THE STRIKE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 42, 25 November 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

QUESTION OF SPECIALS.

DISCUSSED BY FARMKItS' UNION. An important point of tins business at tlie meeting of the Clutlia branch of the N.Z. Fanners' Union held in Balelutha on (Saturday afternoon was that dealing with the industrial crisis. Confidential correspondence was read in regard to the supply of special constables and free, labour so that shipping could be carried out, and after being received the matter was discussed in open meeting. Mr Moslev .said there was a lot of specials already at Tahuua I'ark, and he did not think the Union would need to send any more, as they would not be required. In this matter they should hasten slowly, and unless it was absolutely necessary they should not take any steps. Besides, it was an awkward time for farmers to send men to town. Mr John Christie: (Still, it might lie all right to organise, so as to be prepared if there is need for the men to go. .Mr A. Cunningham: Mr Mitchell, the provincial secretary, says the position is worse than what the papers make it appeaf to be.

.Mr Mosley: I havu authority for saying that it is not, and if men are sent who are not needed it will no doubt accentuate the ill-feeling. It should always be known tliat there are always two sides to every question, and it is quite possible that we have not got the full facts. It is not ge.nerally known that previous to this trouble the Federation of Labour wanted the authorities to bring in a law under the Trades Union Act to have all disputes heard before a magistrate. If this waa done they would go to work so that the farmers should not suffer. You did not know that, did v»ul The Employers' Federation would not agree to this. Previous to this trouble the Fanner*' l T nion did not join in with the Employers' Federation in case it might bring the farmers into trouble. I think it would be a foolish tiling for the Fanners' Union to rush-in with free labour unless it was absolutely necessary. They may have gone too far in the North Island, but the position is milder in the South Island.

Mr Christie agreed that before this trouble the Farmers' Union had kept apart from the Employers' Federation. He suggested that the branch should appoint a small committee to confer with the Balclutha Borough Council with a view to organising in case it, would be necessary to send special constables to flunedin.

Mr Mosley said it was quite right foi' the fanners to show that they would not allow the ports to he held up, preventing the shipping of their produce, but at the same time he hoped it would not be necessary to send specials, as that would only bring trouble and cause ill-feeling. There were any amount of specials already in Dunediii to ileal with any trouble that might, arise. Mr Christie said he was not in favour of sending in specials unless they were, needed, but farmers could not allow their shipping to be interfered with. It would not do any harm to see what organisation they had. lie moved that Mr Mosley and himself be appointed to interview the Balclutha Borough Council with a a iew to making arrangements for getting special constables if that step was made absolutely necessary.— This was seconded by Mr E. Moffat ami carried unanimously. Mr Mosley: All the same ! am liope- • lul that better counsels will prevail and that special constables will not be required. M.r E. Moffat: The authorities seem to ; be acting too easy on the men who are • breaking the law. i Mr Christie: The feeling is that the legal business dominates the whole thing. The workers don't approve of ■ the constitution of the Arbitration Court as at present. ! Mr Cunningham: What do they want? Mr Mosley: A wages board, the same • as in Australia, The legal aspect does not come into the case there at all. I Mr Clirigtie: 1 think the men have been grossly misled by the leaders of • the Federation of Labour. It seems a pathetic thing the way old hands are I now kept out of work. Mr Moffat! 1 suppose nine-tenths of - them are out on strike against their own will. Jt is a pity the agitators 3 caanot be got at. Mr Cunningham: A Hum is tt fool to - be led by them.

Mr Mosley: Tho remedy is a pel-font court alul tho law mack Btl-oilgel- for dealing with those who ai'c seditiouary. The discussion again veered round to Hjiecial constables by ill- Chrirftio asking how tlicv were paid.

Mr Mosley: The Government pays them I.os a day and expenses. Mr Moffat said he did not think it would be possible to get many men from his district, as it was an awkward time to get away, but if it came to the worst the farmers could "down tools."

Mr Cunningham: Wo may as well shut up shop if our ports are to bo stopped. Membors then agreed to make inquiries and notify the secretary of tho branch as to what help could be given from their immediate districts. Mr llosley: We want young men. Some of \\h are a bit too old for that sort of work. Mr Christie: I don't know. They could bo older than some of the specials who are on duty. Mr Cunningham: I think by what I see in the papers that tho Bpecials have behaved themselves well. I would not like mon to throw stones at me, and I don't think I would stand much of that, The meeting then proceeded to .discuss other aattars,