STOP-WORK MEETING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3054, 16 April 1917, Page 6

STOP-WORK MEETING

A special "etop-work" meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union was held : on Saturday morning. The meeting commenced shortly after. . 8 a.m. and \ lasted for just on three hours. It was largely attended, and Mr. L. Glover, president of the Wellington Branch-of the union, occupied the chair. The agreement recently arrived at between the representatives of the waterside employers and employees L was discussed a.t length. ' As it was contended that the.agreement was a Dominion, a resolution to the effect that a ballot of all members of unions affiliated to the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation be' taken on Monday and Tuesday (to-day and to-morrow) on tho question of whether the agreement be accepted or rejected, was passed. Some 5000 to 6000 members will beentitled to vote on life question. Another resolution . was. passed: "That this meeting of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union is of the opinion that the sentence of eleven months' imprisonment passed at : Auckland on March 13 upon Oliver Noakes (waterside worker) is absolutely unwarranted according to tho evidence adduced and the nature,of the alleged offence, -ind calculated to undermine all confidence in the impartial administration of the law where trades , unionists are concerned. Further, even admitting tint Noakes had committed a technical breach. of the War Regulations, \ his offence was not nearly so serious as similar cases at Auckland and.other parts of the Dominion, for , which small fines were imposed. Wo therefore ssk the Governor to review the < sentence aiid issue a free pardon to Oliver Noakes."

> A further resolution was passed sympathising with, the coal miners and urging that the Military Service Act he icpealed. .