UNION MONOPOLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1763, 30 May 1913, Page 6

UNION MONOPOLY.

V 1 THE PROPOSED COMPACT.

CONDEMNED BY FARMERS' CONGRESS,

TOO HIGH A PRICE FOR PEACE.

!By Telcsraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, May 29. At tho North Canterbury Farmers' TJnion. Conference, the president, Mr. Georgo Sheat, said that they would have to consider a very important subject, tho suggested conference between the shipping companies ami the Federation of Labour. If there was a movement of combination between tho shipping companies and .the waterside workers giving preference 'to unionists over free labour it would bo a very serious matter indeed to tho farming community. Mr. H. Evans said that while in Tiniaru recently he had found out that there v.as certainly something in the matter, though some wanted to believe that there was nothing in it. Consequently he had much pleasure in moving: "That this conference emphatically protests against any shipping company or companies entering into any agreement with tho ■ Federation of Labour or any other labour organisation other than agreements under an award of the Arbitration Court, This 6onference also specially requests shipping compinies operating at Timaru to givo absolute preference of efliployment to the new union formed-there, representing labourers who camo forward and kept that port open." A prominent shipping Official in Dunedin had said that the whole alleged combino was a mare's nest, but he (tho speaker) was prepared to prove that a proposal for a conference had come from Dunedin if tho companies would allow their letier-books to he investigated. He considered that tho ■ Union Steam Ship Company was getting to be a dangerous monopoly in New Zealand. The Christchurch "Press" had endeavoured to whitewash some of the companies, and said that it did not think that the directors of the shipping companies would be guilty of such actions a3 wero alleged, but ho again asserted that 'if certain of the shipping companies would open their let-tor-books, he was prepared to provo that a proposal for a conference between some of the companies and tho Federation of Labour was no marc's nest, but a fact. They had not found a mare's nest, but an egg, and they were about to crack that egg. He had spoken temperately upon tho matter, and could say a lot. more if lie wanted to, but ho was prepared to stake his reputation that what he had said was true. Mr. G. W. Holland seconded the motion, and said it would bo a crying shamo if the shipping companies throw over the men who had stood by them when they were in trouble. Mr. C. H. Elisor .spoke in favour of the motion. Mr. S. Wold said he thought that they should delete the words in tho motion giving preference to the new union, as that was contradicting the principles of the Farmers' Union, which wero against preference. Tho president said he thought what was meant was that tie shipping companies should stand by the new union of former free labourers, as against the strikers. Mr. Evans assented, and said he would bo prepared to move his motion in two parts, the first portion down to the I words "Arbitration Court." Mr. Howell said they were all fairly well satisfied that a conference and agreement had been suggested, although possibly no actual conference had been held. They must-nail their colours to tho mast and stand by the free labourers, because there were possibly further troubles ahead of them in the near future. Mr. Leadley said the matter, unless dealt with in a firm way, would be dangerous in future. It woujd be interesting to know exactly what had been done. They all knew what tho Federation of Labour had done in the past, how it had ignored agreements and worked its own sweet will with the industries of the Dominion to their detriment. He then read the constitution of the Federation, of Labour, making comments upon its tenets. How the companies could lend themselves to handing over the industries of the Dominion to a body with such aims and projects was utterly beyond his comprehension. If tho Federation could come to such an agreement it would certainly have justified its existence, and could go to its Labour Conference and boast of what it had done with some excuse. The speaker referred to the capital madfl by so-ine of the shipping companies out of the compulsory rise in wages, which generally left them with a handsome profit. No wonder the companies would lend themselves to such an affair, and it was an excellent thing, he thought, that the matter had come up then and in the form it had. Mr. Evans said the danger they had to faco was the fact that tho companies would not fight. Th?y would agree, and agree, and keep on making agreements with the men, but they would not fight. They wanted peace at any price. The motion was then put in its abbreviated form, and passed unanimously. Referring to the second clause of tho motion, the president said it was only what had been done by the frceziug companies. A man who was willing to assist them at a time of stress should certainly be supported. Mr. Weld (suggested that the word "option" instead of "preference" bo used, and Mr. Evans acceptcd the alteration. Mr. Leadley suggested that "equal opportunity" be substituted fqr "option," and in this changed form tho motion was passed. 'It was decid-d to forward copies of these resolutions to the Union, Shaw-Savill, and tho New Zealand Shipping Companies. ' It is understood tliat a meeting of representatives of tho shipping companies, which it was reported was to ba held at Christchurch to-morrow, will not be held this week, if at all. EMPHATIC PROTEST FROM TIMARU. Timaru, May 29. The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has entered an emphatic protest against the proposed conference of any company or companies with tho Federation of Labour, to grant a close corporation lo tho Waterside Workers to tho prejudice of all employers of labour throughout the Dominion, and trusts that shipowners will do nothing to disturb the employment of the labour which camo forward to fill the position during the rocent troublo in Timaru.