THE PATEA STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1052, 15 February 1911, Page 8

THE PATEA STRIKE.

, POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS. '. Becent developments in connection with the strike of tho waterside workers at, Patea go to show that the situation is mm- becoming complicated, and that if conciliatory, measures.in'tho near.future' do not prevail tho trouble may: assunio graver dimensions. , According to a statement by Mr. J. Jackson, president of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' federation, which has been authorised bv' the Patea Union to assume full control "of tho case for the strikers, the issues now at stake are:.(l) Preference to unionists; and (2) 2s. Gd. per hour overtime rate, lhe Executive Committee of the Federation considers that.the Patea men did not act wisely in conceding certain other vital. points without . a struggle, but, having conceded them, the executive has decided to contest only the two ' noints above-mentioned. Since then .the Executive Committee has received a letter from Uγ. JP. Halljv Conciliation Commissioner, suggesting:— ■ (1); That the parties to tho dispute shall meet in conference it ' once ' and arrango as many of tho points in disnute a 9 they possibly can. ' * . (2) Should any of the points in dispute remain unsettled these should bo referred to an arbitrator niutuallv agreed upon by both parties. - (3) Tho men who are now out of employment shall return to work, and as soon as the terms of this agreement have been-signed • by the-parties and the appointment of an arbitrator confirmed.

(4) That the parties to the dispute shall sign the (agreement and shall bo bound by its provisions. The Commissioner also wrote to the managing director of the Pr.tea Shipping Company, urging the company to try and bring about an amicable settlement of tho trouble. . ••• "

The executive thereupon decided to refer tho issues to Mr Hally, as an independent arbitrator, and if the employers agreed to this course, the strike would bo called off and the men requested to resume work pending the commissioner's decision, which decision the federation agreed to abide by whether it were favourable or unfavourable.. The executive accordingly met the employers, Messrs.' Eenuer and Turnbull (ot tho Patea "arid Aorere Shipping Companies respectively), on Monday, and/states Mr. Jackson, we're informed that a 2s. 3d. per hour overtime rate would be conceded, but not preferencs to unionists. Tho proposal that the matter should bo referred to Mr. Hally was not entertained, states Mr. Jackson. Tho executive of the federation held a meeting subsequently and decided t wire every union" in affiliation to the federation and to send Communications to" all organised labour unions throughout New Zealand with the object of "taking drastic action."

• Seen last evening by a representative of The Dominion, Mr. Jackson-said that the position was still unchanged. The executive had'received a number of replies in answer to the telegrams forwarded'"to the unions throughout Mew Zealand, and in all cases the action of the federation has been endorsed. Further action will be « laved pending receipt of all the replies. The president of the federation (Mr. Jacksou) is obliged to return to the coast in connection with a pending action concerning his own union, and leaves 'Wellington on Friday. •

Mr. K. C. Renner, secretary of the Paten.Shipping Company, interviewed by a representative of The Dominion- last evening with reference to Mr. JacKson's statement that the proposal to refer tho matter to Mr. Hally was nyt entertained by the employers, states that the. employers were quite willing to have the matter referred to th* commissioner, and were still agreeable- to the adoption of this course. More than that he declinedto say. ;