AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 48, 9 February 1912, Page 12

AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS.

On Wednesday, January 24, all workceased en tho Auckland wharves between 8 and 10 a.m., for the purpose of giving the' local watersidcrs an opportunity of hearing the terms of the new agreement and the report of the delegates. After Messrs. Canham and Boardman had read and briefly explained the provisions of the agreement, Mr. Bob Semple addressed the crowded meeting, aad at the conclusion of his' remarks the members rose to their feet en masse Ai>d vociferously cheered the speaker and delegates. The motion, "That the agreement, and the delegates' action in signing same, be endorsed," was then carried enthusiastically.

Tho second ballot of tho Auckland W.W. Union, on the question of cancellation of registration, closed at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 26. Result: 699 members voted on the proposal, 498 being in favor and 160 against, with 41 informal —over three to one in favor of cancellation. It is to be hoped the small section of employers endeavoring to drag tho linion before Judge Sim will now desist. On Wednesday, January 24, Messrs. Semple, Canham, and Boardman attended a conference with Messrs. Ford, Allison, Henderson, E. Craig, and Grosvenor, these latter representing the Auckland waterfront employers who are "determined to stick to*tho law of the land," to quote their own expression. After tackling the bosses for over an hour from various standpoints, and using every argument, the Union's delegation withdrew, being unable to shift the reactionary individuals present from the position they had taken up—evidently by pro-ar-rangement. These gentlemen (or ono it them) openly asked 'Tor a good go; lot's have a strike—then we'll see whether tho Federation of Labor or the law of the land is going to rule." But the local Union can deal very effectively with tho situation whichever way things go, and as time goes on these ■ few bosses will long even more ardently ' «r a settlement than oae of their j number does ostensibly for a strike.