Timaru Unionists and Others

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 5, 1 June 1913, Page 1

Timaru Unionists and Others

There has been trouble among the parasites in this district recently. Those hot-headed waterside workers have dared to give the Meat Companies a foretaste of what class solidarity will mean.

The butchers at Smithfield and Pareora refused to work any longer with the scabs who helped the companies to defeat them (the butchers) in their late struggle. They appealed to their assistants and to the wharf labourers not to handle any more mutton till the fight should be over. The assistants and watersiders responded nobly to the call, despite the fact that the butchers scabbed on their assistants last year and did not help the wharfies when they were in trouble. Such class solidarity is magnificent, and when carried far enough is bound to win out.

But here comes the tragic part of the fight: The freezing works were manned by “ free” labour and the big Home-going mutton boat was loaded by squatters, cockroach business men and farmers’ sons—and UNION engine-drivers, firemen and shunters have worked trains loaded and unloaded by scabs.

Just here I presume to offer some advice: Whenever such a strike takes plaee the railwaymen should be appealed to and the message of class solidarity put before them. Even though they do not respond to the call it would let them know what is expected of them, and it would give the few militants in the “service” a chance to drive home the message of revolutionary industrial action. These railwaymen must educate themselves before we can hope to win industrial fights.

To continue: The majority of the butchers cleared out, leaving the wharf labourers to bear the brunt of the fight, and the result doubtful.

During last month Eraser and McLennan were here with the pictures of the doings during the Waihi strike. The lecturer gave an instructive address to those depending on capitalist sheets for their news.—S.R.