THE PATEA STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1053, 16 February 1911, Page 4

THE PATEA STRIKE.

, A DEADLOCK. 'V- v y' ' No satisfactory settlement of the, P»t» , waterside" workers' -.strike" seems;as -yet . in prospecf. t "Practically 1 a {.deadlock," wero the words in" which Mr. J- ;Jackson (president of the N.Z. Waterside.Workers , : Federation) described the situation whert. interviewed by: aJDoMi^N. reporter: last.. ; ■ Yesterday, in renlying'to a • letter : ftojn. • the,fcderauon, Mr. B. C Benner.Yjjecre- ! tdry of the Petea Shipping . stated that his comoany* was not prepared > to refer the matters remaining in.dispute:, i to Mr.'Hally as a single arbitrator. The', > company wished' to'refer the matter to the:, > Conciliation ■Council, and thence. r to. the r: i Arbitration Court, - if■' necessary.- iKeier-;, I ring to the desire otthe federation foran; I immediate Settlement "of the, dispute, Mr; ; • Rentier suggested , that the. Conciliation,; • Council mightbe called-together: liUfcHy V ; to deal with the matter.;, '_ ■ ; . ' As to this, Mr. Jackson.stated ; that. hM- • federation did not desire to. go through- ' the-procedure of-filing a-dispute;before : • -the CpngUia,tion. : They \ jß^i ■ that the employees would take it to ttte. » Arbitration ."Court, and the federation; , jected to.thodelay which ; .this; course.' would involve. "'■ ;;...■•■■•"'-■- i'Aa-J:-■While. Sir. Jackson declined ~ to-.state , explicitly what'tho federation's nest move would be, he remarked-that; definite ■ step, would,'in all [likelihood,_ be_takea. to-day."""' "■' '''''■.'""''■'•' ■*.'■' "' ~i-i" r "'/.>'-•■*":.>;. "Drastic Action." •;;-;■; What does "drastic action"' mean, ,:Mr.>. Jackson ?' asied the reporter,, referring : to a recent statemeut by the president.:^; "It would mean force of some : kind, ; • was the reply. "Of course . the t term, ; 'drastic action' in this cess wonld_ mean force," Mr. Jackson replied to a further ■ ' 'question. -"Further than that I cannot. • B bound to get the assistance; 3 of.ell unions affiliated to the-Trades; and. s Labour Council," continued Mr. Jaoason.;.> • "When they understand,-that .-; we; 1 have tried to get an ■. • settlement by . arbitration, , their . STJJ:.. nathy cannot be withheld. One-half. '< "of the'unions concerned; , he remdrkea ■•; : further, bad already replied to the .com- •. ■ rauhication sent out by the federation.; and every reply supported"the stand the. : ■ federation had taken. Replies from;. most ■■ ', of the! remaining were eipec tea\ ' to arrive to-day, a'nd'there was nddonbt: " that these also would be favourable. . i • look upon this as a very serious matter, ,; 1 stated Mr; Jackson. .."It mcans i) that; if.. ■ the federation will not reach; nana : ! to help the' , smaller unions,- its value is : I not what it should be.: We : have; o^ered.;., 1 the employers a fair proposition, ' ».v: ' concluded, "in suggesting that the mat- ; " ter be referred to THr. Hally- I, aonfc,: ; wfsh to, precipitate, an industrial crisis .. 1 by anv means iipon this Dominion, but- \ we feel that■Wβ;have to.stand firm ; when; I we.have been treated: as on this Occa^; ' Jackson intends to.leave for Grey..^ ' month to-morrow evening," ana the other ! members «f the executive will return .to 1 their lieadn.uarters.at Lyttelton. Arrange-: ' ments will be .mado.for eomeone toi w.. ; [ 'present the executive, meantime, in.Wei:.•: t , 1 ?? ° n "-..;-.Action by Seamen.. :;,v;^' <■ it is'sta'teiltliaf the "Ideal - i Union has rieciticd to support tlie Water-v ! side Workers' Federation, failing , any,; ' satisfactory settlement of tue Patca strike [ ; and wiU fie prepared Jo, adrise., members'-"" - ■ of the union, in Uie'"Patea' boats.: to jrive ■' ' legal notice to 'leave: ■•their ships. v>The'; • Executive Council iu Dnnedin. has .been.: ! > asked to consider the subject and ratify,' I the'local decision. If thisiis done, the- • union will be prepared to proceed; on-thaV f lines-indicated.- ■' "•'•■'; :'^x/^^~i**>- ■■ -. .' .: "-...:■-' ~■' ".••; "i'> ".:■'■"'..