INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 41, 11 October 1912, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

O (Per Press Association.) 'Dunedin, October 10. A meeting of the Waterside Workers’ Union was held to-night to decide the question of seceding from the Federation of Labour. A vote was taken some little time ago, and out of 24G voters there was a majority of If) in favour of secession. A motion came before the meeting to-night to take a fresh ballot, and an amendment war proposed that the previous ballot should stand. The amendment was carried by 48 votes to 43, but on becoming r substantiative motion it was lost hr 50 to 46. It was then decided to taki a division, when it was decided, by 8b votes to 28, to remain affiliated with the Federation. The chairman said that the divisions had proved unsatisfactory, and it was, eventually decide; to take a secret ballot at the union office on Monday. . The .question of. r ,strike of 24 hours as a protest against the imprisonment of the Waihi miners was also discussed. The secretary sard that he had the authority of Mp Holds-' worth (general .manager, of the Uniop Company) for saying that if the men Struck they would break their agreement and would have to go back on the company’s terms. It was decided, by 51 votes to 7, not to strike. The announcement was received with loud hurrahs.

A DAY’S WORTH OF SYMPATHY. Palmerston N., Last Night. A meeting of flaxmill workers, at Tokomaru, at which 240 were present, confirmed the resolution of the union executive passed last Saturday. “Thai on a day to ho arranged all men ii the 'union should cease work at the mills for 21 hours, as an expression o! sympathy with the Waihi men who art gaoled.” All at the meeting promisee: to give one day’s pay towards the strikers.

WELLINGTON WHARF LABOURERS. Wellington, October 10. The Wharf Labourers’ Union has re solved to take a holiday next Wednesday, from B*.rn. to-midnight, and Juu notified the Harbour Board and tin. shipping authorities accordingly. Tin proposal is to nold a mass meeting ol protest against the imprisonment ol the Waihi strikers, and then to form a procession to Parliament Buildings. There is, however, considerable doubt whether this programme will be carried out on Wednesday, if at all. In the first place, the union executive is understood to consider the presence ol Mr R. Semple essential ,and lie is on the West Coast and cannot be in Wellington next Wednesday. In the second place there is a lack of unanimity among the members of the union. One member, discussing flic position with a Times reporter, said: “A meeting of the union was held and attended by about 300 members, out of probably 1100, at which it was decided to stop work, as requested by the Federation of Labour. This decision was ! far from being unanimous, and then j, are many members of the union who, in these busy times, with Home boats arriving every week, object strongly to the proposal, as they feel that nothing can be gained by it, and that it only means fooling with the work there is to do. A large number of wharf labourers, while sympathising with the strikers’ unfortunate position and willing to {>ay strike levies, are honestly of opinion that the Federation of Labour has gone too far, and that its leaders have not the right to make others suffer in the way they {impose doing, for many men are risking the ‘sack’ if they don’t turn up to work next Wednesday.”; A special meeting of the Wellington Wharf Labourers’ Union has been called for Saturday, at 3 o’clock, in the men’s waitingroom, to protest against the deeds:on of a few hundred members, binding about 1100 members. | A draft of £B3 l 18s 3d from the Ncw- ! castle Miners’ Employees and £SO from the Perth (Western Australia) Railwayman was received by the Federation of Labour yesterday, in aid ol the Waihi strikers. Australian and

New Zealand contributions to the strike fund received this week amount to over £2OOO, .Mr P. Fraser telegraphed to the federation executive in Wedlington, from Waihi to-day: “Five less men gone to the mine to-day .Sixty tons of quart/, sent, yesterday to battery from ore reserves. The ordinary output before the cessation of work was nearly a thousand tons of ore a day.”