GENERAL LABOURERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 4

GENERAL LABOURERS' DISPUTE.

"A SOMEWHAT SERIOUS ASPECT." fCx Telecrarh—Press Association.) Auckland, February 27. Tho dispute between tho General Labourers' Union and tho City Council and contractors on various largo works is assuming a somewhat serious aspect, though no definite movement has boon made by the Federation of Labour, with which body it now rests to tnko further action if doomed necessary. Tho position now is that tlio federation officials havo vainly approached tho various employers, including the City Council, to meet them in conference. The Hon. George Fowlds was asked by tho federation to act as mediator, but ho wus unsuccessful in his request that tho council should meet tho federation representatives. A strike of general labourers is regarded as inevitable, and it is likely that if it is prolonged tho tramway men and oilier federated unions will also be drawn in. Later. Tho series of resolutions passed last night by various unions of workers seems to indicate that their sympathy is with the General Labourers' Union, and with tho Federation of Labour. Tho Auckland Drivers' Union, at a largely attended niceling. unanimously passed a resolution condemning tho action of tho City. Council and other employers assembled-in conference in refusing to givo the General Labourers' Union an opportunity to state tho caso for tho workers. The coachworkcrs, at a lnrgoly-attond-od meeting, unanimously adopted the fol- j lowing resolution:—"This meeting of tho Auckland Coachworkcrs' Union emphatically condemns tho action of the Mayor and City Council in refusing to meet representatives of the General Labourers' Union and the Federation of Labour for tho purpose of discussing working conditions, and protests against the City Council using its power conferred by the citizens solely in the interests of the employing class as on the present occasion," The feeling of the tramway men is officially noted as follows:—"This commlttco of 'management of tho Auckland Tramways Union considers the action of the Mayor and City Council in refusing to meet the delegates of the General Labourers' Union in eonferenco as most reprehensible, and unworthy of a public body elected by popular vote. Wo represent a union that is liable at any moment to bo called out on strike in defonce of our fellow-unionists, in order to prevent such drastic action. Wo call upon tho Mayor nnd council to reconsider tlio position before it is too late."