THE SIMMERING WATER FRONT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2213, 28 July 1914, Page 6

THE SIMMERING WATER FRONT

-+ ; . PREFERENCE MEN AND "RED FEDS." Referring-to the recent pandemonium , Which prevailed at the meeting of wharfmen on July 20 last, Mr. E.T. Jones, secretary of the Wellington Wharf Labourers! Union, remarked to a Dominion reporter yesterday that the preference men at last realised that- the call of the Red Fed dement to "bury the hatchet" was a hollow' mockery, and that steps were necessary to frustrate the efforts of the recalcitrants to keep tho present state- of labour on the natorfront in >a continual sinimer of unrest. ... . . . -. : Prior to the meeting, held on July 20 it had been the practice', for some old hands to gain admittance by showing their financial card. 'When inside the room, howover, 'they immediately commenced to collect cards from those inside, went outside, and distributed them to unfinancial and non-membere of the union, whom they had brought along, and who were waiting outside the building. These. hangers-on' would then enter the building 'and take part in the business of the meeting, or try to cause a disturbance. At the, meeting of July 20, steps were taken to prevent this, and those who came in and went out again Where'not allowed to re-enter the Mlding. "The result was," he said, "that tho meeting was not 'packed- by ex-strikers, and their friends, and the preference men were'given a chance for tho first, time since the new, union has been formed." At the meeting in St. Peter's Schoolroom on July 15, when the Rules Revision Committee was appointed, only financial members were supposed to be admitted. Two preference' men were nominated for the committee, but'they were not elected. : Two ex-strikers who were -unfinancial, one of whom was,at the meeting and nominated others, wero olected in.place of the preference men. Tho Rules Revising Committee met a. few days later, and it was decided that one of the unfinancial, members should iiot be allowed to sit on- the committee. The other unfinancial ex-striker paid hip subscription and sat on tho committee at the second meeting. When the new .rules came before 'tho meeting of July 20, this was not pointed out,.much to tho annoyance of many present, i who knew all about the tactics certain of theses-strikers had adopted.' The next move of tho disturbing element was to have the rules adopted before members had had the opportunity ' to discuss them. Knowing.that the rules contained passages with a distinct "Red Fed" train through them, the preference men objected strongly'to this course, and it. was this, said Sir. Jones, that led to all the trouble. - . . EX-STRIKERS' MEETING. A meeting which, it is stated, was attended by about 700 ex-strikere and others,\ who wero members of the late Waterside Workers' Union, was held on Sunday afternoon in the King's.Theatrp. From what could be gathered, those present expressed considerable dissatisfaction with their position since th6y had joined tho new union. The employers' new scheme for wharf' wotlc'was also discussed. It was finally decided to call a. mass meeting, which will be held nest Sunday •morning, and invite the S reference men in- the new union to isciiss the employers' new scheme and' other matters.