OLD LEADERS AT THE RINK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1929, 11 December 1913, Page 8

OLD LEADERS AT THE RINK.

USUAL WAR WHOOP. THE HALF-HEARTED RESPONSE. In response to a notico posted oiitsido the late Waterside Workers' Union offico telling strikers to "Roll up and get to know what's doing," about 300 to 350 persons attended a meeting in the skatjng rink yesterday afternoon. Messrs. J. Glover, T. Young, and 11. Semplc were tho principal speakers. Mr. G. Farland, tho secretary of the late Watersiders' Union, was absent. Considering that previous meetings had been of a disorderly nature it was anticipated that there would bo "something doing" yesterday. On inquiries being made, however, it was found that, taken as a whole, the meeting was conducted in an orderly manner. At times a section domonstrate.il their hostility ta certain speakers. Mr. Young did not receive a sympathetic hearing and several of the strikers stated afterwards that they considered that "something was wrong,"' ; The Victory Story, According to Mr. J. Glover, thostrikers had scored a great victory by disorganising trade and commerce for :i time. He told tho men that there was still a lot to bo done, and he begged tho strikers to have patience- and hold out. He assured his listeners that money would eomo in very soon.

Mr. W. T. Young spoke in a similar strain. Ho stated that if the men kept out they must win. The speaker was of opinion that the miners in Australia would lielp them by sending money across' to tho Strike Committee. Mr. It. Semple told his listeners of his life in gaol, and made other remarks on tho strike in general. ( 'Tom Young Will Have to be Careful." At tho close of tho meeting one of ,tlio men who had attended tokl a reporter that "the mtu were simply tired of listening to Semple's stale talk." From what could be gathered the strikers have placed the wholo blame of tho strike on the shoulders of a certain waterside official. It, is said that ho came under severe criticism at the meeting yesterday. Certain speakers also abused the Government. Speaking to a reporter regarding the latter a prominent striker said: "This abuse of tho Government is no good at all. It does a lot more harm than good. Some of tho men at that meeting to-day wero up in arms against the leaders over some of tho statements which they made and Tom Young will have to bo careful in future. ' It is no good him speaking in the way he did. That's not the way to keep the boys together." When asked if there had been any disturbances at the meeting tho striker replied in the negative. "But," he continued, "a whole crowd of the men aro very discontented and it would tako very little to cause .trouble just now."