"THERE IS THE DOOR!"

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 5

"THERE IS THE DOOR!"

HEATED SCENE. LABOUR BOUNCEB DEALT WITH. JBy Telegraph—Prwa Association.! Auckland, February 16. At tha City Council meeting held last night to discuss tho general lalxiurors' demands, the Mayor olso announced that the council had, by 11 votes to 1, passed the following resolutions:— (a) "That tho City Council is unable to aocede to tho demands made, Inhering them exorbitant, and in many respects unworkable, so far as tho city service is concerned. (b) "Tho council is prepared at any time to meet its men in conference, and if there is any dissatisfaction with tho conditions obtaining in tho City Council's service, Iho Works Committee inrites tho City Council's worku'icn to wait on theni and discuss matters at any of its ordinary meetings. (c) "Tho City Council supports the principle of conciliation and arbitration, believing it tho most efficient and beneficial method of settling industrial disputes." These resolutions were conveyed to th< union officials waiting outside. The conferemco was rudely interrupted by Messrs. P. Fraser (president of the union),, Arns (secretary), Mason (vioepresident), and l'arry (vice-president of tho Now Zealand Federation of Labour). They b'urst through tho door from the passago into the Council Chamber, in spite of the objections raised by the City Engineer and Town Clerk. They tried to perauado the intruders to retire, but Mason, in a stato of excitement, declined to leave. The Mayor then said ho was surprised to find these gentlemen so lost to do. cency as to force their way in whilo delo gates were deliberating, and then attempl to riolato the proceedings. Ho iisketf theni to retire and oease from such unseemly behaviour. Mason again declined; "You hove ifnored us," lie said, "and treated us liko a party of toads. I'll bring you down on your bended knees." "Mr. Town Clerk," said tho Mayor, "send for (lie police, and have Mason removed from tho chamlwr." This 'proved sufficient, and tlio union officials left. Subsequently Fraser and Parry waited upon the Mayor in his private room. Parry said in a loud voice: "You hare ignored us for three months." Tho Mayor said the statement was incorrect. "You have now the reply of the City Council and of the other bodies, and I cannot discuss its terms with you." Mr. Parry violently criticised tho action of the delegates, Tho Mayor said ho could not 6ubmit to lie lectured. Tho council lmd given its decision, and there was nothing more to be said. Mr. Parry: "I will deal with you later." The Mayor: "There is tho door, Mr. Parry." FACE IT NOW? WHAT BOTH SIDES SAY. Speaking to a "Star" . representative concerning last night's conference, tho Mayor (Mr. I'arr) said that as ono big employer had put it, the question was. "Are conditions of labour to bo regulated by tho weapon of tho striko or the weapon of mediation and arbitration under the Act?" Behind tho wliolo thing there was always the tlueat of a general striko. Employers were resolrcd to face the worst, and laco it now. Asked what was likely to be tho next step taken, Mr. Parr said that that depended upon tho labour leaders. Tho City Council was willing to meet its own men in conference, aud_ discuss nay condition of employment in respect of which tliero mitht bo dissatisfaction. Up to the present, howorer, there had nover been a whisper about tho conditions of the council's workmen being unsatisfactory. Tho heads of departments reported that, ko far as they wcro aware, tho best of feeling existed among tho men. Mr. W. Parry (vice-president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour) mado a statement to a "Star" reporter regarding the part tho men took in the conference last night. Mr. Parry said: "Wo waited outside tho council chambers for some time (understanding we wero likely to bo received), and then wo sent rn a v letter to tho meeting, asking for some"' indication, as to when wo wcro likely to bo given an opportunity to bo heard. The Town Clerk informed us that the meeting had not then decided what it was going to do. Wo asked to bo admitted to stato tho reasons why we had withdrawn from tho Arbitration Court, and why wo thought it only reasouablo that wo Bhould l)e met by the "employers in conference. Wo did not attend to discuss the proposals wo had formulated with regard to the improvement of working conditions and higher woges. We attended to giro our reasons for asking' that we should bo met in conference. A roplv was sent to us that the Mayor would let us know shortly what the conference was going to do. "Wo waited until half-past ten,' Mr. Parry continued. "Wo prooeeded to tho door and knocked. It was opened by Mr. Bush (City Engineor),' and wo walked in. The.ro was no attempt to knock down the door, as stated. The engineer said, 'I will ask in a minute.' I was quite cool," Mr. Parry said, "and asked for a hearing. I was not sure that the Mayor had heard me, because a heated discussion lm<l arisen between Mr, Mnson and ilio delegates penerfilly. Ono of the delegates shouted that he wished to move that the meeting be adjourned. It was then moved that tho men bo heard at the conclusion of the meeting, and it was distinctly understood that this VM agreed to." ■