BAFFLED STRIKERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1959, 16 January 1914, Page 8

BAFFLED STRIKERS.

TWO SILENT BATTLES,

TACTICS ON THE WATERSIDE.

HOW THEY WERE MET,"i ,; ■. HARRASSING THE NEW UNION

Since the Red Federation element in th'o ranks of tho ex-strikers was baclly bcatcn afc the rowdy meeting which was hold in the "donkey-room" at the wharf, two silent battles havo boon fought between members of the exstrikers' union and tho executive of tho now Wharf Labourers' Union. Latest happenings have proved that certain members of the old union have been doing their utmost to gam n controlling interest in tho now union's affairs. Two requisitions calling upon the executive of tho new union to hold 'special meetings have been received. These requisitions liave been considered and repljes are about to be sent to interested parties stating that the meetings cannot be held as requested. The rc--1 suit of these two silent battles has been decided in favour of the new eKeeutive. • ■ • ■ ■ The First Strikers' stratagem. : ;: I Following are. copies. of the two' re-' auisitions and replies -thereto:—■ ■ '■ Requisition No. 1:—In accordance with Rule 20, Sub-clause (a> which states, inter alia.: Special meetings of tho union shall bo held: whenever the executive think fit or-any sis.'members of the union,. by notice in writing to the ■secretary so request, sueh. notice shall specify the nature of the business to bo transacted, "we, the undersigned financial'- members of- the Wellington ' Wharf Labourers' Union, registered, request that you, in accordance with tho above-quoted , rule- do horeb'y call a special, meeting of the nniiSn to diseiiss (1) The'finances of the\ union; (2) the organisation'of the union, present, past, and future'; and(3) any othbf •busjnes3 connected with'tlib union that is likejy to'.'affedt the. welfare.'of same and of its members', and'-wo.suggestthat such meeting should be held 'on Saturday, January 17, 1914,' in the donkey roomat! 2 o'clock p.m. to 'discuss "tlie business set' forth' iii tin's requisition,, or such other place-as may ;bo fdiind suitable." '■The'requisition, was signed-by'63'mem-bers. ■;'•'. ■'•■'••■' *■• . .. .... j Tho Reply to it. - : .. ■The reply furnished to 'the foregoing ! was-as , .follows , :—'.-. . -'■'■'.'■", ■ "Mr.'E. Kennedy and other requisitionists.. Dear Sirs,-—I am" directed by the oxecutive ■of the -union to ncknow- ' lodge the. receipt- of your requisition, I and to inform you that it •is advised that your notice does hot comply with j Hule 20, in that' tho meeting proposed i is not for the transaction of any business, but for tho purpose of a r c;eriefal j vague discussion, and that it does not specify with sufficient particularity what is tho business • proposed to, be transacted. The executive therefore regrets that it is unablo to comply with ! your requisition. It will, however, .be happy to call a meeting, if desired, to discuss specific resolutions relating to tho reorganisation of the union, or the alteration or , revision of the rules, or for the appointment of a committee to consider these questions, and that of J the finances and report to the union.".

- Stratagem No. 2, A requisition signed by seven exetrikers was then received as follows:— "Secretary, Wellington Wharf Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers. In terms of Rule 20 of the above union's-rules, we, the undersigned six members of'tho above union, do hereby request you forthwith •to convene a special meeting of tho union, tho business to be transacted as for the purpose of considering the following resolutions :— ' , " "(1) That a committee bo appointed of threo members of tho above union to take chargo of the. union's hooks and subject them to a thorough investigation and to report to a meeting to be- subsequently held. "(2) That pending iae completion of such investigation the president be instructed 16 suspend the present secretary and his assistants from duty, and that two acting secretaries ho nominated at fho' : meeting to , be'appointed, such acting secretaries to hold office for such period as the union in general meeting may decide." The Answer. Those who forwarded tho above received tho following reply:— • "Mr. P. C. Green and other requisitioniste. Dear Sirs, —I am , directed by tho-executive of tho union to acltnowleclgo' tho' receipt of your of January 13, 1914, and to inform you that it is advised that tho. resolutions proposed aro such as if passed by a meeting of "the union would be ultra vires. . It regrets, therefore, that it cannot see its way to comply with your request, but will he glad to convene ; a meeting if yon will modify* your resolutions so as to put them into a form in which they can bo legally l carried.