GAGE OF BATTLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1391, 18 March 1912, Page 5

GAGE OF BATTLE.

THE AUCKLAND LABOUR TROUBLE. MASS MEETING OF UNIONISTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, March 17. The Opera House was packed this afternoon when a mass meeting of members of practically all tho unions in Auckland was held in connection with the present labour deadlock. There was a fair sprinkling of ladies present. Mr. Fraser (president of.the Labourers' Uniou) was m the chair. Hβ announced that a meeting of executives of unions will bo held to select a candidate for the Mayoralty in tho Labour interest on Tuesday. Mr. Fraser said the present meeting was unique in tho history of labour in Auckland, as showing that, on matters of vital importance Labour was solid and united. The gago of battle had been thrown down, and Labour was goiiig to show that it would be taken up.:-' Mr. Rosser. (secretary of the Tramway Union) said the handwriting was on the wall in regard to the ruling class. He said the Mayor had taken up an indefensible attitudp. The City Council had developed an intense love for tho Arbitration Act, and yet claimed exemption from many awards when they wero wade.' The action of the employers was striking fit the principle of the right of the worsers to unite. A representative of the Carters' Union eaid if a, strike occurred, Mr. Parr must take tho •whole blame for it. Mr. King (a member of Hie executive oi tho General Labourers' Union) appealed to the workers to stand firm, and "not bo afraid of the boss." He appeuled to those present to stand by their fellow-' men in this time of difficulty. If they stood firm, nnd were not divided, they would win. (Applause.) Mr. Savage (representative of the brewery employees) delivered a brief speech. Mr.' Collett (waterside workers) said the Mayor was the- man he wanted to get at. He did not raind conciliation under the Federation of Labour. They had solidarity to-day with tho federation to back thorn up. Mr. Scott Bennett (Socialist party organiser)'said the dispute was not m;:jiy a ■light between the Labourers' Uniou and tbt' City Council, it had becoms a jicni'i'.'il fight, and was now a fight for unionismas unionism. . What lie asked was vhat were they going to do in tho .natter. Tho employers had refused to back down, and he was going to ask the meeting to say that there was sufficient solidarity among labour in Auckland to make them do so. (Cheers.) ■ Among the other speakers was Mr. John Payne, ALP.-, who urged the workers to return candidates for Parliament. At the conclusion of the meeting it wa; unanimously resolved 'that those pre-ent p!cd?e themselves to support the Labour candidate that will be brought forward for tho Mayoral chair. This candidate will bo definitely decided upon on Thursday, night. THE COMING MAYORAL ELECTION. ;; (By Tclesraph.-Press Association;) .... , , Auckland, March 16. ■ "That-tho-Mayoral election nest month i5..t0.,-be made .ono of tho issues of the present industrial trouble in Auckland is now taken for. granted. An active canvass is in progress amongst the unions associated with the Federation of Labour to assure that every member entitled to vote is on the roll. Yesterday 800 applications for .enrolment, .all of them in order, were lodged with the Town Clerk by.: these organising the Federation of Labour vote. .