FREE LABOUR TO BE BLOCKED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 5

FREE LABOUR TO BE BLOCKED.

REMARKABLE PROPOSAL.

SHIPOWNERS AND UNION DICTATION.

WILL THE COMPANIES YIELD? CONCERN IN CANTERBURY. (By Tcleffrapb .—Press Association.) Christchurch, May 20. It was reported ill tho city to-day that a oonferenco between representatives of tlio shipping companies on tho ono lumd, and the Federation of Labour on tlio other, will bo held in Christchurch towards the end of tlio week to discuss an arrangement by which tho companies will virtually exclude free labour from employment on tho wharves, giving proferonce to members of tho Waterside Workers' Union, the Intter guaranteeing tlio company's immunity from strikes. It ia also stated tho executivo of the Federation of Labour is prepared to enter into a bond for a considerable 6Uia that it will observe the conditions of the proposed agreement. It is stated, further, that tho proposal is being received with mixed fcelingg amongst exporters and producers in Canterbury, many of whom question tho propriety of tho shippiug'companies making themselves parties, to any 6uch arrangements, especially in view of tho manner in which free labour camc forward to tlio assistance of tho shipping companies and producers in the recent waterside workers' strike at Timaru. A special meeting of tlio executive ol the Canterbury Reform League lias bees convened for Wednesday nftcrnoon to discuss tho whole question, and invitations have been extended to the president of tlio Farmers' Union, and representatives of other bodies to be present. Thb matter will also bo brought up at a meeting of tho Canterbury Shecpownors' Union tomorrow niglit. ■ 1