WHARF FIREBRANDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 6

WHARF FIREBRANDS.

:/ .. . RUMOURS OF TROUBLE. MOVE BY THE EMPLOYERS. All sorts of stories are in circulation regarding possible developments on the waterfront. It was rumoured; early in the week that "something" was to happen to-day. This is now discredited, but there are still those who believe that tho Federationists may . tnlco some ao-' tion which will bo of tho usual warlike naturo in tho course of a few days. It is very freely reported. that the ex-strikers-Jiavo; had their war . chest replenished during tho week by donations amounting to.somo £2000 from Australia. Whatever the truth about these , rumours may be, it seems to be beyond question'that a numbor of ex-strikers are "bent on making trouble for somebody : , on the watorfront very shortly, if they can do.so. .- ; Believing that tho present position requires some attention, the snipping ; companies . have been taking action to pretcct themselves. A committee meeting of representatives of the big companies was hold yesterday, at which, it is understood, the business was the consideration of a scheme for tlie employment by all 'the companies conjointly of a staff, of permanent workers, these workers to receive a guaranteed weokly wage, and ovortime. No such scheme was definitely adopted, but, the fact that such a meeting was .held is cvidcnce that the companies are alert to the situation. Before tlie oversea 1 companies can bo committed to the pro- , posal, however, it will bo necessary to refer the matter to their head offices, so that,. if such a course should eventually be .deemed wise, it cannot come into operation. l'or somo time at least. _ The relations of the Waterside Executive and .the union ; are exactly aa they * were on Saturday lastj after the disorderly meetiiig of members had passed what amounted to a vote of. no-confidence ; in them. . To-day. the summons to determine the right of the executive to operj ate on the union's bank account will be heard in the Supremo Court, and tho decision on this point will be important. In the meantime, the executive i seem to have, decided- to retain office, and their opponents have hot yet-made i public any scheme by which they can expel, the executive. At present it is the ex-strikers' movo, in the came. They i" may make that move by .litigation or . bv the "direct action" of .which .they have not even yet tired of talking. Today they will probably discuss this and other matters at their meeting, which, ; > by the way, is being held without the sanction ,of the executive. > EMPLOYERS CITED. BY EX-STRIKERS AT AUCKLAND. A (Bjj Telegraph.—P*ess Association.) Auckland, February 13. The Conciliation Council, under Mr. T. Harle Giles, sat this morning to consider the Auckland Coal and Cargo [Workers' dispute. The applicant union is the organisation recently formed of ex-strikers, who were refused membership*' of tho. new W'atersidcrs' j Union. The respondent employers had filed the following statement ■■ of . defence: —(1), Tho' : applicants • are*' not workers within the-meaning of the Act, not' being employed'.as :waterside workers; ( 2) the rcspondeiit.s'rhave no dealings with the Auckland Co"al and Cargo Workers' Industrial Union, and, therefore, have no dispute with it; "(3).the waterside workers employed by the re- ; ' spoiulents. are not members of the Auckland. CoaL.and Cargo, Workers' Union; (4) the_ lyaterside workers.employed by tho .respondents aro members of the Auckland" Waterside Workers' . Union, and,tho respondents have entered into au industrial ■ agreement with the union for a period of three years, and can recognise only "one'unioii embracing work done on the waterfront.„ , Application was'made by the Cargo ■Workers' Union to join the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union as parties to the dispute. ;• . - Tho Commissioner pointed out that it was usual to give'fair notice to those whom it was desired'to join as parties, and he '!would therefore adjourn further hearing till Wednesday, March 4.