THE WATERSIDERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1498, 22 July 1912, Page 7

THE WATERSIDERS.

A MANIFESTO, ■ In the annual report of the Wellington Waterside Workers? Union just published there appears an interesting manifesto, which reads as follows:— "Tho executive has been called upon on several occasions to assert tho rights of the organisation, to compel the observance of tho agreement, and to insist on tho Tights of members boin» maintained. This has been done- with the least amount of friction possible and the avoidance of any serious conflict with the employers. It is pleasing to bo ablo to. say that this 'organisation stands to-day as tho most respected militant organisation in the 'city of Wellington. "\ great improvement has boen shown on tho" part of employers in the treatment of members. The driving element (whioh was previously a marked feature of waterside work) h-ra been greatly, diminished, and the foremen havo shown themselves moro ready to assist ill tho settlement of disputes than hitherto. This conduct or change in conduct is duo to tho organisation standing on a firmer basis and being free from the enervating

influence of arbitration. "Members should do all in their power to maintain and increase this disposition by keeping a solid front to the employing class and by giving short shrift to any dotractors who may be seeking to undermine the union; by circulating, talse information with the intention of smashing the present system of organisation and dragging the union, into tho Court again. ~ "Members should also contmne watchful of tho attempts that are being made to draw the union into a politico! pa.rty, recognising that though politics have, their place, and are very neccsmry, they should be.kept clear and apart from the industrial organisation. Any party which seeks to.combine tho nnmixnble professional element with industrial toilers must fail as tho party of emancipation. The effect would he a demagogic political despotism which would sap the spirit of revolt which has gained for us the conditions wo have to-day. '. . "As. an affiliated branch of the Federation of Labour, and having thereby gained' decided advantage? for the workers in our industry, it should be members' aim to stand by. this much-ma-ligned but powerful organisation as the one most likelv to advance the position, of the workers economically, and as tho one to which we havo pledged our fealty. It is for industrial unionism ond the working-class alone, and- New Zealand can only really advance by endorsing its principles and policy." .