ECHO OF 1913 STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2563, 10 September 1915, Page 2

ECHO OF 1913 STRIKE

{By' Teloeraph.-Press Association.) ■ • ' Auckland, September 9. 'An echo' of tho strike of 1913 is to lis found in the charges of victimisation. ' whicli_ were levelled against the Waterside Unions of Auckland and Greymouth by Mr. ' J, M'Combs, M.P. 'for Lyttdton, ill tho House' of Representatives. , The "unions came into existence after the strike, and their members wero chiefly mcii who had worked on the wharves during the strike. When the Auckland "Union, was formed, one of the rules provided that all future members should ho admitted by ballot, the idea being to prevent the contrdl ofthe unionfrom reverting to the instigators of "tho strike. Under the rule referred to no watersider who was a member of the Federation of Labour or any kindred body would be eligible for admission. It is this bar upon membership which is. the cause of the trouble. In regard to the. statement that hardship has been caused to nonunion workers, members of the union state that very little hardship had 1 been caused, much less in fact than in the case of unions which have the preference clause and to which admission is free to all men of good character. When shipping is slack in Auckland the union members have preference, but every week they state there is a rush of larger or smaller dimensions, and the non-union-ists are freely called upon. Moreover, once a non-unionist starts work on a ship lie is kept on till work is finished, regardless of how many unionists are unemployed. Members of the union . say they have no desire to deprive the .non-unionists of work, the only inten- . .tion manifested is to prevent any of tho restless clement from securing control of the union. Some of the members of tho union expressed the opinion that the decision of the Wellington Union to cease work at , ton p.m. was the beginning of further ' waterside .trouble, .which appeared' to have been threatening for some time. The workers in Auckland receive 2s. 3d. an hour for all work dono after 10 p.m." and look forward to this overtime as a substantial portion of their week's earnings, the ordinary; pay. during daylight ltours being Is. sd. an houn ■ . ■The action of the Wellington Union coupled: with the ■ expressed desire to bring tho Auckland and Greymouth Unions into line with t'lie others, is regarded by them as ominous.