Auckland Laborers' Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 18

Auckland Laborers' Strike.

Satisfactory SettSempt Efested.

Another Victory for N.Z.F.L.

MEWS OF VICTORY.

The following wire was received from 'Semple and Bloodworth : —

AUCKLAND, Oct

Splendid and complete victory for Labor; grand demonstration of strength of Federation.

On Monday the conference Avas held and resulted in an agreement for a further conference to take place on Tuesday betAveen members of the Drainage Board, contractors and Union, five representatives being appointed from each bpdy.

The conference met at 10.30 a.m. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Parr), who is also chairman of the Drainage Board, presided.

The Chairman opened proceedings by stating the position and the causes that had led to the conference being held. The Union had demanded that sub-contracting should not be allowed on the Drainage Board and City Council works. The Drainage Board h„d agreed that so far as future contracts were concerned no sub-contracting should be permitted. The Board's solicitor had informed them that as the clause re sub-contracting was not inserted in the existing contracts, the Board could not legally entertain the Union's demands so far as existing contracts were concerned without rendering themselves liable to an action for breach of contract by the contractors. It Avas therefore for the contractors and the Union to come to an agreement between themselves on that.point.

Robert Semple put the case for the Union and the Federation, stating first of all that the idea Avas abroad that he had threatened to bring about a general strike if the Union's demands were not acceded to. He -wished to state that he had used, no threat —ho had merely done what he thought was his duty by telling the Mayor Avhat was likely to occur in the event of the strike being prolonged, not in the nature of a threat, but more as a warning. He stated that the system of sub-contracting Avas one which thc> Avorkers were determined to abolish, as it led to SAveating and caused greater risk' to life and limb, and was the struggle for the survival of the fittest in its worst form. He stated that the-, system had been driven from the mines in this country, and that, if alloAved to remain on these drainage Avorks ir. would undoubtedly spread from there to other places in the Dominion, and would cause endless industrial trouble, besides.endangering the lives of thojUr sands of men who would be brought under its influence. He ga\*e instances of the evils Avhich had resulted' from the system, not only in this country, but in England where it was at one time in. operation in the mines under the name of the Butty sj'S'tem.

The contractors and the Mayor objected that no such evils had resulted from the system on the present works, and Semple replied that they . Avere fighting against the introduction of the system because they, knew the evilsthat Avould folloAv once they allowed •the system, to become common. Messrs. Frazer (president), Arns (secretaryK Mason and Hutchinson (members of the Union) also spoke on behalf of the Union's claim.

After sitting three hours an agreement Avas arrived at whereby the Drainage Board agreed that sub-con-tractng should not be allowed on any future contracts • the contractors agreed that they Avould not force subcontracting upon their men in any way upon the existing contracts, and that no man should be victimised in any way for taking part in the strike. This latter point Avas strongly insisted upon by Robert Semple and the Union delegates, and the agreement Avas draAvn up and signed by the Mayor and the contractors and by Semple and Frazer, subject tp confirmation by the Union.

A meeting of the Union was held in the Federal Hall at 3 p.m., when the terms of the agreement Avere made known to the men. It was pointed out that the agreement was a win for the Union all round. "They had got all they had struck for. Sub-contracting wap abolished from all future contracts and in existing contracts the claij.se. rendered inoperative. As well as this, they had the agreement £hat no man should be penalised for