SILENT CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1933, 16 December 1913, Page 6

SILENT CONGRESS.

STRIKE BOSSES STILL SIT, RANK & FILE WEARY. THE SEAMEN CHAFINC AT DELAY. When Mr. P. Hickey, secretary of the United Federation of Labour, was asked last evening if tlio conferenco of delegates from 6trike-affectcd areas had concluded, ho replied to tlio effect that Jio could not say anj-thing about it. Asked if tlio conferenco had adjourned, tho secretary said: "That, I can't say. In fact, I cannot give you any information whatever." It is well known, however —and none know it better than tho strike leaders — that a large proportion of tho rank and filo aro tiring of tho long wait. They cannot seo why such a long delay is necessary, unless it is intended to influence tho Lyttclton election. When some of tlio men wero asked yesterday for their opinions regarding tho silence, of their leaders, they expressed themselves in decided terms. Ono striker said: "I expect that the bosses aro having a good timo at our expense. I'll wager anything that they aro having a holiday. You can't tell mo that it takes four days to do all tho business that those peoplo had to do." This man's, opinion was backed up by several bystanders—all strikers. A largo number of other people intimately connected with Labour matters wero also seen by a reporter last evening, and all expressed themselves as utterly, at a loss to understand tho proceedings. . At ono meeting of tho old Waterside Workers' Union yesterday indignation was expressed at tho manner in whicb tho men on striko were being treated. They did not, they said, like "theso Bilent tactics." As far as could be gathered last evoning, tho Federation Conference has been adjourned till today. It is understood that tho adjournment was made in order to receive tho report of the Seamen's Unjon delegates, who wore in conference with representatives of tho Shipowners' Federation last evening. Seamen and Employers Confer. The adjourned conference of delegates from tho Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland branches of the Seamen's Union and representatives of tlio Shipowners' Federation was continued last evening. Tho business commenced shortly after 8 p.m. and concluded at a few minutes after 10 p.m.. On inquiries being inado after tho meeting, a Dominion reporter was officially informed that thero was nothing for publication. Tlio question was asked if the conferenco had been adjourned, and tho reply was to tho effect that nothing definite had been decided on. As far as a considerable number of Wellington seamen are concerned there appears to be serious discontent at the action of the executive in preventing t?jo men from returning to their ships. It was freel.y reported yesterday that if the Federation or the seamen's delegates did not come to some decision by last evening the men would take the matter into their own hands and return to work. Many of tho seamen expressed themselves as being very veary of the whole business. In two instances yesterday tho crews of certain vessels approached tho respective captains and said that if a settlement did not take place within the next twenty-four hours they would be prepared to return to their ships. Somb of tho men have returned to work already and each day sees ono or two more looking out for employment.