WAIHI BACKWASH

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1568, 11 October 1912, Page 5

WAIHI BACKWASH

THE HOLIDAY.

MARCH TO MOUNT EDEN GAOL. RATHER TAME AFFAIR. THO POSITION IN THE PORTS. (Br Te!eer«pli,—SpecUl Corrttionflent.) Auckland, Octoben 10. "Roll up in tens of thousands! This is Hie day and hour to unite with your fellow-workers in protest against thd tyrannical authorities in gaoling men for no other crime than maintaining tho right of peaceful picketing and boing loyal to the working class principles. If tho procession is interfered with, or interrupted, do not disband, but proceed to tho gaol and the Domain." So read a handbill circulated freely amongst all and sundry this morning, the occasion being tho 24 hours' demonstration called by the Federation of Labour. To call on the workers to turn out in "tens of thousands" is one tiling, but to get an assemblage is another, as tho federation now realises, for, at tho very outside there were not more than 400 people who participated in to-day's procession. In Auckland are four unions affiliated with tho federation—the Waterside™, the Tramway Union, the General Labourers, and the brewery employees. Tho membership of these four unions would total about 3000. Tho response at to-day's demonstration is, therefore, significant. Tho watersiders have a membership of 700, and less than 300 of their number paraded. Tho general labourers have a roll of over 1000, but not ono hundred "demonstrated." The tramwaymen wore away to a. man, and tho brewery employees were conspicuous by their absence. The procession was' announced to start from the foot of Queen Street at 1 p.m. l'rior to that /hour a more or less interested crowd of people assembled to witness tho turn of events. An amateur brass band provided musical selections. The federationists wore red ribbons in their coats and printed badges in their hats, the popular ■ cry being: "Shall unions rot in gaol?" Promptly at 1 p.m. the executive of the union Jolt (he waterside. workers' rooms, and one ol their number, mounted a lorry on which the band was seated and incited the "Reds" to join in procession, and to show consideration to both police and traffic. Prior to the procession moving oil women wont through the crowd ot spectators offering for sale pieces of ribbon at "a penny per piece for the olnldrcn of Wnihi 1" I The procession then moved off, headed I hLn„ « a " d ' Witl , l 'J l6 waterside workers' banner flying and- tho band playing. As they started, there wero some cheering and uooing. When the procession was fairly under way, it was seen that there were lf„h,J ,7 ° . peopl ° P arl >«Pttti.ng, there ueng .17 ranks, averaging seven deep. All wore the red badge. the feature of the procession was the demonstration made all along the route against members of the Tramway Union. Iho trannvaynieu aro affiliated to tho federation, but have long lost sympathy with that organisation. Some weeks ago thov mado their last payment to Tjlio Wnihi strike tuud, and, on Tuesday last, they not only unanimously refused to cease to work, but further decided to cut adrift Irom tho federation. To-day every pas=111/? tramcar along tho lino of 'routo was the signal for a loud demonstration. The motormen.and conductors wero vigorously hooted, and hailed with such names as traitor" and "scab."

N earing tho gnol gates the baud, which was showing signs of feeling the effects of Its strenuous efforts, again blared forth, and enlivened the proceedings with the Rod Federation "Battle Song;" A halt outside tho gates was called, and a crowd assembled round the lorry, on which sat the officials who had promoted the demonstration. . The appearance of some prisoners at the windows of ono of the turrets was tho signal for loud cheers. There were no prisoners in the yard, tho precaution having been taken to place them out of sight. A half-hearted attempt was mado to rush the prison gaics by some of tho rowdier spirits, but wiser counsel prevailed, and tho demonstration remained outside the prohibited area. ' Various speakers then addressed' tho crowd, demanding the "release of tho prisoners, and, after more band selections, the procession wonded its way towards tho Domain, where further speeches wero given. The attendance at the gaol, including tho spectators, did not exceed 700. There was a very indifferent ■ response on tho part of members of the General Labourers' Union to the federation's request that they should cease work for today. Out of tho whole 600 of the City Council's employees engaged in general labouring work, for instance, not ono man threw down his tools, notwithstanding that many of them are members of tho General Labourers' Union. Tho Mayor, seen this morning, said: "I am yory pleased to know that, of 600 men employed in the City Council, not one, so far as I am ablo to learn, has struck to-day. This refusal to nccede to the request of tho federation is the best evidence of tho good sense of tho men. What on earth is to bo gained by this twenty-four hours' strike? It means loss of pay for tho day, irritation of employers, and the dislocation of business, and, in the end, no good purpose is served. lam suro that tho City Council Will appreciate the loyalty of our men of public services. Citizens also will lie glad to know that'the City Council employees cannot be brought out at the behest of a fow irresponsible and foolish men who want to run the-town. The only remarkable incident of the t'ederationisls' demonstration occurred in Synionds Streets, whero'n tram conductor, waving his hands derisively pn defiance of (he hooting, was grabbed by a man in Iho procession. Blows were exchanged before the snectaiors could interfere, but the incident then ended.

SCENES NEAR THE MINES. Walhi, October 10. Strike matters this afternoon wore of a more pronounced character. The main street in (lie vicinity of the entrance lo (he mine road was the scene of a larger demonstration of men and women than usual. Tho street where. Delaney lives was also congested, and the now wellknown hooting and "bnohooing" were indulged in with increased vigour. The police, however, look precautions, especially in conducting Delaney to his home. In the gatherings women were principally in evidence.

TAUPIRI MINE MEN. Auckland, October 10. Tho Tanpiri Minos Company to-day received intimation that, out of 500 men engaged in their mines 00 turned out to work. Of these 2(i were underground workers, including deputies whose duties are to seo to tho safe working of tho mine, hut who are not engaged in tho actual work of mining. Interviewed ns to what attitude tho directors would take up in the matter, Mr. Alison replied that they had decided that the mine would not be open for employment, this week at least, for those men who had struck 10-ilny. What course would be adopted later hud not been decided, but a meeting of directors to deal with this question would be held to-mor-row. "The directors much regret (he action which the men have continued Mr. Alison. "The company "received no oflicial intimation whatever of the intended strike. The only information which il received was through Ihe columns of the Tho Tanpiri Mines CowniMiy is, 1 believe. Hie only company in New Zealand of its kind thai is working under an award of the Arbitration I'ouvl. One nf the provisions deals very rlrnrly with the question of ?trik».«, and indirales th»t the present wmHoii of work is a distinct bunch of that nvwd,"

DUNEDIN. INTIMATION FROM U.S.S. CO, DECISION NOT TO STRIKE IB* Telsgrarh.-Preis Aseoclation.) Dunedin, October 10. A meeting of tlit-. Wnlersidu Workers' Umnii was held to-night to decide tho question of receding from tlio Federation oi Labour. A vole was taken some little time ago, and, out of 2t(i voters, there was u majority of lil in .favour of sowssiou. Th« motion came lieforn the meeting to-night to lake a fresh bnllot, and an amendment was Oicn proposed (hat the. previous ballot, should stand. This amendment was carried Ijy 48 votes to 43, but, on becoming (he substantive motion, it was lost by 50 votes to JO. It wa<= then decided, (o tako a division when it was decided, by 80 voles to 28, to remain affiliated with Hie federation. Tho olmiruimi said flic division had pioved unsulisfactory, and it was eventiinllv decided to take a secret ballot at the union office on Monday. Tho question of n strike for 21 hours ?i S a J!- 0 !, 0 '? 1 n ß n '»st *■"> imprisonment of tho Waihi miners was also discussed ihe secretary said that he had the aulliorlty oi Mr. Holdsworth (general manager of the. Union Company) for stating that, if tho men struck, they would break the agreement entered into in January ln«t and would have to go back to work'on tho company's terms. It was then decided by 51 votes to wen not, to strike, this announcement being received with loud "Hurrah*"

LYTTELTON,

THE HOLIDAY AND SHIPPING. (By Tclcgritnli.-Soecial CorresaomienU «T- • , „ Christchurch, October 10. „ /'. a I r . cl I c , l ; , . puerile," "silly," and childish. aro some of the expression* heard in many quarters in Lyttelton regarding: tho proposed "demonstration" Hint a section of the waterside workers intend to hold on. Saturday. The fact that >n January last several of the union's leaders, in expressing satisfaction with the agreement just then arrived at between the waterside workers, the I'odcration of Labour, and the shipowners, stated that the men would abide loyally by that agreement seems to have been forgotten by those leaders ami their adherents. A large number of tho members of tho Lyttelton Waterside Workers' Union, whatever their opinions regarding the- merits or demerits of tho Waihi strike and its aftermath may be, are "dead against" the cessation of' work and the holding of the demonstration. As far as can be ascertained (he question of tho union's action in the matter was discussed nf a meeting, and was left in the hands of the Executive Committee with power to act. Several who/oppose the stoppage of work acsert that, if n secret ballot of the members of the union were taken, not 25 per cent, of the men would vote in favour of Ihe stoppage. "It's money wo want, not a holiday," said several who were spoken to to-day, and they expressed their strong disapproval of stopping work to hold a "silly demonstration." A prominent member of the Lyttelton Railway Casual Wharf Labourers' Union stated that his union (jiumbering 100 memwas taking no part, in the demonstration, and practically every member was against tho stoppage of work, and regarded it as a very useless and foolish movement. • A good deal of inconvenience and disorganisation of time-tables will be caused by the proposed stoppage of work, but tho- shipping companies are making arrangements to meet this. The Union Company is arranging to work the ferry steamer Maoris with permnncnt hands. The- Mouowai will arrive as usual from Dunedin, but her departure for Wellington has been postponed (ill Monday. The Tarawcra. on lier way south from Auckland will omit her usual call at Lyttelton. Her cargo will probably be transhipped to the Maori, and she will proceed direct from Wellington to Dunedin. Tlio cargo steamer Flora will also cut out Iter usual call at: Lyttelton, and proceed direct from Timoru to Wellington. Tho Ruahine and the Arawa are expected to finish discharging to-morrow, and, as they are not pushed for time for loading, the stoppage will not greatly affect them.

LOCAL LUMPERS. DISSENSION AS TO "HOLIDAY." MILITANT MINORITY. LETTER TO SHIPPING FIRMS. Members of the Wellington branch' of the Waterside Workers' Union do not appear to bo a very happy family at present. There ib no doubt that there arc internal troubles, tlio greatest of which, for the time being, is the passing of the recent resolution by a certain section to "down tools" next. Wednesday as a protest against the gaoling of Wailii strikers. Sorao members, who wero not present at the meeting Inst Wednesday afternoon, aro up in arms ngainsl: the proceedings, and declare that the decision was arrived at in n way contrary to the wish of tho majority. It was only a small meeting considering tho number of members affected, and again yesterday thcro was strong talk about holding another ballot. Ono man pnt it this way: "You see," said he, "Wednesday was a particularly busy day on the wharves, and all our chaps—that is the regular employees—wero fully occupied with work all day, and some of us had overtime during tho night. The majority of the men who went to the meeting were not those employed regularly on the wharves, but: casual labourers, so to speak. Those fellows went there and wero apparently led like a lot of sheep, and without considering tho consequences one bit they passed a silly resolution to knock oIT work for a day. You can accept it from me," he continued, "that if the union as a •whole decide to knock off just because on unrepresentative handful of men say that we should, well, there will be trouble, and thoso whu do knock off will deserve all they get. "Look here," he said in conclusion, "money is- not so plentiful to iis that we can afford to lose n day's pay for tho sake of this kind of thing. It,** all right for some of the single fellows to talk big, but, to n man who has his wife and family to keep, or has someone depending on him, it's no good going against the ■boss and perhaps get the sack from a real good job, and that is what will happen if the proposition is carried out." Thoro were many more wntersidcrs of the same opinion as the man referred to, and it is very likely that a, change of plans will have to be made by the union's executive officers. Meanwhile. Mr. ft, f!. Farland, general secretary to the Wellington branch of the Waterside Workers' TTnion Ims. sent the following letter In the various shipping companies and those affected. Tho letter reads as follows:— "I have received instructions from a meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union, held to-day (Wednesday, October !)), to inform you that our members intend taking a day's holiday on Wednesday Jiext, October Hi, from 8 a.m. to 12, midnight, in order to mnko a demonstration against tho Government for gaoling the \Yaihi strikers 1 would bo pleased if you can make arrangements for working shipping outside these hours. "GEO. C). .FARLAND. "General Secretary." If tho project works as the executive officers hope it will, the mass meeting will bo held in the Post Ofliro Sijuare, and n pyocossion formed, which will march to Parliament Buildings.

"I HOPE TO GOODNESS —" Chrlstchurch, October 10. Business men in Christcburch with orders to fulfil for North Island centres wore working nt top to-day to got tlicir Roods off by this evening's steamer, as they recognise that, if this were not done, the' goods would be delayed in Wellington nil dny on Saturday, owing to the supposed federation demonstration nt that port. Talking with n reporter, a business man, referring to the federation's tactics, said, "I hope to goodness that the Government will slick to their guns, as they are doing at. W'aihi, whew, as a consequence, ~ they are going to win through!"