RED FEDERATION CONDEMNED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 8

RED FEDERATION CONDEMNED.

. THE -AUSTRALIAN BOYCOTT/ UNION'S DECISIWiBKEGARDEE COAL TRIMMERS CALLED OFF,

Waterside Workers, when they broke fhoir agreement, were being paid Is. sd, an hour ordinary time','2s'. 2d. an hour overtimo up to 10 p.m.; 2s. 3d. per hour overtime 10 p.m.' to 8 a.m. For special work special rates of pay were provided, coal carriers, the highest paid, receiving 2s, an hour ordinary-time, 3s. an hour overtime. -••-- .-miFriday, October 17 —Shipwrights asked for increase in wages. SatUN day, October 18.—Shipwrights ceased work.- ;: Monday, October,,2o.—First,mass meeting' Waterside Workers' Union, at which it, was decided to callja."slop-work." meeting, to be held at 8 a.in, on Wednesday, October ZZ. ■•■ ~' '■- ;..." Wednesday, October 22.—"Stop-work" •; meeting of Waterjide Workers' Union held on wharf. While men were attending meeting, which, being held in working hours, was a breach of agreement, other urjion men were put on'to'work in their places. -Union desired that "stop-work" men bo reinstated in their positions, and absolutely refused to work unless all of the mdh'formerly employed at the various jobs were reinstated. Employers'decided that men's action in knocking off, work and refusing to ..,go,! back.,in breach 'of. agreement terminated the agreement with the union, which had been entered into in 1912. Watersido Workers' Union,hand control of strike over to tho Federation of Labour. Waterside Workers' Union strikes. Thursday, October 23.—Big mass meeting of , Wharves picketed. Union' S.S. Company pays crews off colliers. Free labourers commence work. Negotiations between strike delegates and employers failFriday, October 24.—Scenes of violence on the. wharves. Conference of Federation of Labour delegates proves abortive. Employers decide to cease work as far as handling cargo is concerned. Fifty police guard the wharves. Warehouse clerks work cargo in small steamers. Saturday, October 25.—Further scenes of violence on wharves. Steamers Defender and Nikau rushed—crev/s intimidated. Police from country arrive. Employers issue a statement to the effect that no watersidcrs will be employed until a fresh organisation be formed and registered under Arbitration Act. Sunday, October 2G—.Mass meeting at 2.15 p.m. in Post Offico Square. Procession to Basin Reserve. Gate broken down by crowd, .Inflammatory speeches by strike leaders. Tuesday, October 23.—Conference betwoen employers and employees, with Hon. W, F. Masse'y, Primo' Minister,' as chairman. More polico arrive. S.S. Nikau rushed. All steamers move to an anchorage in the stream. , Racehorses allowed to leave for south. ' t Wednesday, October 29.—Employers' proposals from previous evenIng's conference submiited to the watersiders, and rejected. Raid made on flour and other provisions being sent to Day's Bay by Cobar. Goods subsequently allowed to be shipped, Further violent speeches by agitators- in the Post Office Square. Encounter at night between suspected freo labourers and strikirs at Waterloo 1 Quay. Auckland and Westport watersiders strike. ! Thursday, October 30.—Strikers assault special constables, Waterloo Quay fence broken down and horses liberated. Men of H.M.S. Psyche on parade. Psyche's stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. Mounted constables parade streets and charge strikers in Post Office Square. Three hundred special constables jworn in. Onset on Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs' shop; constable severely wounded. Prime Minister states thß Government's position. Lyttelton watersiders strike. Saturday,' November I.—Quiet day. Employers enlarge their strike committee. Largo bodies of specials arrive from the country. Skirmishes with strikers in town. Wahine's crew give notice to strike, Oamaru watersiders 'join strike. , ..,i,i„ T: ,.„,\ „,, ,i|, ; ,:,.- Sunday, November 2.—Deputation from'combined Labour bodies to Prime Minister with proposals for settlement, Mass meetings at Newtown Park and Opera House. Further contingents of special constables arrive, Wahine laid up in stream. Greymduth Union come out on strike. Monday, November 3.—Wahine's men come ashore. Wellington branch of Seamen's Union decide to strike if free labour is employed. Negotiations between employers and workers entered upon and adjourned till following day. Mapourika enters ferry service to replace Wahine. Government steamer's held in readiness for mails. Serious riot in Taranaki Street, special oonstables ; being attacked by mob. Several persons injured—three seriously. Revolvers used, Mob indulges in window-breaking and other damage. • Tuesday,. November 4.—Negotiations for'settlement broken off on employers stipulating on union registering under Arbitration Act. Employers refuse Harbour Board's invitation to meet workers in conference. Mass meeting of strikers at Newtown Park. Hinemoa's crew give notice. Two special constables severely handled, in Tory Street. -Attempt to block cartage of'straw to barracks. Mayor closes seven hotels in evening. Royal Tiger Hotel besieged. Two' men arrested. Wodriesday, November s.—Racehorses for. New Zealand Cup Meeting shipped on Maunganui for Lyttelton by free,,labour. Mounted special constables guarding the wharf stoned by crowd. Eight arrests made and about thirty persons wounded'ln the melee.' ' \ Thursday, November 6.—New Wharf Labourers' Union registered Members commence work loading the Athenic at Glasgow Wharf. Wharf -approaches guarded by mounted and foot "specials." Fine display • ("law and order" troops,'who were' cheered through the city. City paraded for first time—make a gallant show. Stone-throwinq \jceases., A quiet night, ~,.,,.,,,'.. ~, ~, , ""'' " : p Friday, November 7.—S.S."Athenic,--Willochra, and Moana worked "by Arbitrationists. Moana's crew loaves ship, and Willochra's deside Ho follow. Union Company's permanent hands join strike, Wharves guarded by special constables. -~..' ■; Saturday, November 8.-General strike in Auckland, special con---'Stables take possession of waterfront.,, Waterside Federation invites nVw -■Wellington Union to affiliate. P. J. Hassett arrested charge of attempting to murder Commissioner Culleh. Wellington seamen decide fo come out. '!,,.„,' ~, .!'....!'.. s ! :-5 Sunday, November 9.-General, s.trike,, called in" Wellington Mass .vjneeting in Opera House. - - s * "^ "t\ Monday, November Union decides to join the strike /Goods carted from wharf to warehouses under oscort. Seven thousand of work.in Auckland. Work Increasing at wharves. l » u «s<ina ''■u J ue i da r, y ' Novem J b " J 1 —Four,, strike ' leaders,' Messrs, Semple Holland, Fraser,-and Bailey-arrested. , Members of Drivers' Union stop work. Mor.e, steamer's,.worked at wharves*!':!: ;• Wednesday, November 12.-W. T. Young,. Secretary Wellinnton Sei Ws Union,. arrested T. Barker, organiser .'for I.W.W ,ar?es?ed a't Auckland. All strike leaders under arrest romanded for a week Ovi>r sea and coastal steamers worked in' Wellington,,, carted from "wharves without escort. ...,-j. \, -.. Thu M day '„ N ° vem . ber ".-Building Trades' Labourers' Union joins •Strike New Arbitration Act Drivers' Union -foitmod. Nine steamers Worked at wharves, ■ ■ • - ■• , . (| . s^umcis \ Friday, November R'-Seventeep vessels" working cargo, and five coa ing. New Drivers' Union rcg istered, - United Labour Partv declares against the strike .',-; '..'„'.'„.„' Saturday, November 15. Trade with Wanganul and Patca resumed Maori,takes up ferry service again. More unions refuse to strike fciW-™ a L m mbCr .J?"- 1 ™""*ay-men 'decide-to remain under' Artitration Act, Mass meetings of strikers. .. Monday, November 17.—Twenty steamers worked at wharves Arbi. tration Wharf Labourers' Union totals 750 men. Special constable assaulted in city hotel. , F cunsiauio Tuesday, November 18.-Athenic.sails for London fully | a j en Seventeen vessels worked by tho 85D men now, op,the Arbitration Union roll. Rushes on wnarves at Lyttelton and Dunedin. Permanent men Cuba StreT 0 Lyttelton. Two .special, constables chased up Wednesday, November 19.—Disorder in Post Office Square and Tim naki Street. Carter atiacked on Ohiro Road." Several arrests eWirrf Mayor closes all City hotels. Jwenty-four boats working at wharves Moro violence at Lyttelton. .. • wnaives. Thursday, November 20.-Twonty-fivo vessels worked at wharves and coal cargoesdischarged for first time. Dissension reported amonn strikers. Arbitration Union totals over 1000 members. Carnoes heinn worked at Lyttelton. J , a Friday, November 21.—Work proceeding actively on waterfront Over 900 men engaged. Hotel bars closed until November 25. Court br'oceert ings. Lyttelton ferry steamers take cargo, Saturday November 22,-Christchurch carters called out. Coal ana cargo worked on waterfront by nearly 1080 men. Hannah's boot factory closed down. A quiet day. . y Monday, November 24.-One thousand men working on Wellinnton wharves. Thirty members of old Drivers' Union join new union, and return to work. Auckland general strike declared off J. P Ha-sett committed for trial on charge of attempted murder'of Commissioner (.mien. Tuesday, November 25. Now Watersido Union totals 1350 members. Sugar shortage relieved by unloading of cargo of 40,000 bags from Wednesday, November 26.-Maunganui's crew joins strike, but is replaced. Prime Minister's scheme for improving waterside conditions discussed by Harbour Board. New union totals 1450. New Zealand Shipping held up In Sydney. Thursday, November stokehold hands on R.M.S, Conntbic arrested for refusing duty New union totals 1520. ' Friday, November 29.—Strike leaders in Court. P. Fraser and G Biilcy plead guilty, and to be released on sureties, others remanded' Corinthic's firemen convicted and discharged on returning to ship! Fifty seamen from Maunganui charged with desertion and remanded . Saturday, November 29.-Si)c members of Dunedin Strike Committee arrested on charge of intimidation. Two rioters sentenced bv Chief Justipe. Ulimaroa and Aorangi delayed in Sydney. Monday, December 1.-Opawa returned to port as 14 firemen refused duty. Dunedin strike leaders released on sureties. Sydney Union decide lo boycott oversea vessels with New Zealand cargo, Tuesday, December 2.—New Waterside Union membership totals 1750. Sydney unionists decide to boycott New Zealand carnoes onlv Fourteen firemen from Opawa.committed for, trial. ';;.

With the steady resumption of trade in tho Dominion the interest in the. strike continues to centre on the attitude of the Australian unionists. A lengthy cable message was received yesterday by the Employers' Defence Committee fro.n Mr. W. M. Hughes, chairman of the recent Sydney Union Congress, making a fervent appeal for arbitration, and an early settlement. Tho committee, in reply, has set out its reasons lor refusing to treat with tlio i'cderatio.'i of Labour. The Sydney watersiders continue to show- some disposition to get out of hand and ignore tho advice- of their leaders, and tlio decision of tlio recent congress that tho boycott should bo confined- to New Zealand cargoes only. J he men arc now refusing to work all Union Company vessels, whether engaged in Hie Xcw Zealand trade or not.

It is interesting to note that in AVolington a record was established by the handling uf 513 vessels in the'port during the month of November.' In tho Court yesterday a man named Max Wolfe was committed for trial on a charge, of having flung a glass at a special constable in Barrett's Hotel. Elsowhcro will bo found a further manifesto from the Employers', Citizens', and Farmers' Defence- Committee- dealing with the events leading up to the- present situation, and stating tlio committee's grounds of objection to negotiation with the- Federation of Labour. I