At the Waterfront.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 19, 14 July 1911, Page 5

At the Waterfront.

By NAUTILUS.

George Smith, of Patea strike fame, has been acting the role of Labor leader at New Plymouth. The N.P. Waterside Union, recently formed by another Smith of the A.S.R.S., has had some difficulty in settling with the local exploiters. Finally it decided to accept Poynton as arbitrator with demands much on the lines of the original Patea claims. The agreement when completed will not be made an award of the Court, nor will the term be longer than 12 months. "Our Union will supply The Worker to us from the funds," writes a correspondent from New Plymouth. "How many other waterside unions are doing the same?' he enquires. Rumour is current from a reliable source that the Timaru W.U. contemplates canct-lling its registration under the Arbitration Act. Auckland W.U. has an energetic sick visiting committee, which visits the unfortunate victims of capitalism's hurry and rush. Paddy Flynn is chief in command; his genial smile and cheery word of sympathy has assisted many a bedridden comrade towards recovery. "Why are so many gangs crammed into_ a hatch? Is there no way of compelling the companies to allow sufficient space for coal workers to work in comfort and safety?" enquires a correspondent. Yes; there is a way and that way is to stop away. "How did the cargo workers of Wellington gain the use of their hooks P" Just by refusing to go to work without them. Can you not do th© same? No wharf employer can compel you to work —even under the Arbitration Act. The remedy is in your own hands. Refuse to work in any hatch until you are allowed sufficient space and get your mates to do the same. Auckland waterside workers have decided to hold their general meetings in the waiting rooms at the waterside in order to instil some life into the Union. The modest increase gained by the miners at Waihi is being consistently used as an argument against waterside workers joining the N.Z.F.L. It is urged that more could have been gained by arbitration, that the miners' method is the wrong method. Students of workingclass progress recognise that an increase—if ever so slight—gained as a result of strength and solidarity is economically worth twice the increase gained by the cringing spirit—the lifeabsorbing Arbitration Act. We may well watch Waihi. The dockers in the Old Land are ©vi to get a little of their own backTaking advantage of the seamen's strike, they resuscitated most of their old grievances and aired them before ( ihe disconcerted Shipowners' Federation. The boasted solidarity of capitalJ'sm has proved a freak in face of the nternational demand for justice. Units of the Shipping Federation have acceded the demands rather than have their ships laid idle : and that greatest of all curses inflicted on seamen—"the Fed-' eratiotr* ticket"—has in many cases been swept away. The Wellington waterside workers have decided to procure £10 worth 01 Industrial Unionism pamphlets for free distribution. A committee has been» set up, consisting of men who have .made a study of the subject, and who are adepts at propaganda. Seed thus well sown will produce fruit—solidarity,* militant unionism. Other waterside' unions should copy. The first docks were built in London in the face of great opposition from the' then existing Waterside Union called the Watermen's Company. They strongly urged that the building of docks would result in taking the bread out of hundreds of men's mouths. They succeeded in delaying the building of the second dock for some considerable time. Billy Hughes proposes to have established a line of excursion steamers for the benefit of continentals seeking |and in Australia. It is anticipated that .the round trip will cost the prospectors £20. We thought there were plenty ot land seekers in Billy's old union? Well, yes, new blood is needed to give the Australians a continental strain. Henry Wilkinson, aged 30, was fined £5 for the theft of a case of condensed milk from the Huddart Parker Company at Sydney on June 3. Constable Brodie found a tpecially-built box seat for the concealment of articles, and it is alleged that an organised gang "Causes losses amounting to £50 per .week to the H.P? Co. alone. The gear on the s.s. Lauderdale which has recently been loading white pine at Grey for Australia, isn't of the best. The derrick guys carried away on two or three occasions during loading opfrafions, and several workers miracuously escaped sudden death. Query t Where's the Government's ship-gearl inspector P