Westport Unions.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 71, 19 July 1912, Page 10

Westport Unions.

NONE MORE LOYAL TO FEDERATION.

Visit of Semple and Webb—A Record Meeting—A Fine Resolution.

1 would like readers to know that the news you get in the daily papers re_puding the Waihi and Reefton trouble i* far from true.

On looking through different papers •f the Dominion one finds these papers would have us beliovo that the miners and other unions are full up of the Federation. Don't hoed thcro, for let mc tell you there is not a more loyal 6ody of men, or men. who place more BOlifideiice in the Federation, than the Miners, watorsidors, and general lab■rers of the Westport district. Thoy Iwartily endorse the methods of the 8.Z.F.L., and will stick through thick and thin.

We had a visit from P. Webb and R. Semple. P. Webb arrived by coach •d June 22, and spoke to a crowded meeting ol the combined unions. Mr. 6. Hawse, vice-president of the General Laborers' Union, presided. Mr. Webb spoke for an hour and a-half, snd spent half-an-hour in answering questions on the Waihi and Reefton trouble.

At the conclusion, 11. Gillin moved, and J. Dunn seconded: "That we, the combined unions, endorse the action of the Federation of Labor in dealing with the Waihi and Reefton trouble, and pledge ourselves to support our fellowworkmen in. thoso places both morally and financially, as we recognise that their fight is our light." The motion was carried unanimously.

Thursday, July 4, R. Semple imd.J. Dowgray addressed a meeting of 507 in the Theatro Royal (our local paper puts the number at 200), but allow two who made it their business to make a count to know bolter than that. It is evidently out of the press line of business to report anything Hoarding the Federation fairly. Mr. T. Stephenson. president of the General Laborers' Union, introduced the speakers. Mr. Dowgray was greeted with applause. He gave a very interesting account of the present gold-miners' trouble, and traced it back some 12 months.

Mr. Semple dwelt strongly on the misrepresentation of the press. We recognise that Mr. Semple is the man of the day. Several questions were asked and answered by Mr. Sempfo. The meeting concluded with the following motion., which was carried unanimously :—"Recognising that the trouble existing at Waihi and Reefton has fteen brought about by the Employers' .Association with the object of enforcing conditions that are decidedly detrimental to the health and strength of the miners, this meeting congratulates the workers at those places on tho stand they are making, and re pledge them■elvos to support morally and financially our comrades in both places, recognising that their defeat would be a serious setback to organised labor in this Dominion. Further, wo heartily endorse the methods adopted by the N.Z.F.L. in dealing with these disputes.** The audience (bar three or four) rose and gavo three cheers for tho Waihi and Reefton men, also for the Federation and Semple and Dowgray.—YET.