AUCKLAND LABOUR TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1382, 7 March 1912, Page 4

AUCKLAND LABOUR TROUBLE.

A NEW DEVELOPMENT. IN THE EVENT OF A STRIKE. WHAT THE FARMERS ABE BEADY TO DO. (By Telceraph-Prcsi Associatloa.l Auckland, March 0. An important development has taken placo in connection with the industrial trouble in Auckland which should have a serious bearing on the present situation. This morning there was registered at tho office of the liegistrar of the Arbitration Court a new union, to be known as the Auckland and Suburban Loenl Bodies' Labourers' Union of AVorkers. The union is 150 strong, and its creation will come as a set-off to the Federation of Labour nf. the present time. The establishment of the new organisation has been carried out with the utmost secrecy. At Sunday's mass meeting in the Opera House, speakers made reference to tho meetings of loyal workers which have lieen held at Grey Lynn on several occasions lately, but evidently the progress of the movement wns not known to the General Labourers' Union leaders. At any rate, no mention was mado of the possible creation of a new union. The first meeting of loyal workers was called for last Friday week, and of this gathering _lhe General Labourers' Union got warning, for they rolled up 150 strong, and surrounded' the Grey Lynn Borough Council offices. Those responsible for Iho new movement had heard of the possibility of their meeting being flooded, however, and shrewdly postponed their gathering until last Friday evening. Then 18 delegates, representing Iho loyal city and Grey Lynn municipal workmen, foregathered, and went inlo (he whole question. The farmers of Waiuku have, by unanimous resolution of a meeting of ,tho local branch of the Farmers' Union, expressed their willingness to come to Auckland if called upon in tho event of a strike occurring. Scon by a reporter to-day, Mr. A. Schmitt, provincial secretary of Iho union, denied that 300 farmers had been organised in the King Country, as stated, at the same time, Mr. Schmitt admitted that ,it was not impossible that farmers would take action if they found it necessary to do so in order to protect their own interests. ' "I am sorry that the name of the Farmers' Union has been brought into this matter," declared Mr. Schmitt, "and it would only be ns a last resort if they found that their own interests are to l>o prejudiced that the farmers will interfere." ■

• STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR.

POSITION OF THE EMPLOYEES. IBy Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, March G. The probabilities of a general strike being called by tho Federation ot Labour were discussed by n "Herald" representative with the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr). The Mayor said that the matter is entirely' in the hands of (he Federation of Labour as to whether there shall Le- a strike or not. The responsibility rests with the federation. ■ "As you know," said the Mavor, "the position of all employers (including local bodies) has be»n all along that they will be pleased to meet tho Labour Union before the Conciliation Commission or Arbitration Court. If there is ;\ strike it will, in :ny opinion, be a most unjustifiable one. Tho local bodies and other employers have bi-en all reasonable, and have offered lo meet the union any time before the Conciliation Council, but (he union declined. Then the local bodies met their own men—half of whom by the way do not belong to any union—and discussed matters with them. The result has boon that the City Council has raised the wages of its workmen and the local bodies will probably decide on similar, if not better, increases. Tho local bodies have done the right thing. "Why then is the Federation of Labour not satisfied? Apparently the federation insists on having its finger in the pie. It wishes to force all local bodies, to sign agreements with the federation and to bring the former wider its jurisdiction. Members of tho federation know, of course, that if they succeed in this manoeuvre it will, be a death-blow to the Arbitration Act in this Dominion. At present tho Act in question has under it probably three-quarters of the unionists of Auckland, and the local bodies maintain that this is the fairest form of unionism that is entitled to be recognised. "Are the Citv Council, Harbour Board, and other local bodies to make agreements of this nature?" asked the Mayor. "I think the public opinion of Auckland and the Dominion will he against the local bodies of Now Zealand handing over the control of their labour in this way t) an outside organisation." Mr. Parr added that it must not be forgotten that at least half the general labourers of Auckland did not belong to the Federation of Labour. If it were true, as ho understood, that a new union of general labourers had applied for registration that day under tho Arbitration Act, it showed clenriy that a large number of tho workmen of Auckland did not want affiliation with the Federation of LaJ)our, and surely, he concluded, we owe some duly to them.

AGAINST AN IMMEDIATE STRIKE,

MEETING OF GENERAL LABOTTREKS , UNION. Oil' TelecraDß.—Prose Association.! Auckland, March G. The General Labourers' XTnion meeting fo-nipht was attended by about 11)0 or ijOO lncniW's only. Mr. J. Fraser (president) occupied the chair, and tho federation officials were present. Tho mooting, which was not open to tlu press, occupied about three hours, but it is understood matters were referred to tho Federation of Labour again, and Hint the general tone of tho meeting was against an immediate strike, as the time was inopportune, as the employers wero ready and the men were not. The Auckland Suburban Local Bodies Association decided to-night to recommend the local bodies which its members represent to adopt the schedule of wages which the City Council has decided to pay.