FEDERATION CALL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 9

FEDERATION CALL.

TO GO THROUGHOUT DOMINION. THE TRUMP CARD AGAIN. A mass meeting of citizens Was called for tho Opera House 'last night, but during tho day it was announced that this was to give place to aft "important meeting" by tho Federation of .Labour. The place commenced to fill from the time tho doors opened, and by 8 p.m. there Was a packed house. Mr. 0. G. Fnrland, secretary of the old Waterside Workers' Union, presided, and on tho platform with him were prominent officers of tho and others. Prior to tho speeches, the Wfitorsiders' Band played several selections. Mr. t.JUfcfcey was tho first speaker. After reviewing the events connected with the strike, ho said that an attempt was being maclo by the employers and tho press of tho country to blur tho real issue.and divide tho workers. The, question Was organised labour versus unscrupulous -employers, backed by . the Press. To-day, in Wellington, the .seamen, the waterside -workers, and the majority of tho carters, were together, and in Auckland not, a single unionist . was at work. {Applause.) Tho 'fact that t-li-e vast majority of tlto Auckland unions we're registered under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was, ho said, an answer to the employers' argument- on that subjcct.They had downed tools beeauso the}' realised that if Labour was defeated in this contest, it would bo a bad day for the workers. They would not bo defeated, however. The call Was going to be sounded throughout New Zeala,na on the mor-roiv. (Applause,) The Fed--fetation was going to ask them,whether they were going to allow this city to be invaded by armeti police. A similar issue was to be placed before the workers of Christahtitck and Duiiedin. If they responded, as ho believed they would'—and as lie had every reason to know they would--there could be no douhfc about tho result. ' Mr. Hickey then read a telegram from Aiiekland to show that, "with the exception ef tho taxtaab drivers and tho police," the strike was complete in tho northern city. The press of this country were endeavouring to prove--ami, judging by the headlines -of Tub Dostrxiox, were finding some little satisfaction from saying— that the strike was sagging. They Would show them the contrary,' and unless Thf. Doin.viQN' was careful their press Would sag, far thoy (the Federation) would get )»ld of their linotype, operators. Mr, . Hickey next read, a telegram from Du.he.din announcing that the position was "splendid" there. Bo concluded, by exhorting unionists to stand solid in tho struggle, which ho said was tho -outcome -of a gigantic conspiracy to crush the Workers while a liost-ile Government -was in office.

Mr. W. T. Young announced that they were going to tell tho employers that they (the. employers) could not dictate to organised labour tho manner in which organised labour should transact its business. The Federation was using tactics that would show- the special constables that their operations on tli.e waterfront would be . useless. Mr.. Young went on to .state that there was a bleach of the act in conii.ecti.oii with the registration of the new union, Slid passed on to a declaration that they wero going to fight to a hitter end. Every man and woman ill Auckland was oh strike,. including the waitresses in' tho hotels and restaurants., SUid they wfire going to show tho employers of tho world—or of this country at,all events—'that they (the workers) were solid, and were going to win or sink together. • Sir. Robert Senip'l© returned once tiioro to his "truinp card" speech. The I'iess had been trying to prove, ha Said, that they wero a harmless lot of crea* t.urcs, but they wore going to slio-W them (tho Press) that tlioy had a trump card up their sleeves. Tlioy were going to play it, and would leave- an indelible mark upon the industrial history of this country. That was no "skite." It was quite true. Ho had known what was going to happen in Auckland, hutdid not annour.ro it because the papers wotild have said Sanplfi was .''skitiftg 0 ■again. Thfly know it was no "skitc" unr. Aftor Wailii they all thought the ! "lied Feds." wero dead, but though that had cost them .£40,000, hero they were engaged in another bigger contest. A'fflcf if they were starved to work again, ; they would come hack to the fight stili : again.. The employers could never kill the. determination of thd workers tq. be free individuals. The squatters would Ret "such a bump" tho day after tomorrow, beeausd the Federation had decided (as tho squatters had come down hero) to pull out every shearer in New Jrioakndi (Applause.) Mr. Fox, a farmer from the .Forty Mile Bush, then nioved: "That tho employers, having refused tlve recent proposals for a settlement of this unfortunate dispute, this mass meeting of citizens calls upon the Government to ■withdraw all armed forces at once." In speaking, to the resolution, Mr. Fox detailed a story <jf alleged persecution lie Tiad' suffered in his district for sympathising with the Watersiders.

The resolution was seconded by a member of tho audience, and on a sliowof hands was apparently carried unanimously.

Sirs. Donaldson, president of tho Distress Co.mniitteo, explained tho methods of distribution of tho funds aitd goods placed in committee's hands. Other speakers. were Mr.-GaviiiStovo, a president of the Flax Workers' federation", who declared that, even bad tho watersiders not goito out, tho Huntly trouble would linvo spread into a general strike; and Mr, W. T. Mills, who s.atd, inter alia, that although they could not stop the train® last night, they would do so this morning, and who boasted that there was 116 division of Labour in Now Zealand to-day?