TARATAHI MEAT WORKERS' AGREEMENT AND MESSRS CAMPBELL AND REARDON.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 61, 10 May 1912, Page 14

TARATAHI MEAT WORKERS' AGREEMENT AND MESSRS CAMPBELL AND REARDON.

Sir,- Owing to falso reports that have come to hand relating to our agreement, wo deem it necessary to put the farts beforo the workers of this country. When wo first thought of forming a union, I wired Mr. Reardon to como to Mastorton and put our "house in order." Ho replied: '"Too busy hero; keep going." Realising that no timo should bo lost, wo set about doing our best. All hands being new at tho game, wo consulted Mr. Rod. Mcßae, and ho advised us to havo nothing to do with anything or anybody who would lead 'us up to Sim, Pryor and Co.—as ho put it —but to ring up "Tho Maoriland Worker" and sco what they could do for us. Owing to our notice being too short, thoy could not send anyone to fix us up, as I had called a meeting for tho night. Mr. La racy, who had arrived in Masterton, kindly consented to address our meeting and assist in drawing up our demands. Tho demands were drawn up, and placed in tho hands of the employers at 11 p.m. tho samo night. Tho next thing of any importance was a wire from Mr. Laraey from Wellington to this effect: "Meet Campbell tonight's train." I then called a meeting for February 15 to hear what Mr. Campbell had to say. Ho explained the aims and objects of tho Freezing Workers and Allied Trades Federation, and after ho had addressed the meeting tho delegates appointed to meet the employers asked Mr. Campbell if ho would attend the conference tho next night with them, and he consented to do so, at tho samo timo saying he wished ho had arrived sooner, as our demands were too low. As I havo pointed out above, tho demands were i« the hands of the employers boforo Mr. Campbell arrived in Masterton, and ho had nothing to do with tho drawing <up of demands. I fail to see why ho should be slated by some of the Labor leaders for accepting what they considered a "crook" agreement. Now, to my mind, under the circumstances, wo got a good agreement—if only for ono reason: that is, that our agreement expires on July 31, 1912, and nob three years under the. I.C. and A. Art. Now, Sir, I might state hero that when wo went to meet tho employers in conference, we were not a union—' wo were simply a mob of men—and wo got a rise of Is. 6d. per day in most eases and 2s. in others, also overtimo rates, which wero not in existence beforo. This will no doubt clear the minds of those who have been otherwise misled. In conclusion, I now, on behalf of the Taratahi Workers' Union, challenge Mr. Reardon to "publicly state" what ho means by the footnote in his letter to mo dated February 13, which reads as follows: —"A man by the name of Campbell has blown in here from Christehurch. Ho calls himself the. fiwacrs' organiser. Turn him right down if he comes up to Masterton —I know this gonthman." We do this in fairnoM to Mr. Campbell.—Yours, etc., J. ANGUS, Hon. Sec. Taratahi Meat Workers' Union, Masterton.