A STOREMAN'S ADVICE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1908, 17 November 1913, Page 9

A STOREMAN'S ADVICE.

Sir—Kindly allow me space to air my view 3 witli regard to the storenwn refusing to handle free or "scab"* laboured goods. First of all, I would liko it to be made known to my readers that I am a storeman and belong t-i> tho local union, aud receiving the uniwi wage, and that I have somebody depending on me and helping ine to spend it. Now, with referenco to the Rtorom-en that have recently been paid off for refusing to handle, goods handled by freo (or "scab") labour, and olno theue who aro likely to bo put otf ifi tie event of

their refusing, ask yourselves these questions

1, Do tho bakers refuse to bake with 'sealr'-labourod flour? No. 2. Do the. carpeiiters and bricklayers refuse te work ■.scab"-lab'Qurcd timber, bricks, cement, etc.? No. 8. Do the railway employees refuse to Immllo and convev "scaV-labourcd goods? No.

4. Do the compositors, printers, and bookbinders refuse to handle and work scab -laboured paper? No. 5. Do the storemen who ate nonunionists (over 300 in Wellington, and only 106 unionists) refuse to handle flcab' ! -laboHred goods? No; only toft pleased if you will refuse, so that the-y will ha more sure of your job. (J. Did the water,side ivorlcers refu.se • ?v' s ? c '' t ' lo sWp.s vrlteii they arrived in Wellington that were loaded by free (or "scab") labour in London? No. Last, but not least; Did the watesido workers refuse, to handle and ship ' scab"-}aboured mutton when the slaughtermen wero on strike, ot did they (the ivatorside workers) come out oil striko in sympathy with the Wailii miners, or even the Hufltly miners? No.

( Tho answers to these questions arcs ''No" all along the lino, and when Mr. Hickey was qsTced by tiro tramway men at their meeting on Thursday last-"Why didn't the waterside workers refuse to handle ,tho 'scab' slaughterman's labour?" could lie give a satisfactory answer? No, life was understood to say something the reverie to complimentary, so tho papers tell lis. as he hastily left the room. Now, fcilow-workeis, "above arc a few of the biggost unions in Wellington ; somft irith COO and one with 1600 (WoW.rsid.ers) membership, not even considering whether tlie goods or material they handle are "scab labour or not. They handled it, and Mill 110 doubt in future handle it, and you with a paltry 100 members out of a possible 420 storemen refusing to handle it. My advice -to you is to stick to yffur jobs (wen. if <iur secretary is ft. Bed fed sympathiser) until ail the., tftlier unions are prepared to refuse it, and then do so; not until. —I .am, etc., FELLOW-STOREMAN. -

Wellington, November 10,1013