TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 8

TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

MORAL SUPPORT TO THE STRIKE, A meeting of the Wellington Typographical Union Was. held ,011 Saturday evening to. discuss,'the strike.:. There wore 159 members present. Resolutions were submitted by the Board of Management relative to' the position. The first was as' follows:—

"That the members of the Wellington Typographical Uaicin, recognising that the dispute has now reached a stage when the Waterside Workers' Union is fighting for a fundamental principle of unionism—the right to control its own affairs according to the laws of the country, which at present leaves it optional for any union to register under the Act—pledges its jnoral support to tlie union in its fight; is in entire sympathy with tho sufferers fi'om the present industrial trouble; and that the sum of £100 be donated from the funds of the union to the wives and children of the men on strike,"

111 moving'' the resolution on behalf. of tho ' board, the .president said that whatever conclusion members had (.'ome to with regard to the wisdom or otherwise of tho action of the men in tho first instance, none could deny that since ,tlie employers refused to entertain the proposals for settlement submitted by tlio Federation of ■ Labour last Monday and stipulated that .aiiy agroemcnt oft their part was tfiiiy conditional on the men s delegates undertaking to bring the. Waterside Workers' Union undor the Arbitration Act, the Federation _of Labour was .fighting for a principle that concerned the welfare of every trade union in. tMs country—the right to control its own attain according to the law of the land, and not to bo forced to act against the convictions of the majority of its members. Further, the delegates could not so bind the union, even if they members as a body decided for or against registration. The Wellington Typographical Union had' affirmed this principle by .opposing the 1 provision in the Arbitration Bill at present before the House, which tended in tho same direction—to force every union under tho Act, Tims, a'stage bad been reached in tlie dispute when the voice of organised trade unionism should be heard with bo \mc.ertftin sound against the declaration of tlio federated employers of this Dominion. With regard to tlie latter part of the resolution, it required very little amplification. Strikes, whether justifiable or not, always entailed a considerable amount of suffering, the chief sufferers being those who had iio direct voice in the matters in dispute— the Women and children—and the Typographical Union ought to express its sympathies with them in a practical: way.

Tho motion, as it appears, was slightlv amended from its original form, and on being jmt to the meeting, was carried unanimously. Under tho rules of the a ballot has to he take!! to confirm this resolution.

Tho second resolution submitted by the hoard was:—

"That tho members of the Wellington Typographical Union deprecate tho use of force on the part- of both skies to the industrial dispute now in progress, and while opposed to lawlessness and in favour of law and order being maintained. requests the Government to immediately withdraw from Wellington tho force of 'mounted specials,' Mid to introduce tho necessary legislation to soeuro a- settlement of the industrial dispute tlio Federation of Labour and tho shipping companies oiifair and reasonable tonus." The board, through tlio president, expressed the view that the iiso of for<-o bv either party only called for force in reply, and in most instances might took tho place of right. As citkens of a country that olftimed to bo democratic, tlio.y must agrco that law and order must bo maintained, but when tho forces of law were used soToly for tho purpose of forcing a certain section of the community, without considering tho: rights and wrongs of the 'question, then it becomes lawless instead of law. Tho board was of tho opinion that, whatever tho intentions of tho Gorefiiiiiont, the mobilisation of a. torco of armed constabulary, and especially the display of sucn force, was a tactical blunder, and unnecessary, tho obvious duty of thej Government, whilo it certainly had to I

maintain low and order, being to see that all eoctions of tho coram unity got thai fair play which wo as a nation .'had been proud to call "British. fair play," Tho resolutio.il asked for the correcting of an error, and for the introduction or the necessary legislation, and this course was hicumoent oil tho Government to attend to as business of the first importance, all .other efforts to bring about a settlement of the dispute having proved futile. The motion was oarriod by a substantial majority.