"MEDDLING AGITATORS."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 647, 26 October 1909, Page 6

"MEDDLING AGITATORS."

'{ STTRiCTUREs: " ■:': ; RESENTED* . union secretaries ' which;' were,.made", from 'the • Benohin Auckland by Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., have been strongly "resented.in ;Labour.Circles/ The. matter came-before the New Zealand .Trades and labour Conference 'yesterday 'in a -letter 'from' a meeting'of trades nnion secretaries mAupkland.' The letter stated that the remarks of the-magistrate,''in delivering, his judgment in the case, "The Auckland Hotel and' Restaurant Employees', Union v.. John 'Morrison "'.oil- Sep-, tember 21, .contßined:jrave: allegations against secretaries.,of industrial .unions of.. employees.'. It' wos-further affirmed '.that....his . remarks were - .absolutely. , unfounded, •. uncalled . for, and ■ •'. directed -against, .union. ie'oreUries generally,; who, under the ciroumsUuoos, were upable to r combat same, but who'-were expressly recognised by the law. ot the" Dominion, 'and; only held - their by the'good opinion of .the workers. ■■. ■. : ■ • ■' 'The magistrate, in his judgment (as already, i reported, in- -Siud:..\ The bourer, is worthy of his hire, unity is strength, arid' .workers aro- entitled to .safeguard.-;and maintain their, rights .by .all. fair and. legitimate means,.but-the meddling, mischief-niak-iriz agitator,':who,, through, excess;of. zeal or under Vnrfctakeh sense;of duty;, foments dis-. content among workers, and encourages., a spiritof hostility and antagonism towards employers, .'instead of. cultivating and promoting a' conciliatory .spirit and good-feeling between employers' and employees, is an enemy of -the, a greater enemy of -the employees, and;a curse' to-the 'community. ' ... :- ;■=. Mr. T. 'Dong.' secretary of- Oie. Auckland Cooks' and farters'- Union, -.'related the facts of-the/case and'his experience in; the ..witnessbox v-He ; had, he said, been there about threequarters of an hour, and had" been subject to more/abuse than-'ever/before; not from the. lawyers;, •but,: from'• the ; magistrate, who had gone 'outside ;his : judicial- functions. ■ If-; they, were-to-take srich .treatment lying .down, he did not kndw what>they were/ coming to. ;■ ■;.■ . -Mr. E. J.' Carey -.(secretary •of theton' Cooks', and Waiters* Union) said Kettle was giving: dissatisfaction, .not wily to tne SonTecretanes, but also to the Labour Department, and to those employers who were trying to; keep .the; law'. .Mr: Kettle ...required a rap over'itße-.knuckles' to cause I .him.. to adminster justdce.withobt insulting' any.' class of-the Horning (Auckland) said he failed-to .see : Why : a' magistrate' employed by; the .peopleshould go outside his.duty to abuse secretaries who wera : appoiflted:by the unions and were, doing the unionß'.,proper-work. ... ■Mr. Mlaren, that if magistrates and judges'were, to exhibit such bm-against-the workers as they had lately, done, the_ position/was. very, serious. ,'■ Those., on .the .benchhad been taking.np.'the.position of advocates of'the'employers'.associations. Mr. Kettles, remarks were an '..attack •on tho whole . abqiir movement, and the. conference .should speak with rio/uncertain sound., .. >';'■;..'. . '.'. ','. , ;, '" It was resolved to. place the, matter before the Minister for Labour; and; 'Justice,.- by : 'depntation, and to protest emphatically the unjudicial, remarks; of Magistrate Kettle. - -~