INFLAMMATORY TALK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1355, 5 February 1912, Page 5

INFLAMMATORY TALK.

STRIKE LEABERS AT THE BASIN RESERVETHREATENING "THE DOMINION." Close on three thousand people assembled at the mass meeting at the Basin iiesorve yesterday afternoon, when addresses were delivered by the strike leaders and representatives of the Trades Council anit the Federation of Labour. The crowd consisted largely, ifj not wholly, of supporters of the tramwaymen, and the proportion of the sexes was about equal. It there were any present who dissented from the tramwaymen's attitude they offered no demonstration, and a resolution calling upon the City Council either to accept tho terms set out by thu Strike Committco or to resign was carried unanimously by a show of hands, cheers being given at tho close of tho proceedings. A posse of police was in attendance, but at no stage of the proceedings wcro they called upon i to interfere to preserve order, there being an absence of any counter-demonstra-tion which might have provoked an uproar. The various speakers wero given a good hearing, interjections beingjcomparatively few. Generally speaking, tho speeches were of an inllammatory nature; in several instances remarks were passed which cannot very well be reported, by reason of their objectionable terms. One speaker (Mr. W. T. Young) threatened to closo up The Dominion newspaper if it persisted in its attitude towards the strikers. THOSE FOUR WORDS-MR. YOUNG'S VERSION. The speeches wero delivered from tho balcony of tho pavilion. Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen's Union, and chairman of the Strike Committee, was the first speaker. He said that they were assembled there in serious mood. The situation was very serious, and ho sincerely hoped that the unfortunate difficulty which had arisen would be settled before it became graver. He desired first of all to reply to the ActingMayor's, ' Councillor Atkinson's, and Councillor Shirtoliffe's version of his refusal to sign the agreement on Friday, which was altogether incorrect. The position was that after the cessation of work a Strike Committee was set up. On Thursday the committco drafted three terms of settlement. This was done because they' had been led to believe that the City Council was not quito clear as to what the actual grounds of settlement were; the Acting-Mayor had said that he had received no official notification of any strike. The committee's terms wero forwarded to the City Council at 10 o'clock on Thursday night. On Friday morning the committee's representatives met the representatives of the City Council, and discussed the terms of settlement till 1 p.m., with tho result that it was clearly agreed:

1. That Inspector Fuller should be transferred to another branch of the service, wher© he would not be brought into contact with any member of the Tramway Union. "Hear, hear!" said several voices from the crowd.

Continuing, Mr. Young said that this stipulation for Fuller's removal was met by the council's repvosentatires with the contention that it would involve legal ("Hear, hear," said a voice.) If insisted on, Fuller would take legal action. Therefore, in order to snvo the council from any such complications, or any danger, it was agreed to forgo the demand for Fuller's removal, substituting the clause he had previously mentioned.'"t'liis, lift contended, was a very reasonable compromise, and a very reasonable way out of the difficulty, and, by the way, the letter from Fuller to the City Council ashing definitely and unreservedly to l>e transferred to another branch of the service had given clear proof that the City Council's representations with regard to legal complications wcro_ not correct. (Hear, hear.) '.file council was fully protected by Fuller's letter. However, tbo fact remained that at one p.m. on Friday they hid agrrod on the terms of settlement. The second clause, that referring to the question,of indemnification in respect to the breach of the law, was struck out— another compromise; ns fair-minded men, they had accepted the reasonable arguments by the council's representatives on that point. The clause indemnifying the men from any possible victimisation when they returned to duty was accented by Hi eeouncil's representatives. With one or two. minor alterations in the agreement not affecting the principle at stake, the way to a settlement seemed clear, and the Strike Committee's rcprJseutatives left on. that understanding.

WHEN "THE BALL BEGAN TO ROLL." At i p.m., continued Mr. Young, tho Strike Committee's representatives went to (lie Town Hall to get the council's decision. They got that, and returned to the Trades Hall and placed the matter before the Strike Committee. As chairman, he explained to the committeo Clause. 1 of tho, agreement—that Fuller was to bo transferred to a branch of the service where he would not come, in contact with any member of tho Tram.ray Union. After a discussion lasting for an hour and a half, the draft agreement was adopted by the Strike Committee. It was then G. 15 p.m. "We then went back to tho Town Hall well pleased that everything seemed settled," said Sir. Young, "and met tho council's representatives at 6.30 p.m., rnd conveyed our decision to them. Although the terms were not so satisfactory as we might have desired, it was felt that there were faults on both sides, and reasons en both sides, and we had reluctantly agriwd to the two terms which now formed the basis of settlement. The town clerk went away to put the agreement in black and white, and Councillor Shirtcliffe rose to congratulate both sides on having agreed on tho terms of settlement. The town olerk then.returned with thetypewritten documents, handing on« copy t'o the Act-ing-Mayor and one to Mr. Hickey. I looked over at Mr. Hickey's copy, bein" csmeially concerned about Clause 1. 'Ihats not what we agreed to,' I said to Mr. Mickey, and then the ball began to 1011. I told the Acting-Mayor that Clause 1 was not what we had agreed to. There was nothing in the clause which provided that Inspector Fuller should not l>c brought into contact with tho men. iliat had been deleted from it I explained what wo had told tho Strike Committee, and said to the ActingJlayor that I wouldn't sign that for von or anybody olso'-(licar, hear). And I (tout propose to do so." (Applause)

CITY COUNCILLORS ON STRIKE. Continuing, Mr. Young said that "ho was as anxious to arrive at a settlement as anyone, and was sorry'that tho public nconvenienco had been caused through h!VVi UW? \ Bl ! tth0 Position,™ was that the interests of one man in this case had been put over and above the whole of the community. The Tramways ,oninu((ce-the employers of the.se nienliad considoi-od the case some weeks ami recommended the removal of Fuller from the traffic service The recommendation was adopted by the City Council, but the decision was rescinded on the motion of Councillor ShirtelilVe. Then came tho negotiations between the council and tho tramway Union's executive, when it was ngre?d to formulate charges against Fuller, before tile City Council. Whether that was a mistake on tho part of the union or not he could not sav, but if there was nothing wrong witii Fuller then why in tho namo of goodness did the Tramway Committee recommend his removal? They had no objection to inspectors, declared Mr. Young, but jf they knew of any man in anv emplov who was not acting fairly, that'man had got to go. Ho was no use to I hem—no use to the cause of Labour—and he did the whole community a material injury. (Hear, hear.)

The proposals made by (he Strike Committee, he continued, were (lie most reasonable any body of representatives could make, short of sacrificing their manhood. All that they wanted was the identical resolution which was on the minute-book of the City 'Council itsdf^

and this demand was turned down by tha council after five, or tea minutes' discussion. After that came the unfortunate incident between the .Acting-Mayor and Mr. Hinduiarsh. "As a matter of fact," suggested the speaker, "the councillors went on strike! (Laughter.) They left the ehamlier, and said that they would not work any longer with Councillor Hindmarsh. 'J.lie council's on strike! (Laughter.) What about the law for the strikers:-' (Laughter.) They're going to .set (he law on to me. But I've got to see this thing through now, and will .we it through along the lines of common sense and conciliation if possible." "BY NOON TO-MORROW-OR?" "If this strike is not settled bv noon to-morrow," declared the speaker,' "verv grave consequences will arise. (Hear, hear.) We had a very large meeting at the irades Ilnll this morning, when the representatives of nearly every organised body in the city were present'as well as representatives of the federation of Labour, 'iho position was gone into verv seriously, and a certain conclusion was unanimously arrived at, namely: '"That the representatives of tho various organisations at this meeting hereby pledge themselves that they will on request recommend and urge the members of their bodies to down tools in support of the tramway men.'" This statement was received with hear, hears," and applause. "IF 'THE DOMINION* SAYS MUCH MORE » "If you have any desire for the interests of our common welfare," proceeded Mr. Young, "you will get,to work to get rid of men who ought never to have been permitted to hold 6eats on tho City Council of Wellington." "Fossils!" rudely interjected a voice from the crowd. "As I said before," shouted Mr. Young, excitedly, "they are not fit to adjudicate upon a dead dog!" (Laughter.) "Further, he continued, "if 'The Dominion' says much more with reflard to this matter we will tako away its material. It will bo able to say nothing. We will close their doors up! If this malicious Tory paper enter into this contest too severely it will regret the day!" MR. SUTHERLAND ON DIGNITY. Mr. A. Sutherland, secretary of the Tramways Union, said ho did not supposo it was necessary for him to apologise to tho people lor the circumstance that they had had to walk there. Tho City Council would do that at n later stage, it had been said that tho strike hud been organist by trades union men and other actions of agitators, as they were called, for the men who voiced tho sentiments of the workers of tho colony to-day were classed tind styled as agitators, it had been widely circulated that this was tho class of men that had caused this trouble. That statement lie wished to contradict. The wliolo trouble luid been caused by the City Council. The Strike Committee had sat night after night debating and discussing the matter until now a crisis had come, and they had not sat every day from early morning until 1! o'clock the next morning just ior fun. Tho union had taken a ballot on the question of crushing tiiis tyranny under which tlic ' men had been working for a period of years. Tho union approached tho Trades Council, and the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and to the union's great satisfaction tlio two bodies swung into line, and had offered not only sympathy, but financial help as well. The City Council was taking up the dignified attitude that they would not be dictated to by any union. But ho ventured to' say they would be dictated to in this case, for they would find that tho fight they had before them was a bigger proposition than they had ever anticipated. Behind tho union was tho consolidated labour of the wliolo country, and either Iho strike would. l>o of very short duration, or the struggle would be pretty sharp and decisive. Strikes caused by cspionago had occurred recently in Sydney and in Cape Town. In 'Auckland two years ago the Tramway Com- ■ -pauy ■found themselves in th'e same position as the Wellington City Council were in about an inspector. They were a company, out to consider their profits, but tho City Council wero out to consider their dignity only. Tho trouble was not altogether Fuller. Fuller was merely one of the tools used by the Federation of Employers against organised labour. An attempt was made to break the back of one union,, and if it had licen successful others would have followed in its wake. The council did not care for Fuller, but they were out to gain their ends, and they' had made Fuller the tool.. Ndw tho council found they could not go forward, and they could not go back, and they wanted the union to swallow the leek. This tho union would not do, nor did they want to impo.se any indignity on the City Council.

MR. PAYNE, M.P. Mr. Payne, M.P. for Grey Lvnn, also addressed the crowd briefly. Ho led off with a reference to something which he called "Scheme 45," but which he did not explain. Then ho discussed the tramways caso by comparing it with his own business—that of an accountant and auditor. Supervision was necessary in many businesses, lint if an auditor went into an office and treated everybody in it as a common thief, ho would not bo in the office two minutes. If a man in a position of authority, however useful he might be, had no tact in handling men,' lie was bound to cause friction , sooner or later. The point at issuo in the caso was whether the Tramways Union were going to win an honourable victory, or whether tho matter was going to be allowed to fizzle out by tho action of Fuller himself.

MR. DALTON'S MOTION. Mri Dalton, president of the Tramways Union, said that ho desired to thank the union's supporters and sympathisers. He hoped that a settlement would lx> arrived at next morning, and if that happened the cars would be running early in the afternoon. In the meantime ho asked the public to bear with them. They wore backed by strong organisations. The position had been forced upon them for months past. "Wo liavo requested the council almost on our knees, ho said, "to be freed from contact with this man Puller. We can no longer work with him." Mr. E. J. Carey, secretary of the Cooks and Waiters' Union, said that the struggle was no longer between the Tramway Union and the council, but between the council and the trades unions. Ho moved: "That this mass meeting of citizens calls upon the members of the City Council to sign tiro terms of settlement as submitted by (he Strike Committee, or, failing to do so, to resign as a body so that the people may have the opportunity of giving their verdict on the issue in this dispute." 'Die reading of the motion was received with "Hear, hears," and applause.' "PIMPING AND SPYING." Mr. V. Iliekey, of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, seconded the motion, and made, a long and loud speech in support of it. His first notable remark was a reference to a certain man's "pestcrifcrous carcass." "Once this system of spying and pimping is allowed'to go on in. the Iratmray service," he said, "it will spread until tho whole union movement is tilled with spying and pimping." A man in tlw> audience, evidently amused at tho speaker's virulence, said something like "U-r-r-r-r." Mr. Ilickey (pointing in (lie direction of the noise); ''There s a pimp there. There's a pimp there." Which provoked a little protest and a lot of laughter. "Jf you have the interests of vour fellowworkers at heart," he said later, "if von have (he interests of your children' at heart, and if you desire them to get a square deal, then you arc going to strike a blow at spying and malicious reports." A voice: You never proved it. 13ut to this challenge Mr. Hickey did not reply. Instead lui said "If you aro not prepared to do that you are unworthy of the name of and women, and vou (ire doing something you will very sincerely regret. . . . One thing that hos marked them (tho union) is their absolute solidarity about putting an end to pimping and spying. And Vou hero in Wellington mv on the brink of exactly Ihe saino proposition as they aro up against in Brisbane. Don't forget that. "THEIR DIGNITY IS AT STAKE." Mr. Hickoy said a good deal to tho .discredit of tuoflo city councillors with

whom ho had been in conflict, "Be it said to the credit of Councillor, llindmaxsTi," ho said, "that ho wn6 the only man amongst thom that got up and told thorn what (hey wore. They need it— these men—to bo told what they arc." A voice: To go to the devil. Mr. llickey. Yes, they should have been there long ugo. A voice: They wouldn't have them there. llr. llickey: No, perhap they would not have them there. Perhaps they would need about a thousand foot ladder to get down a bit lower. lie indicated a few of tho most obvious and most serious effects of u strike. "Would it then be possible," he said, "to drive a littlo grey matter into the brains of some of these city councillors? If that won't, you want to act up to the spirit of this'motion, and demand that, they bo immediately removed from office. They .are not serious in their desire to bring an end to this dispute. If they wero would not they settle it now? Is Iheiw anything dictatorial in our suggestionP Why do we find them fighting it? Wo.are going to fight thorn. Wo nro going lo fight them with nil the weapons at our disposal. There is not nn organisation in Now Zealand worlhv of the name that will not back tiioso men to the last. ditch. Someone has said: What about the public convenience? What about tho feelings of the public? Hut until tho public asserts itself as a public, and supports the Tramways Union in this fight, the public cannot expect to bo considered. Tho union are not in a position to consider your convenienca if you are not prepared to help them l« get justice." Tho speaker then referred to Wie t*ry Council: "Poor old fossilised individuals. Their dignity is at stake. 1 can imagine tho amount of dignity some of you think thoy possess when you nro kicking your toes on the sleepers in the Hataitai tunnel. I walk through ' there overy morning and every evening, and every time I kick against a sleeper I say,- 'D the dignity of tho City Council.' , If you said 'D the dignity of the City Council,' you would settle this business very soon." , Mr. M. J. Rcardon them rose to speak. "\Vo want Semplcl" shouted the crowd. Mr. Roardon was allowed to proceed on the assurance that ho would bo followed by Mr. Semple, "the next, and last speaker." lie said that in spite of what the press might say, the public was with the tramwaymen. They had absolute and irrefutable evidence of the fact that as soon as an appeal were made to the general body of organised workers it would bo responded to loyally. They had said to tho City Council "Put your names to the resolution you say is in your minute-book, and there's Ihe finish." The council would not do it, and that was the cause of tho disturbance at the council meeting tho'■' previous morning. "Can you wonder,- asked the speaker, "that Councillor Uindmarsh passed n few remarks?" "He should have passed a brick," eaid a voice. Thero appeared to lio nothing left to do, concluded Mr. Kcardon, but to appeal to the workers of tho city. The Strike Committee was willing that Fuller should simply l>o transferred to another branch of the service. What would the men's position, bo if Fuller should he given the task of collating information about them at the tramway head office? ' "No good!" said a voice. \\ell, then, they could understand the sacrifice the committee had made when it waived even that possibility. ''lav and feather him!" shouted e voice, .leaving the reference to be deduced. "I .heard of a better ono than that," exclaimed Mr. lieardon. "Send him to the destruclor to feed tho dogs with." The speaker concluded by declaring that the tramwavmeii had to win. Nu one could tell where cw. general appeal to the workers would lead them, and hu hoped that the public did not regard this talk of an appeal as mere bluff. Mr. Young then announced that. a. collection in aid of the strikers would, bo taken., "This is Strike Sunday," ha said. MR. R. SEMPLE ON COUNCILLORS. Mr. It. Semple, organising secretary for tho New Zealand Federation of Labour, was (ho last speaker. He read a telegram that he had received from the president of the Federation Executive, Mr. P. C. Webb:- " Federation must support men. Their fight our fight. Would suggest fight to bitter end. Duty organised labour throughout Dominion to make this fight of a lifetime. Victory must be gained." He had received similar telegrams from other members of the executive. After some talk about a general strike, he reforred to thn councillors, "those individuals who sit in leather-backed chairs." lie used the term "old fossils" very freely, and about one of the said "fossils" he tnado a grossly offensive suggestion. Another term he used was "old roosters." A. tit-bit about Tun Dominion was as follows:—"TunDominion here at election time was catering to the working classes —smoodging to you for your voles—said you weren't bad fellows. Now they turn round and call you everything. You ought to vote for their candidates" Going on with tho subject of elections, ■he. said: "The majority of the workers hero assembled is disgusted with the action of the council. But who put them there? Put a note in your ■pocketbook for next election, and your pencil will spell instantaneous death to such old frauds and fakes as them." Continuing, Mr. Semple said that no business man would tolerate the dislocation of his business for tho sake of a ■;i? v - ,„ "Transfer him or send him to Hell! shouted the speaker violently, bringing his fist 'down on the bench in front of him. "The public, of Wellington is the second consideration—lho pimp is the first, and tho creatures who are holding him up are of the same brand." The old method of craft striking had gone. _ Tho formation of the Employers' Association had forced upon tho workers tho necessity of federating. "We will see to it," he declared, "that these Creatures are brought to their knees." Tho motion was then put, and ft forest of hands went up, both sexes in the crowd, so far as could be seen from the pavilion, voting on the question. There was no response to thn call for votes against, and the motion was declared carried unanimously, amid applause. After cheers had been given ,for the Tramway Union, the representatives of Labour, and the Brisbnno strikers, the gathering dispersed.