At the Waterfront.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 15, 16 June 1911, Page 12

At the Waterfront.

By NAUTILUS

Industrial Unionism is developing on Auckland wharves. It must do. Tho fossils may as well try to sweep the sea back with, a shilling broom as to stop its progress. And woe to the official who tries it; he will be weighed in the balance and found wanting.

George Smith, secretary of the Patea W.W. Union, is pushing The MaoeiLiAND Wokkee. lie has established a. sub-agency and will enrol subscribers. Rumoured that the Westport Waterside Workers have drawn out from the W.W. Federation with the Object of joining the N.Z. Federation of .Labor. The Union Steamship Company has added another unit to its red tunnel fleet. The s.s. Karma is 2000 tons groes register, an up-to-date cargo carrier. i. J atea waterside workers are moving. A motion has been tabled to alter the name of tho same so as to include all general laborers in Patea. A very healthy waterside union has been formed in aSew I'iymouth. It will shortly link up witn Federation, thus completing the liniv of waterside unions on the north-east coast. Tho French Transport Workers Federal Dockers has threatened a general strike on the Atlantic Coast (France) to compel better conditions from the shipowners. The seamen's strike in Trieste on March 18 was almost broken by the Austrian Admiralty, who attempted to force the marines to take seamen's places. The Socialist propaganda has ,oeen making such vigorous headway in the Austrian Navy that the order was oontramanded owing to the disattection caused. The Admiralty issued a circular to the shipowners advising them to come to terms with their men, and to set up an arbitration committee. The shipowners came to terms and Councillor Yon Mauthner was appojnted arbitrator. The final agreement was satisfactory to the seamen. The effect of tho proposed international seamen's strike was to cause the Austrian shipowners to make complete arrangements for the immediate transshipment of blacklegs from Turkey. One hundred were sent to Austria, ana the Labor Federation is combining to have them sent back again. The Auckland W.W. Provident Fund has been of great benefit to sick members of the Xjnion. It has been in existence three and a-half years, and has paid out £.900 (aprox.) in relief benefits, besides grants rrom the Management Fund. Where other schemes have tailed to reach fruition, the Provident Fund has been a success, being based on the direct contributions of members. Auckland waterside workers are subject to the rushing tactics which are a prominent feature of all wharves in. the Dominion. When an accident occurs the employers try to evade responsibility under tho Compensation Act. it would .be imagined by their bluffing tactics that the workers actually looked for accidents and took a pleasure in bein~ hashed up. If the employers were subjected to the same working conditions as the toilers, they would not squeal so much when paying out. It is safe enough for them sitting in easy chairs whilst others produce Pjoivts. Their ease and safety is our rod and U The Auckland Union's action in running a direct workers' candidate wiiX hav*e good effect on the Harbour Board though beaten for a, place J. Canham polled 2235 votes, which should impress the Board with the necessity of paying more attention to the workers' needs. On the eve of the Harbour Boards election the Auckland Union induced that body to place the Furley stretchers which had been left in the premises o± the St. John's Ambulance Association, for months. Another sore point is the lack of proper medical appliances, lne need of these appurtenances was demonstrated on the s.s Niwaru one night, where a man who having the fieW portion of his thumb torn away, had*to wait till next day to get it properly dressed. J as. Collett, Secretary of the Auckland Union, has resumed his duties, although, his eyes will be some considerable *timo in' regaining their former strength.