FIGHT TO CONTROL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 8

FIGHT TO CONTROL.

. —e BY THE EX-STRIKERS. * THE WATERSIDE MEETING DISORDER'S VIOLENCE. ; MAN SET UPON AND EJECTED , ' The result of tho meeting of the Wharf Labourers', Union in tho Skating j Rink, Vivian Street, on Saturday afterL noon was a scene of disorder and vioi lence which ended in the "Red Fed" i element howling down all attempts to i resist its efforts to upset the existing control of tho Union's affairs. There were about 500 men present, and of 1 these only about 100 were Arbitration- • ists who worked through tho strike. The objects of tho meeting as ( set forth calling it were as follow:— 1. Consideration of balance-sheet to be presented by the executive, s 2. Consideration of tho following resoi lutions, notice of which has been given by requisition:— ■ (a) That a committee, consisting of ; three members of the union, be ap- > pointed to inquire into and report to a meeting to be subsequently ) * called as to whether and to what i extent there has been a due observance by tho employers of the i terms cf any agreement relating to any employment on tho waterfront, i (b) That a scheme be brought down by ! the executive for the amendment of the rules, and reorganisation of the ' union to provide for specific departments and the government thereof, > under control of tho union. !' (c) That a committee bo set up to consider ways and means to organise 1 and conduct the union's annual pic- » nic. 1 The president of the union, Mr. W. 1 I. Shanly, took tho chair at 2.30 p.m., ' half an hour after the advertised time. ' His appearance was the signal for a 1 little applause and cheering, but the 1 cheering was ironical in tone, and there 1 was very ;little volume,in it. A few 1 hostile cries were also heard. A member present immediately raised ; the question as to whether Press representatives should bo allowed to remain. 1 Everybody seemed to be talking at ' once, so that there was a mild uproar, ' mostly against the Press remaining. No ' notion was moved, but Mr. Shanly rose to speak ; probably with the idea of put- ! !■'?? .some proposal to the meeting, or inviting a motion on the question. He ' did say a word or two, but it was quite impossible to hoar him. Mr. F. Curtice, 1 president of the Strikers' Union, then approached the table and conferred with 1 Mr. Shanly, and, with the latter's con--1 sent, climbed on the table to speak to the men. Ho was greeted with a storm of cheering. Mr. Curtice Appeals to the Men. - Mr. Curtice said: "Fellow unionists, and by saying that I mean that we have all joined another new organisation, I > want every member of the old organisation to be just the same this afternoon as if lie were at a meeting of the old organisation. By joining this new or- ' ganisation wo have got to work now under what we. call the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. Now, then, I ask all the old members * that are here present this afternoon to £ive_ these men, the executive, a fair and impartial hearing on every business they, fetch forward to present for you - to ' vote on this afternoon. (Hear, hear.) Tho first thing, I have been asked' is this: Whether the Press should be admitted? Mind you, a week or a fortnight ago there was a meeting held in the Trades Hall, and we then invited , the Press. Tho executive of this union has just done the same a3 we done last , Wednesday week." (Voices: "We don't v.ant them J" and uproar.)' "Now look here, I'm just going to tell you this ■ Straight, _ that if there is any disturbance to jeopardise the business that is goirigto be done at this meeting, then' 1 am one that is going to walk out of this loom. I am not here for my own interest. I am here in the interests of all the men that have - joined' tho Arbitration Union.' I could this after- • noon have been away in the 12.10 train, but I said 'No, I will not leave v until I see that our' side of tho question gets a hearing in this union. As far as the Press is Concerned, this executive have ' invited'the Press, and I say that, 1 as this is the first meeting of the now union, then if the executive has invited the Press you should allow tho Press to be here, the same as we allowed them to bo at the meeting we held tho other Wednesday night. (Cries of protest, and general din.) Now, look here, chaps, weVe come here this afternoon" to do business. Don't forgot that. I appeal to you, as president of theiold Waterside Workers' Union; to give these men a fair and square hearing. I'-tell' you now that never in the twelve years I have been on. the wharf have ' I smoodged for a job to any man on the wharf, and I don't want you to think now that I come forward to smoodge for any job, but if you want to know where you are, what the executive is dcing, and what it is going to do, the ciily way you can get a fair and square deal is by giving these men a fair and square hearing. ' "This is the president of the new union," he said, indicating Mr. Shanly, "and I want you to. give him as fair : a hearing as'you have given- to the old president." The Press Exoluded. _ Mr. Shanly tried to speak, "but was interrupted in twenty places at once. One member could be heard asking to have a vote as to whether tho Press should bo admitted or not. Mr. Shanly was apparently going to take tho sense of the meeting on the question, Mr. 6. G. Farlaud, secretary of the old union, moved: "That the"Press bo not admitted, but that a committee consisting of Mr. Purdey and Mr. Bruce prepare a correct report to be supplied to the papers." This motion was carried by a majority of at least ten to one, and the Press representatives at once left the room. is the secretary of the new union, and Mr. Bruce was assistant scc.rc.tary of the old union.) THE DISORDER. ONE MAN ROUGHLY HUSTLED. A member of the executive made the . following statement after the meeting to a representative of The Dominion re- . garding what had taken place at the meeting:— "Tho executive," .he said, "when ; calling this meoting, arranged that any representatives of the Press would bo i admitted on their satisfying us that they : vcro accredited Press representatives. ' Certain of them were admitted. We , took this step because, when certain members, of the old union called a meeti ing a weok ago, without the sanction of tho executive, they announced that the Press would bo present. As soon as • tho business was commenced, a resolution was carried to exclude the Press, and tho representatives of the papers present withdrew from, tho room. "Members of the executive were keeping the door, and persons asking admittance had - to .-show their union books to prove that they were financial members. Shortly after the hulk of tho members had'been admitted, a man ) came asking admittance, and was turned ; back'because ho had no hook. A few f minutes later one of the men who had • been admitted left the building again, • which seemed somewhat strange to us. , Immediately after he had gone out tlje

man who had previously tried to got : admission came ,up anil presented a book. 1 recognised the man as having been there previously. He then presented a book and wanted admission. I took the book and said to him: 'You were here a moment agoTwithout a book.' 1 looked at tho name in the book, and I asked him for his namo, but at first ho refused to give it. Eventually he said that his name was Lawrence, which was not the name in the book. The man was not admitted. A minute or two later it was a number of men insido were opening the side door and letting men iii, and the president went down and shut tho door. Shortly afterwards it was observed that men inside wero passing boolcs out through windows and under floors. Somo of these books wero secured by tho "police. Others, wo bolievo, got into the hands of men who should not have been admitted. The "Howling Mob." "Members of the new union who were legitimately admitted did not have an opportunity of speaking. They were cried down, and more or less roughly handled. In one instanco one man was set upon by a howling mob in the contra of tho building, and was asked to show his book. He said that he would show his book to a member of the executive, but not to them. This man had como in quite regularly. Foully obsceno and insulting language (samples of which were given) was used ;towards him, and tho mob continued to handle him roughly, and, finally, he was driven into the street. There is no doubt that, had he not been a fairly nimble man, and a big follow, they would have had him uiider their feet.. The man is a crane driver, that is to say he has one of tho best jobs going on the wharves, and lie worked through the strike. Now ho is a marked man, along with others who have similar good jobs. '(Absolutely Uncontrollable." ■ "The men were absolutely uncontrollable from beginning to end. They kept roaming round the room talking, threatening, hooting, and generally behaving in a disorderly way. On several occasions Mr. Curtice, the late president, appealed to them, and finally got up on the table and informed them that h<j was sorry to have to say, as president of the old union, that he was absolutely ashamed, of the waterside workers of Wellington. He was afterwards heard to say; 'I'm finished with them.' "The fact about the meeting was that it was impossible for any man to express views that were not to the strikers' liking. The hoots and yells that greeted any attempt to speak were such that they could be heard out in the street, and some distance away. They were so loud that a crowd collected .outside-the door, expecting some interesting disturbance. I-didn't got a hearing, though ou several occasions I tried to speak. I also called for a vote by ballot on certain of tho resolutions, but, in tho general disorder, I could not make myself heard. Tho voting was of hands.. I put my hand up against one 'motion, and there was continual hooting from end to end of the building. It was impossible to ponduct the meeting on business lines. They took charge of it absolutely." The Ejected Man's/ Statement. Tho following is a written statement by the man wild was ejected:—, "I joined the present Arbitration Union on November 22, 1913. I - arrived at the Skating Rink about 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, and produc- " ed my official union book at the door, which showed that I was a. financial member, and I was admitted. I was only in the room a ■ few minutes when 1 was set upon by a number of the old hands of the union, and asked to produce my book. I refused t0.,d0 :SO, ~;. 1.-was-, ,• then forcibly, set .upon by a number of the men, who kicked at me, ' and hit me On the head, and forcibly threw me out of the room. I can honestly say that-at nd time . did I get an opportunity to. speak : on any motion before the meeting, or voice my sentiments in any way, aiid I consider, that it was impossible' to properly carry on or conduct any business under the circumstances existing at the , meeting." POSITION NOW. PLIGHT OF THE NEW MEN. There are now about 1000 ex-strikers at work on the wharves, and abou.t 500 Arbitrationists. The number of Arbitrationists has been reduced daily since tho strike was declared off by the failure of tho men to get work. The new men are not unwilling to stay on, but they cannot sub-' mit to the conditions ruling on the wharves. At least one member of the executive has been given to understand that, if ho goes down a hold, he will bo "carried up." -"Such- threats are usually made by some allegedly i'r'endly go-between, so that it is impossible to prosecute anybody, but the threats are being made, and in consequence of them men who feel themselves to bo in : jeopardy are leaving. As appears from the official report of the meoting, one of the resolutions carried will have the effect of adding to tho executive of seven members, eight new members, who are all said to be enthusiastic "Rod Feds!" Legality of Proceedings to be • Ascertained At a meeting of tho executive held in the union office subsequent to the meeting, the following resolution was carried:—"That in consequence of tho disorderly nature of the meeting, the improper admission of unfinancial members and noil-members-of the union with the connivance of other members, and the use of violence to - a properly* admitted member who was ejected, the executive take tho opinion of the union's, solicitor as to the legality #f tho 'meeting, that, pending the receipt of such opinion, the executive postpone giving effect to the resolutions carried at su<jh meeting." OFFICIAL REPORT. THE BUSINESS AT THE MEETING. The full official report was supplied to the press :— A meeting called by-requisition of the Wellington Wharf Labourers was held iii tho Skating Rink, Vivian Street, on Saturday, February. 7, at 2 p.m. Mr. Shanly presided over a largo attendance. Admittance was by book (financial members only). . The first business was the consideration 'of a report of the meeting,, and it was decided that a concise leport be prepared by Mr. Purdey and Mr. Bruce for the Press. The balance-sheet from November 6 to February 7, 9 a.m., was presented by the executive. On the motion of- Sir. L. Glover, it was decided that consideration of tho balance-sheet be held over till printed and circulated amongst members, for discussion at a general meeting of the union, to be held in the Skating Rink on Saturday next, and, further, that a'committee tf two' be appointed to report thereon, and thai they be given full access to all contribution books, ledgers, and vouchers. On itlie motion of tho mover the committee appointed was: Messrs. Bruce and Farland. This was seconded by Mr. F. Curtice and carried unanimously. The businoss was the appointment, of three members of the union to inquire intj and report to a subsequent meeting as to the observance by tho employers of tho terms of the recent agreement entered into by the union. It was dccided. on tho motion of Mr. G. Farland, seconded by Mr. L. Glover: "That a committee, consisting of the secre-

tary (Mr. Purdey), Mr. George Bruce, s and tho mover {Mr. George Farland), be appointed to inquire and report and make recommendations to a meeting t-v bo subsequently called to decide as to whether, and to what extent, there has been a duo observance by the employers of tho terms' of any agreement relating to any ' employment' on the waterfront. Further, thai they be given credentials under the seal of the union and remuneration at wharf rates." This was -carried with one dissentient. The next business was to provide for ' amendment of rules, as per Fequisi- i tion. On the motion of Mr. A. G. Lindsay, seconded by Mr. Glover, tjie following resolution was carried:—"That a scheme be brought down by the execu- i t-ive, and tho ipllowiiig men representing eadi department:—Messrs. Aif. Jensen, W. Council, L. Glover, G. Bruce, ; H. Callaghan, A. Lindsay, G. Farland, I and E. DockeriH for the amendment of tho rules and the reorganisation .of tho unicQi to provide for specific departments and the government thereof." As it is customary to hold an annual picnic in connection with the local traterfront each year-provision was made in tho requisition to consider ways and means. It was decided that a committee, consisting of Messrs. Shanly (pre&ident), Lindsay, and Edwards.' be appointed as collectors of donations and trophies.. Tho following additional committee was elected, with power to 'add: —Messrs. E. Harrison, D. Smith, B. Lloyd, J. D. Donovan, T. King, L. Glover, _ J, Green, D. Curry, li. Rotheram, W. Currie, A, Attwell, H. Snow, Geo. Luff, T. M'Govern, E. M'Leod. Under the new agreement provision has been made for a day to be arranged between the employers and tho secretary of the nnion for tire pieuie during the montli of March.