AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 31, 6 October 1911, Page 7

AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS.

Victimisation.—Judge Sim and Holiday s.---Preparing for jjcirsary Ist. — Elections..-f-Precarious Callings. — "Defence;':' On September 27 the gang of 12 men AvorkingNo. 3 hatch of the Haii-'ro-to ceased worked and came ashore because one man was victimised and sacked. The after gang in No. 2 hatch, Avhen ordered aft to take their places, promptly and steadily refused, under both cajolery and threats. The ; dispute. Avas referred to the secretary .'-..by both parties, when the employer coni corned got the straightout dictum, "an injury to one is an injury to all now." all hands (including the victim) were reinstated. .11 V- - , -••;; Judge Sim has given an interpreta-,->'[,tation re Prince of Wales' Birthday, .-,-which moans a victory for the Auckland W.W. Union, in spite of the .>;fact that both;the secretary and late '(...president held that holiday rates could v not be demanded, as no holiday had ;!>een gazetted. A motion, however, to bring all the resources of the union into operation (if necessary) Avas moved by Mr. Canliam and carried. Unfortunately, the, members have decided '(should the employers' repudiate the interpretation]!, instead of taking an action for breach of aAvard, to refer back to Judge Sim, and ask him if he has overlooked the ; fact that the day Avas not gazetted,. though an award holiday. As an outcome of the recent decision of the N.Z.W.W. Conference to decline to handle lime and cement on and after January Ist next, unless packed in dust-proof bags (or casks), and further; affirming that sulphur, basic slag, " bonedust and superphosphates should be similarly dealt Avith, the Auckland Union have "addressed a circular letter to, not only a]l parties to the award who manufacture'or handle these commodities,, but; to the British offices of the A'arioits; shipping firms to Noav Zealand, Auckland, being the chief port of production for lime and cement.. The local W.W. Union intend© to meet the position, firm(ly, and relies (in the • event of trouble) . on the unanimous support of organised labor. Auckland : W-W. Union has instructed its secretary to , procure enrolment forms, and, a special endeavour will be made to ensure.every member being on the parliamentary electoral roll before the impending elections. As showing the precarious nature of the average water-aider's financial position, and the fact that a few AA'eeks' sickness means destitution, mention should be made of the large number of subscription lists in evidence on the Auckland wharves, and the many calls on the members' pockets (almost invariably generously responded to), in addition to the regular » payments from the Provident Fund. Rarely a month passes without one or more such lists —-bearing the Union seal and headed by a solid Union donation" — being in evidence, sometimes (as during the present epidemic of pneumonia and influenza) not a week passes without its cry for help for the more unfortunate. All this shows that our present economic system is absolutely rotten. ; In January 'last ah ex-member of the Auckland W\ W. Union greatly distinguished himself by SAvimming with his helpless mate four miles, for which he received two gold medals. Being subsequently rendered blind by a blasvng accident at Waihi, a sub-committee of the Union has taken up "Billy" Moran's case, and has had a fair measure of support from the Auckland public, more especially the Ponsonby boys, the Garrison and Onehunga Bands, and the Socialist Party. May the committee be duly rewarded for their energy. ■ ■ ";'■• '.'-■ '■'■■;: ••■;■ Some feAV members of the Auckland Watersiders are inclined to complain of the' "notoriety," "bad name/ etc., tho boys are alleged to have achieved ais a result of the attacks made on the Union by the capitalistic and jingoistic press — as a result of the N.Z.W.W. Conference debate on the compulsory clauses of the N.Z. Defence Act, and the attitude and utterances of the Auckland delegates. Let the Auckland boys console themselves. Five yeans ago press and public knew little and cared less for the unorganised rabble who worked the shipping and eked out fa precarious livelihood on the wharves and Avaterfront. Noav it is realised that a body of rational and intelligent organised men (who do not always see eye to eve AA r ith the press) has to be reckoned* with.—MEMBER.