realisation of the truth that the honest unionist lias enough to contend against without the Federation of Labour forcing the eraployefts and farmers to unite for their own protection—a very necessary proceeding.

"Finally, let us advise you not to interfere with men who are sincere in their endeavours to do their duty to their fellow-men withont the hope of personal gain or recompense, and to work in harmony for the mutual advantage of all concerned. Then, perhaps, these glorious snn-kissed hills of Freedom, to which, among other platitudes, the Federation so frequently refers, will be nearer the reach of at least some of ns. The Federation has had one eharp lesson from uaihi. Let it take this as a signal for 'Hands off I*"