"FLOWERS OF SPEECH."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1914, 24 November 1913, Page 7

"FLOWERS OF SPEECH."

STRIKEHS AT NEWTOWN PARK; ADDRESSES BY THE STRIKE LEADERS. STOCK HARANCUES. Yesterday was marked by a process sion through the streets and a mass meeting in Newtown Park. The strikers assembled in Jervois Quay to the number of about 1000 all told,"tho banners indicating that the members of the Wellington Shipwrights' Society,the Wellington. Waterside Workers' Union, the Seamen's Union, and-tho Building Trade Labourers' .Union were present. In actual numbers there wore only about half the number marching in the procession as compared with tho muster on .tho previous Sunday. The procession was headed by a printed streamer suspended on a couple of poles, bearing tho words: "Workers expect that every man''this day shall do his duty." it was obvious that tho word "workers" had been patched over the word "England," as the latter word could be seen through the calico patch. Poor Nelson 1 Following them came tho Highland Pipe Band, which played alternately with tho Waterside Workers' Brass Band throughout the long tramp to the Park. "i/nder Bare Poles." The banner-bearers had a strenuous time in the wind. ■ In Courtenay -Place tho lower half of the shipwrights' banner was ripped off by the gale, ami in Kent Terrace, the gaily-painted canvas was strippe.d to ribbons, and they arrived at the park "under bare poles." Thero was little enthusiasm showu by anyone on tho march—tho weather was against that sort of thing. Occasionally the strikers asked one another if they Wero down-hearted, and received the stereotyped reply in the negative on each occasion. There wero about 2000 people round tho platform at Newtown Park, and whilst each speaker was given a good hearing thero was little ipplailso heard and no enthusiasm sliown.

Mr.. F. Curtico (president of tho Waterside Workers' Union), who acted as chairman, said that it was the fifth week of the strike, and they were still going strong. Mr. Gavin Stove said that a fortnight ago tho papers had said that tho striko was ' fizzling out, but tho striko was still on, and tlioy were now more determined and solid than at any period during the strike. If all was well, why shut up the hotels for a week; if lbe boats wero fully manned, and ihero were over a thousand men in the new union, why advertise fdr more men? If there' weren't ladies present he would say that the papers told "damned lies!" They norti also informed that tho drivers wero going back to work. -J'ho drivers wero the key to tho whole situation. One only need to go along tho waterside and see tho goods stacked up everywhere and tho sheds overflowing with cargo. They wero told chit a number of ships were working—w.'ll, that .was quite easy with the officers 10 man them and a few "scabs" to Assist, but ho noticed that there were not many boats leaving Wellington, and not many arriving, Why, if they had tho wharves and carts fully .manned, did they advertise for more workers, moro drivers? They were also told : iliat there was no strike at Lyttelton. Ho had reason to believe that the drivers of Lyttultfjii had come out, and those unionists in Christehurch" mio wero out had no notion of going back. At Auckland it was possible-.that'a few : had' gone back—a very few. Why was it necessary for tho citizens of Wellington, Auckland, and Christcliurch to force- this Government: of theirs into paying for 2000 armed men—to feed them on the cream-puff and angel cake that Hickey spoke about? He assured them that the strike had now settled down into a grim and determined struggle, and notwithstanding the intrigue of tho employers, anyone who camo out now, came out for a great principle. The seamen of Australia had decided that they would not man the' boats for New Zealand. The Willochra was lied up to the wharf. They also had sent a representative of tho Federation (Mr. Parry) and one from the seamen Starr) to do some business over -here, and they could take his word that rhere would not be much cargo or coal coming to New Zealand. Mr. Stovo also had a good deal to say about ''scabs" and the right to organise on national lines.

Emissaries to Australia. ■ Mr. Hickey (Federation of Labour) 6aid that tho developments of the last week had caused some very serious consideration in the ranks of the enemy They were repeatedly being told by the 1 Press of the country that they were not' united 011 the issues involved. Ho would liko to say that t'hey were not only united, but were determined to win the struggle. The workers of Australia, now they saw the seriousness of the position, wero taking a hand in the game. The employers had threatened to . extend their efforts abroad to break tho strike, but if they extended tliem to Australia, and even further, they would follow them. As his friend Stove had said in Australia they would refuse to man any of tho boats, tho watersiders would refuse to handle any cargo from New Zealand, and they wore going to have the miners following 6uit. How could the employers win ? There was only one way —by getting a sufficient number of "scabs ' to work on the waterside, on tho boats, and in the coal mines—that was the onjy way. They were going to win this strike with the seamen and coal miners, who were united to a man. The seamen had dispatched one of their men to Australia for a definite purpose. He might have sealed orders. Anyhow, JlO would open them when he got over, aad then something would happen. They (the Federation of Labour) had sent Parry, who would bo able to hold his own with the best of them. They did not know at what time.a limb of the law would grab them. (Laughter.) They had put Bill (Parry) into a taxi, and rushed him on to tho wharf five minutes before the boat sailed, so he would get there unless they pushed him over tho side. Despite all the cockatoos, armed bludgeoners, and policemen, they wore going to win the struggle.

The Lyttelton Scat. In referring to the I'rcss in his usual flamboyant style, Mr. Hickey said that the "Post" was in a stato of alarm. It was afraid that the Red Federation was going to win tho Lyttelton seat. He believed they were iiig to, win it whether Mr. Mnssoy passed his Second Ballot Amendment Act or not. 'They would have a thousand canvassers, and everyone in Lyttelton would be' button-holed and rebuttonliolcd timp and again. He was satislied they were going to win that seat. It'might not be pleasant for tho "Post" but they couldn't help it. He wished to repeat the fact that organised labour was now being faced with "scab" unions—the issue wap between organised "scubbery" and clean unionism. There must be no talk of backing down. They must preserve the right to organise in their own way. That issuo must bo fought to tho last. They could not back down—and those who talked of backing down were the aiders and abettors of "scabbery."

"I'm satisfied we can win this struggle," continued Mr. Hickey, "but there must be ro talk of defeat. We have far more people behind us, the organisation was novor better, and tho position never more solid than now. Australia is with us. Tlio weather's not bad— what's the matter with having a holiday? Thk Dominion made a discovery the other day—it discovered that tho

watersiders played cricket. Fancy watersiders playing cricket! It also found that Hickey, toppetl the score. It wasn't nic, hofrovcr. There is another Hickey, several others, among tlm strikers, but I thank him for upholding the honour of the name. It was better than 'scabbing.' We'can win if the unions stand together—defeat can only come from within. We are to stand united, and we must win."

Mr. Payno Goes Into Figures. Mr. Payne, .M.I 1 ., referring to what was going on in Auckland, stated that the Employers' Federation there , had met and decided to starve the peopie into subjection. On learning' this, to their honour-, tlio president and sec.-e----tary resigned. The president was Mr. David Goldie. It was given out (hat he was indisposed, but really lie was indisposed to be a Nero, who murdered through sheer wantonness. Speaking of the Arbitration Act, Mr. Page said tint in cases where inspectors made themselves obnoxious to employers tiiey wero.quietly removed to another place, whore they could not do so much damage. It was no wonder that they (the workers) looked askance at tho employers' demand to register under tho Act. The next move would be that no employer would' employ anyone not registered under the Act. Then there was "Billy" Mhssey's I.C. and A. Act Amendment, which would never go through if they had to stay up day and night, "and do as you do—go on strike." Each week of the, strike was costing £500,000. The loss to tho Government through Customs rovenne and railway revenue was from £25,000 to £30,000 a day. The Union Steam Ship Company was losing £80,000 a week, and he begged those present not to help to mako those profits until they got what they wanted. He would give them an eye-opener, as it had been an eye-opener to him. Speaking tho other day to a timber merchant away up in the north, the latter had said that ho had not sokl £50 worth of timber during tho wholo of last month. Thus tho effect of tho fitriko was permeating all classes of the community. Economic pressuro was going to win 'out-. Massey had not got the . sympathy of all tho farmers—not by a long way. Thero was a Farmers' "Co-op."' down south which had donated £1000 and a hundred tons of potatoes to the strike fund, which showed that gcod old colonial spirit which held that Jack good as his master still existed. A poor old rich man who was as if he had one leg on this platform and the other down thero in tho grave, who did not live at tho rate of more than £100 a year, and who only had four, five, or six years to go before 110 tumbled into his' last freehold, hrM said —"I would shoot them —shoot them down I"

A Message from "The Hill." Mr. Glover (Waterside Workers' Union) referred to the Union Steam Ship Company as having tried to run tho Australian-manned steamer Maunganui between Wellington and Lyttelton. If it had been left to the farmers they would havo gone back under tho existing agreement, but when they (tho farmers) mot Mr, Pryor tho nest day ho told them that they were naughty boys, and had 110 right to confer with anyone. 'Lho farmers wore not a bad lot of fellows— but they said they didn't like-tho lied Feds., who talked of burning things and tipping tho cheese into the harbour (which Tom Young" had never said, but Which the papers had said ho said). Ho had*been asked to deliver a message :from their six representatives in "Old Bill's Boardinghouse" on the hill—that "should they take them for two to five years,- don't let them bo downhearted." Ono of them said ho was prepared to give ten years of tho best years of his ;lifo providing class stands loyally to that) class. "Out of Order." Sir. P. 0. Webb, M.P., said that if ,'tlie striko was" continued. a few weeks longer Parliament would be compelled to do its duty. When either Mr. Payne or himself spoke outside they could always get a good "hearing, but the moment they rose in the House t-liey wero informed- that they were out of order. He supposed they would he out of order when they voted the Tory Government out of office, and out of order when they won the Lyttelton seat. lie said that Parliament did not govern Now Zealand —it was governed t by tho shipping monopolies and the Employers' Federation. If Parliament had to do with it the question would bo settled in twentyfour hours. Had they tad many Mr. Laurensons the strike would not havo lasted long. Ho .and' Mr. J. C. Thomson wero the only men who had tried to help them. One Labour man had voted with the Government. Mr. Laurenson was gone—one of the finest and most conscientious men he had ever met. "His last words wero spoken to you men and women out on strike."

Stick up the Transport. Mr. Dowgray (acting-president of the Federation of Labour) gavo tho assurance that tho miners of the West Coast woro solid,- and that rather than givo in they were carting potatoes from the Murchison (100 miles away) at a cost of £5 a ton. He held that it was only the people who were on strike that were law-abiding. \ It was the employers who tore up tho agreoment, not tho' men, and now the Government had broken the Shipping and Seamen's Act to allow unskilled labour, to be employed 011 tho boats, and freedom of speech had been suspended by clearing the Post Office Square, which had been tho people's right since time immemorial. Still they were solid. Christchnrch, tho holy city, was going to bo an unholy city—tho carters and motormen had come out last (Saturday) night. It was going to bo as united as Auckland. Never bel'ore had they had such a chance, with tho seamen, watersiders, drivers, and miners standing shoulder to shoulder. Once they held up the transport victory was assured. They were in a fortunate position as their cause was in the. viEtht.

AT THE OPERA HOUSE. THE SUNDAY EVENING RALLY. The strikers' meeting in the Opera •House last evening attracted the usual gathering. • Tho dress circle and auditorium were well ailed, but the gallery did not: present an animated appearance till well oil in the eveniiif. Tho proceedings opened with a iittTo harmony, as disptmsed by the Watersiders' Band, and then a lady vocalist named Mrs. jUartm sang "The Siftrsoillciiso,'' a ft.or which tho band once moro discoursed. The first speaker called on bv tho chairman (Mr. A A. Aguew, president ot the Builders' Laoourers' Union) was Mr. Savage, of Auckland. He owned Ndramaticaily. "Tho strike is broken," he said. Then, after keeping the audience in suspense for a moment, he oxplained that it was the capitalistic papers which had said, and were saying this, but tlioy wero bore to-niglit to give them (tho papers) the- iie direct. He maintained that the seamen were absolutely solid throughout tho Dominion, and appealed to tho engineers "the aristocracy of labour," as ho called thein, to show a similar spirit. He asserted that "when the worker folds his arms tho wheels of industry stand still.". A reference to the strike of tho Auckland bootblacks was tho signal for cheers. Mrs. Donaldson, of the Housewives' Union and Distress Committeo was tho next speaker. She opened with a dissertation on tho law of evolution as applied 1o the sympathetic strike. . In a tirade against tho Press she said that she was sure that if they could get the printers to realise their moral responsibilities towards tho strikers the strike would end in a week. She blamed the papers for printing misleading, statements, but she blamed tho printers still more for setting the matter. ' Tu her opinion they, wore greater, "scabs"

' than tlio special constables who had come down from the country. Mr. J. Payne, M.l'., briefly referred to the late Mr. G. LaurenSoii's funeral, and after eulogising bhn as the friend of the workers, proceeded to say how glorious and how much better it was to be followed, when one died, -by a procession of seamen ami other lowly folk, than by wealthy folk in motorcars, who only came because it- was consider proper to do so, flc then spoke of strike conditions iu Auckland, and blamed the Prime Minister and-liis colleagues for not settling the strike, averring that-, they were the tools of the Employers' Federation and kindred bodies. Mr. Payne warmly espoused the cause of tho Industrial Workers of the World, ami went on to say that all Christians who could not see eye to eye with the strikers should "chuck their religion overboard" at once. After an oration 011 the political 'aspirations of the Social Democratic party, with n, reference to the second proportional representation, and the referendum,the audience began to evince signs, of impatience, and so many people began to leave tho building that a general exndus seemed imminent. At the close of his remarks the chairman announced that owing to the late hour' the- two other speakers scheduled to speak (Messrs. Farland and Donovan) had decided- to refrain fron.i doing so. The meeting then broke up wiih three cheers for Labour, coupled with the names of "tlio-leaders 011 tho hill."