Unionism in Nelson District.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 55, 29 March 1912, Page 7

Unionism in Nelson District.

Golden Bay Workers' Union Formed.

By P. H. HICKEV

At tho request of the workers employed at the Teiakolie Onwiit Works; a visit was paid to that quarter by a representative oi "The Woiivri," when ; the Golden Bay Wojkers' Union was established. There aro employe<l at the cement works itself about. 100 men, who wore just ripe for organising. They proved an enthusiastic group, the active spirits of wliivh were Federation'members. As they told this writer when 1k« struck the'Takaka wharf: "What we want is not a little craft union—we want to lie part and parcel of the N.Z.FI'" Terakohe itself consists of just the recwii»v-established cement works, a few tents and » hares and a hash-house designated by the workers as "tough. Whether this latter t<?rm was due to the nature of the steak supplied, 1 am trniablc to say.

Man\ oi' the men, sooner than live in the neighborhood of the works—whore everything is covered with cement mist, a short visit of two hours leaving mc as though 1 had been .overtaken by a severe dust-storm— cycle or drive into Takaka, tho nearest settlement, some eevon miles distant. Takaka is a very old-established settlement, one old identity informing mc that it was nearly W years since ho first struck tiho place. I'raetieaHy the only industry is farni.-.nu'. and as in all farming centres the advent of an agitator was regarded with considerable suspicion and perhaps secret hostility. A meeting of tho in.'ti was railed for Sunday aftcrjM«in at 2 o'clock.; tho meeting place a lovely stretch of sandy beach adjacent to the works. For some reason or another, tho local settlniH took an extromelv kern interest in tho proceedings. ;i.iid turned up to, the meeting pl.-ve in strong force, oven tlio local medico's motor being in ovi<l>env<\ However, they wore informed thai it wan not a public meeting, but they sUll TOir.ained in tlio locality, though courteously retiring from tlio mooting itwlt. "We soon got to work and established the union, the first in tho history of the district. Tho nsuno was left broad enough to embrace any wage-earner in tho locality. It. deckled that immediate steps be taken to join tho N '/■ l'"li., also that tho organisation be registered under tho Trades Union Act. U was further that each member of the Union be supplied "iMi a copy of "Tho Worker." Csoinrii.de. Hurclifield, who was praetiCallv responsible I'or the success of the visit was elected President; Comrade Hitchcock. V iw-pro*id«Miit; Comrode Sbafferv, Treasurer; and Comrade W. M<-Lnskio, Secretary. In addition to the above, a committee of five was appointed. . Among the officer," are local men who for the first, time aro members of a union. Their energy and enthusiasm was cheering to bdhold. Knowing t'ho local conditions, they were most positive in their assertion that the I niou would l)eiwe long embrace practieji ly tho whole, of the wage-earners of the district. In fact, it has 1-en tlio writer's experience that once the young Aew Zoalandor becomes interested in unionism—and it is an easy matter to make him interested—ho is ojjc- of the finest in the world.

There was some talk locally of the official* of the works victimising or otherwise singling out for dislayor those who wc-ro actively participating in the Union. Upon bring inter viewed, however, they disclaimed any auoh intention, and stated Ljhoy wero wise enough to know that it was _ iutilo to prevent working-class organisation. There aro many questions aflV-rinig the employers of the Commit Co. winch need investigating, f'linslanee, men are rn<'a"od loading and unloading', vessels at" all hours of the day and night at from Is. per hour. Overtime, amounting in some cases <o over 30 hours on end, is worked, and tUto overtime rales paid are on the smallest scale. Thoiv aro other points which also need attention, but these a.re the. main issues. Kn ion to to Terakobo, a call was made at Nelson, and a meeting addressed. Tlio evening was boisterous, something unusual for that smiling city, and in conscquenco the apathy of tlic ' ;tvi:r;i'v citi/en was siiflicicnt t<) k*x>|) him .'it home- However, them was h li.ir ATr. Joseph Tay!.-,r, a ]<uni iJiiimpii.H «.f f.nl.ei's cx,\.;o, prefi("lii<-. At t!;o. .-nnvli'.sien of the address, fjVicr.tiivns <a:;:e fas.t and i:iimus, fj-oiii Uifi nature nf wliioh it was v< iy evident that the- tcr.chiiijjfl of tlio immortfll Homy Gc-arjre 'had iK,nr.trr.i«?d that centre. Organisation in N>-'so:i is ,],, :l rL Outside ;.li.- wliarf l.il-.orern, it is i\nn-pxif.tent. \y.!iother anything sliott of a dyr.r.mito osplcfion would stir Urn» ioik-rs tliero is vry d(»ulitfiil. r.ut they sadly orsanissitioii nf fioine sc:t, Hi/ , i;rineoly of 7a. pi r day hr : :::£ p.'/.d In that dis-

I triet and at some sawmills. The meij wo'iild join a union if one wero estabf lished, 1 fee] sore, hut. there is no ilir tempt made to organise, so Uiey- grub along and "raise" a family upon then' 7s. per diem, paid when, the weather is fine. ■ A hurried visit was paid to some of tho local hop-gardens. Hero whole families stand out in the broiling sun, from the father and mother to tho latest arrival screaming objections in the pram, and pick the golden hops, which at a later stage in their (■onmiereial evolution gladden tho Uiirsty throat of man. The, price paid for picking is 2\il. per bushel. This season., an average picker would be able, with de<'en* luck, 'to pick 24 bushcK a day. A great ■a.uv, ol (.vijim , . ;i.vor. •,'.'■<• f;>r" less.. ai,iJ an occasional "ringer" more. 'One blushing damsel informed' the writer that 12 bushels a day was her limit, which means 2s. fid. i'or.tihe pnvilegv of standing in the broiling sun all (lay: Hours are from 7 and 8 a.m. u> about fi p.m. It's scandalous sweating- not thing else. From a lioalth point, of viow'it is undoubtedly bonHivinl Here, by the way, I came across a hopgrowor who was boarding pickers for 7s. ]*t week, Is. per day,'and iirst-elass board,. too. ' The result of tlii.i hurried visit tend? to materially strengthen . .my opinioil that if the i-Vderation of Labor would only establish a T'nvted Workers' Union, broad enough to embrace the unorganised wage-earners of all occupations, it would develop, into a huge organisation.