THE DOCKERS' STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1220, 31 August 1911, Page 6

THE DOCKERS' STRIKE.

ATTITUDE OF N.Z. WATERSIDE WORKERS. ACTIVE.PARTICIPATION DISCUSSED. (By Telceraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, August 30. An important question came beioro the conferenco of delegates of tlio Waterside Workers' Federation to-day relative to the desirability of the conference issuing on instruction to waterside workers in New Zealand to refuso to handle cargo on Homo boats now in theso ports as a token of comradeship with the dockers who aro on strike in London. Mr. '!, Smith (Wellington), in bringing the. matter before the conference, said his union had on Friday last received a cable from Mr. Bon Tillett asking that tho waterside workers of the Dominion should show their sympathy with the federated dockers of London then on strike by refusing to work on the New Zealand Shipping Company's boats and the SliawSavill boats, those companies boing concerned in the English upheaval. Mr. Smith added that ho had unfortunately forgotten to bring the matter up on tho opening day of the conference, and the newspaper cables were very confusing as to whether the dockers ha'd since resumed work in London.

Mr. G. Smith (Patea) said he thought the matter was one deserving the most serious consideration. If the waterside workers of Npw Zealand could show a practical sympathy with their comrades at Home by holding up these.boats while in :Now Zealand ports they should not hesitate to do so. Mr. Legg (Gisborne) said that under the Arbitration Act they could really do nothing. They couldn't ccaso work. Mr. Terry (Wellington): You could cease work and go to gaol .Mr. Smith (Wellington) said he thought it would be bettor to cable Homo and find put what the position now was. The trouble might have l>o2ll settled bv this nl, nud ll wmiltl ,)C foolish to hold up all these ships in Ne-,- Zealand if the (lockers had resumed work at Homo. It would be better to a few pounds in cabling Homo rather than perhaps uselessly involve the loss of hundreds of pounds 1,1 refusing to work tho New Zealand shipping Company's and tho ShawSavill do'iK Mr. Canham (Auckland) said that ho nart been prepared to movo that the conference instruction? to all the unions in the Dominion to nt once ceaso lhe chairman: You cannot do that. Mr, Canham: I »n only savin" I was prepared, to do that, but L rf transpires (hat it is now five days since the cable was receded from Mr. Tillett I am will"f to withhold action until we have portion " aiUl asccriai,le(l the «al ShXdirk™ ttheyirere^ wl^ivf^^^^ ! ? cceived?" m3rroW aftOr a rep 'y has b«n