THE STRIKE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 December 1913, Page 3

THE STRIKE

CONFINED TO NEW ZEALAND CARGO. I'electric telegraph, copybiqht.J [per press association.] (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, This Day. Two thousand wharf labourers were present at yesterday's stop work meeting, and all the wharves were idle. The proceedings at times were turbulent and discordant, a large section resenting the confining of the war to New Zealand cargo, and desiring a general strike. They threaten further trouble. At the ordinary meeting of the Wharf Labourers' Union held tonight Mr W. M. Hughes was besieged and importuned by angry unionists. After the meeting they condemned the decision as being contrary to the principles of unionism . One result of the meeting is (hat the Flimnroa and Riverina will be tied up indefinitely. The Union Company is despatching vessels to Tasmania and Fiji, and anticipates despatching the Manuka to Wellington on Saturday. The Whakatane and Indrapura will commence discharging today. All other deep sea ships are relieved of any trouble for the present. Hecklers of Mr W. M. Hughes demanded whether, if two of the Union Company's boats were alongside, one going to New Zealand and the other to Tasmaniaj they had to work the latter, which meant working with "scabs." They also wanted to know if they were not fighting the Union Company. Mr W. M. Hughes replied that they must work everything excepting vessels to and from New Zealand; they were not dealing with companies, but with places. The meeting liad decided not to work New Zealand boats and that was all. Amid hoot? the turbulent section declared that that was not unionism, one crying if they had to work with "scabs" there would not be enough bandages in Sydney to tie (hem up. The Herald, commenting on the attitude of the tuburlent section, says that while the unionists have decided to restrict the area of disturbance, the future is by no means clear.

MOVEMENTS OF STEAMERS. [PER, PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, This Day. Owing" to her late arrival from Sydney, the departure of the Aorangi for Son Francisco has been postponed. , The Tahiti, which will take the place of the regular Sydney steamer from Wellington, will not <;\\\ till Saturday. The Waipori is expected here in a few days' time with a full load, of Newcastle coal, for bunkering the boats engaged in the coastal and ferry services. The Opawa sails for London this afternoon. MR W. M T IIITGHES'S REPLY r J 0 EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. [per press association.] Wellington, This Day. The following is a summary of a cable to the Wellington Defence Committee from Mr W. M. Hughes in reply to Mr W. G. Foster's cable.:—"So far as your cable deals with the history and development of the dispute it is unnecessary to comment thereon, beyond the'remark that your statement is in conflict with that furnished at the recent conference by the Labour Federation delegates. Xo useful purpose will be served by attempting to deal with the matter from this standpoint, therefore the Conference representing over 200,000 unionists (caHed together for the express purpose of dealing with this trouble) faced the situation as it exists- to-day, and one whicli threatens to assume alarming proportions. With those (if there are any) who desire the continuance of the industrial turmoi 1 we have absolutely no sympathy ; we believe in unionism and all that unionism, stands for. We believe in the settlement ofindustrial disputes by arbitration, so your contention—that there is no. dispute, that there is nothing left to submit to Sir Joshua Williams or any other arbitrator, that the Federation of Labour cannot be recognised, and is to be destroyed —we, cannot for one moment assent to. The Federation contains thousands of the best workmen in New Zealand, and we cannot consent to their destruction. Who is to blame for the present situation we do not presume to say; we are faced Avith a situation, and it is none of our creating. Peace is not to be obtained by saying there is nothing to arbitrate about or fulminations against the Federation of Labour. There is a dispute, and there is arbitrate about. Until this point is settled, to talk of industrial peace is to live in a fool's paradise. In the best interests of all parties, we consider the present state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue. We therefore recommend that the whole matter be referred to Sir Joshua Williams, or anv other arbitrator acceptable

to both parties. His decision to be final on all points, including the employment of labour and a conference on behalf of all unionists Australia pledges itself to loyally abide by the result of such arbitration, and as from date of appointment of the arbitrator to resame normal working conditions in the New Zealand transport trade, and it recommends the Federation of Labour to similarly pledge itself. In any case we do so. We hope this proposal will recommend itself to you and the people of New Zealand. We fully recognise that a very strong feeling exists; but we make an appeal to reason, and appeal to both sides to accept it without delay."