THE STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1179, 2 December 1913, Page 2

THE STRIKE.

OPENING THE LOCAL PORT. ARRIVAL OF THE AWAHOU. MORE BOATS TO FOLLOW. Up to yesterday the Foxton port held the divided distinction, with three others, of being the only closed ports in the Dominion since the strike commenced. No vessel has been in the local port since November xst. The local waterside workers, at a meeting some time ago, decided not to work any vessels coming into port until the Wellington waterside trouble was settled. The union were also asked, and refused, to work a timber laden vessel which was to arrive, and the vessel's trio to Foxton had to he abandoned, A letter was also written to the watersiders offering them work on certain vessels under certain conditions. Phis they also refused, and as a consequence the port has been idle. Business people and the public generally throughout the district have been greatly inconvenienced aud penalised through the hold-up. There has been a shortage of every-day commodities, aud increased railway freights have been passed on to the public. The local dumping sheds have been filling with hemp aud wool, but the congestion has been relieved to some extent by transferring quantities of these lines by rail to Wellington. The opening of the port has received careful consideration by shipowners, who had no desire to bring about complications which were threatened by some of the strike leaders if the port was "opened. Threats of calling the hands out aud marching three or four hundred men over from Tokomaru, etc., were circulated. The strikers were beginning to think that their plans had succeeded in sealing the port, but to their surprise yesterday morning the Awahou was seen steaming up the river. It was not known whether she was carrying a cargo or not, until she drew alongside Levin aud Co.’s wharf, when it was noticed that she was empty. A small knot of people, including waterside workers, witnessed her arrival. Captain Rogers was in command, aud the Awahou was made fast at Levin and Co.'s wharf. There was no demonstration except some jeering remarks to the effect that the vessel was empty. Sub inspector Marsack aud three constables were on tne wharf when the vessel arrived. One or two prominent waterside workers peered anxiously to see who were employed on the vessel. An opportunity was afforded any one who wanted work to turn to, but no one seemed inclined to take a lead for fear ot intimidation. At 2 p.m. a start was made in loading the vessel with hemp by Messrs Levin and Co.’s permanent staff, members of the crew, aud one or two free labourers. Captain Manly officiated at the winch, and the bales of hemp were lowered away in good style, and the vessel was loaded to her limit just as expeditiously as if nothing untoward bad happened, and she now awaits a favourable opportunity of leaving. STRIKE MATTERS IN SYDNEY. Sydney, Dec. i. The great Unionist Conference on Saturday represented two hundred thousand workers. W. Parry was present, representing the New Zealand Federation ot Labour, and Starr represented the seamen of New Zealand. The conference resumed at ten this morning.

The Employers’ Defence Committee of Wellington cabled to Mr Hughes a lengthy explanation of their attitude. COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT OF THi! CASE. The Employers’ Defence Committee has cabled Mr W. M. Hughes, M.P., at Sydney, as follows

“That the committee, representing a very large section of the general community, believing you must be unaware of the actual position in New Zealand, desires to inform you that arbitration by Sir Joshua Williams was refused by the President of the Federation of Labour when a compromise was possible. Serious rioting subsequently took place and continued till put down by the addition of special mounted and foot constables to the permanent police force. Seditious and inflammatory speeches by the Federation of Labour leaders indicated the impossibility of settlement by compromise.

“At the conference, with the Prime Minister iu the chair, the employers demanded registration under the Arbitration Act, which was refused by the Federation delegates. The employers then asked the Federation delegates to offer the next best thing providing for an independent tribunal, without securing any response. At the same conference the employers also, offered to submit the question to a secret ballot of the Waterside Workers’ Union, but this also was refused.

“The only proposal made by the Federation delegates was to accept the money penalty previously offered by the shipowners and refused by the Waterside Union, and which had since been found by both sides to be impossible of enforce neut.

“All attempts at arbitration having failed, the new watersiders’ and drivers’ unions, registered under the Arbitration Act, were formed. The former has now a membership of i,600 and the latter 250.

“The whole wharf and cartage

work is now being done by arbitration unionists; therefoie, there is no reason for. Australian unionists to refuse to handle New Zealand cargoes. “ The employers being definitely committed to support and protect the new unions, which are efficiently carrying on the work of the principal Dominion ports, and as their registration fulfils the only condition required by the employers, there is now nothing left to arbitrate upon, and therefore nothing left to submit to Sir Joshua Williams or any other arbitrator.

“Finally, as the existence of the Federation of Labour is, in the opinion of a very large section of the public, a menace not only to the business and industries of the Dominion, but to the security of the whole community, it is impossible for the employers to recognise it in any shape or form. The Employers’ Defence Committee hopes this explanation will satisfy you that the only course possible has been adopted, and requests that you should have its communication published in the principal papers of the Common* wealth for general information.— (Signed) Foster, chairman,’’ THE STRIKERS PUT THEIR CASE'.' Sydney, Dec. x. The Labour Council has received an official statement from the strikers' organisation, wherein the following clauses occur: “The Union has agreed to resume work under the old agreement aud maintain the status quo of wages aud conditions. The employers demand the abolition of the union, the abrogation ot the agreement, aud the denial of the right of the waterside workers as a whole to organise into one union. “Assistance is being readily rendered by a large section of the general public which has shown sympathy with the desire of the watersiders to maintain their union. They won’t be beaten into subjection by the hardwood batons and revolvers of the special constables, who are really not the legitimate police, aud with them they have no quarrel. “The Committee gives the assurance that if the agreement is reinstated and that they are given a clean slate, work at the port will proceed apace as if no interruption had taken place. “The Committee points out that the cases where employers are charged with breaches of agreements numbering 436, whereas the employees’ breaches were 136. If, then, a breach of the agreement meant abrogation thereof, there would be not a single award in existence to-day. The Committee sanction no rioting or disorder.”

WHAT THE HERALD SAYS.

The Herald says the Syndicalist method is on trial in New Zealand and the present question is whether it shall be tried in Australia also. An appeal has come from the leaders of the movement in New Zealand, who are fast losing ground there, but who look to dragging in Australia as a last desperate resort. The real division in New Zealand and here has been not over the original grievance, but the method whereby it was attempted to settle it. The syndicalist leaders in New Zealand have given the world an object lesson in the Syndicalist method of remedying the grievances of twelve men in a New Zealand seaport. We do not greatly fear the extension of the strike in Sydney this week. A strike before next Saturday’s election would have one certain result, and the Labour leaders- are well aware of it.