MEN WHO WORKED FOR PEACE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 6

MEN WHO WORKED FOR PEACE

TRADES COUNCIL EFFORT,

Tho Executive Committee) of the Trades aiut Labour Council liavo issued the following statement regarding their attitude ana action, during tho strike: — •"The Trades and Labour Council kept fully in touch with the labour crisis right from tho beginning. The executive met daily ana watched the trend of events on behalf of t'Jio affiliated unions. On Saturday, November 1, Messrs. Kennedy, Cornwall, and L. Kearden met representatives, from tho watcrsido workers and were acquainted with tho full facts of tho position. A special meeting of tho council was then held tho same evening, when it was resolved by delegates assembled that tho council oppose tho extension of the strike, and that tho affilinted bodies bo notified immediately. OA tl» next morning, November 2, tho council was represented .at the meeting which brought about the second conference between tho employers and the United Federation "of Labour. . When tho conference failed, the executive of the council immediately approached tho Prime Minister in ail endeavour to arrange a further conference, and also approached tho Mayor to usa his prercgati/o on behalf of the citizens to further this proposal. Tho Mayor did not see his way 10 accede to this, and, as tho Prime Minister could _ not promiso twei:ty-four lioitrs' respite io arrange another conference, the executivo worked strenuously during this brief interval to secure a settlement. Interviews were held with the Prime Minister and .Federation of Labour, and every possiblo means was taken to again bring tho parties together ; however, without avail. At tho end of the twenty-four hours, namely, on Wednesday, November 5, the' first start was made to load the boats, hy shipping racehorses to tho south. The Trades and Labour Council has used every endeavour to bring about a settlement, and has set its faco determinedly against a general strike, feeling tho samo to be inimical to tho best interests of trade unionism. The officers havo had an anxious timo, but liavo been keenly alivo to th'o situation right throughout, and consider'that their unfailing caro has been in tho best interests of the affiliated unions."