THE LABOR UPHEAVAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 55, 5 November 1913, Page 5

THE LABOR UPHEAVAL.

TWO MANIFESTOS. EMPLOYERS’ CALL FOR FREE LABOR. ■( Wellington, November 5. The Wellington Employers’ Committee issues the following manifesto regarding the waterside workers strike “The Wellington Employers Committee, while regretting the failure of new negotiations to settle the unfortunate strike now in existence, intimates that it cannot see its way to enter into any agreement with an oiganisatiou which refuses to register under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The employers throughout have been ready to resume operations at the rates of pay and under the general working conditions which obtained at the time of the strike, with a stipulation that the

new agreement should he made for a terra of years, arid should he register- / |d- under the Industrial Conciliation fnd Arbitration Act; and they regret that the delegates from the Waterside Workers’ Union positively declined tjO entertain the proposal. The Act provides for disputes regarding the interpretation of agreements, etc., to, he adjudicated upon by stipendiary magistrates, with an appeal to the Arbitration Court, and is the only means provided by law hy which power is given to decide disputes between parties to industrial agreements * or awards, and to. impose penalties for any .breaches wliioh may be committed by either .side. * . “The committee, speaking in the name of the Dominion, intimates that the employers are more than willing at all times to deal direct with organised unions which are prepared to undertake that, if the parties to any, industrial dispute cannot agree to the terms of settlement, the matters in dispute shall be settled under the con.provided by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the decision ,so secured /shall he loyally accepted by both sides, as it is essential that the trade of the Dominion should be carried on. “It has been decided that workers

who are prepared to subscribe to the conditi<#fs shall be employed forthwith under fully adequate protection, and to guarantee a continuance of employment after the present trouble is over, and to those who perform their duties satisfactorily the ordinary current rates of pay for waterside workers will he given. In Wellington, until normal conditions prevail, Satisfactory accommodation will be provided free of charge and a minimum wage of £2 10s per week will Be guaranteed by the shipping companies. As labor is urgently required, applications for employment should be made to the various shipping companies without delay.”

THE FEDERATION’S PROPOSALS.

WILL NOT REGISTER UNDER THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Wellington, November 4. The Federation of Labor issues the following official statement for public information:—

The Federation assures the people

of its earnest desire to bring the to an end. While admitting that the “stop work” meeting of watersiders, which was one of the contributing causes, was a breach of the agreement, it respectfully insists

that the vital issue just now is to re-

store peace and order. To this end the Federation has done all in its power to secure, and it appeals to those who may incline to the opinion that it should make further concessions to bear in mind that delegates have to consider the temper of the men they represent as well as the honor of delegates and of organisation. At the conference just concluded, the following alternative proposals were submitted for consideration:— “That all waterside workers shall at once resume work on the same con-ditions—-those obtaining prior to the cessation of work, and that a conference be held immediately between shipping companies and oilier parties concerned for the purpose of drafting a new agreement.” In alternative, the delegates subknitted the following“ That the present national agreement he extended for a period to he arranged from a date to cover waterfronts of the Dominion, with penalty (to be arranged) for stoppage of work as defined by

clause 28 of agreement.”

In the event of employers accepting either of the foregoing proposals the Federal ion was (and is) also pro

CITIES OMINOUSLY QUIET. Does it Portend a Storm P No Free Labor in Use. Position of Taranaki’s Dairy industry. [Per Press Association.]

pared to agree to the following addi tional clause: —

“That before any union* can create a stoppage of work, the question at issue shall be submitted to the United Federation of Labor, which body shall confer with employers in order to se-> cure a final settlement, the United Federation of Labor doing all in its power to enforce the terms of the agreement.” Unfortunately the employers refuse to entertain any of the foregoing proposals, hut they insist upon a condition which is impossible of acceptance. Had the foregoing proposals with respect to the / waterside difficulty been accepted, the delegates were prepared to submit the following proposal with a view to securing a settlement of the Huntly strike: — That three representatives from the employers and three from the workers he set up as a tribunal, Mr Evans, S.M., presiding, to inquire into the alleged victimisation of employees, the findings of the tribunal to he final. In the event of the tribunal finding that there was discrimination, the men dismissed to he re-engaged when L he mine resumes.

The Federation respectfully submits that the foregoing offers an opportunity for .an honorable conclusion to the existing hapless condition of affairs.' The failure of negotiations is due entirely to the employers insisting on workers forming unions under the Industrial Conciliation < and Arbitration Act. The Federation submits that this attitude is. unreason?able ami, impossible for fulfilment. The Federation has used its best endeavors to terminate the dispute, and is still willing that every reasonable safeguard shall he taken against a recurrence of any breach of agreement. It cannot, however, do the impossible, ft cannot undertake to compel its members to vote against their will in favor of a system which they have deliberately but lawfully cast aside, and while regretting the continuance of the existing industrial upheaval, it submits that it cannot reasonaby h'e expected to go further towards securing its termination. The manifesto is signed! by W. T. Young, president, and R. H. Hickey, secretary of the Federation.

BRICKS AND REVOLVERS.

TWO ARRESTS AS THE RESULT OF FURTHER RIOTING.

Wellington, November 4

Buckle Street was the centre' of more disturbances to-night. The fact that the special constables are quartered in the , Mount Cook Barrack seems to draw an ugly crowd to the vicinity. It must be said, however, that the crowd does not consist of strikers. There were probably not more.than twenty of them at to-night’s scenes. A great number of those who congregated at the street corners in this part of the Mown are, according to the police authorities, nothing more than idlers, some of whom are “well known” to the police.

All day the mounted constables and permanent guard at the corner of Buckle and Taranaki street were subjected to abuse. The vilest epithets were hurled at them, and a stone or two was thrown in the afternoon, fortunately witli no ill effect.

In the evening, however, matters became decidedly worse. At 8 p.m. a big crowd had collected at the corner of Taranaki and Ahelsmith streets, sfnd stones again flew. The violence of the previous (‘veiling threatened to be repeated, and on several occasions a squad of mounted regular police found it necessary to turn their horses to the crowd and clear the streets.

It was at 8.10 p.m. that matters took a serious turn. A window of the Royal Tiger Hotel was shattered by half a brick. Almost immediately afterwards, from the top of a building near by, two shots were fired from a revolver towards the crowd. Xo one was hit, but some of those present declare that they beard the bullets strike a bouse on the opposite side of the street. There was a great scampering of the crowd from the spot, with the mounted police behind urging them away, but two minutes’ later tin* corner was again packed with people. Investigations were immediately made as to the origin of the shooting, •but although a man was found with a revolver near the hotel, it was not definitely proved who was the culprit.

After the excitement of this incident bad died down, stone-throwing was again resorted to. The crash of broken glass was heard frequently,

and the windows of the hotel received further damage. Every now and again the crowd would jeer at the police, and detonators were thrown under the horses’ loot.

Some slight injuries were inflicted by stones during the evening. One young man, named Albert Ha\, a

tailor, living in Abel Smith street, had the back of bis left band badly locerated by half a brick. i Another man, whose name was not ascertainable, received a nasty gash | in the cheek from a piece ot glass, j which was thrown from the crowd. This type of missile were frequently used last night, and it was fairly evident that the police were the targets. At 9 p.m. the arrest of two men caused some diversion. Archibald Campbell, a middle-aged man, was arrested for being in possession ot a murderous-looking weapon. This took the form of an 18-inch length of lead piping of formidable thickness. The “business” end of the weapon was bent clumsily and closed, and the pipe itself was loaded at this end with lead. Citmpbell had in his possession besides a large piece of brick. The other man was Robert Hill, who was taken in charge for allegedly assaulting a constable while on duty.

CONFERENCE “OFF.” ENGINEERS STICK TO THEIR agreement. GOVERNMENT STEAMERS HUNG UP. Wellington, November 1. Mr Fletciier, chairman of tire Harbor Board, made an attempt tiiis evening to arrange another conference, but the employers decided unit in view of the attitude ox the men’s representatives this afternoon no good object would \ie served by meeting tiie same representatives again, unless they were first assured that they are prepared to reconsider the decision not to go under the Arbitration Act.

“Our members will not join the strike. There is not even a tendency among them to do so,” declared Mr T. Wallace, secretary of the Marino Engineers’ Institute (Wellington branch), when asked how the institute members stood in the trouble. Trie engineers were working under an agreement which was made into ah Arbitration Act award at the express wish of the employers. Having entered into the agreement, the engineers would stick to it absolutely, and would fulfill their part of the bargain. Late on Monday night the seamen and firemen on the Government steamer Hinemoa intimated that they intended to leave the vessel. In accordance- with this resolve they .waited on Captain Rollons at 7.1 b a.in. to-day, and gave 21 hours’ notice of their intention to come out at b p.m Captain Bothnia made arrangements for the men to be paid, alter which they walked off the vessel. Mine seamen and five firemen left. The Hinemoa was to have left for the Cook Strait lighthouses with stores to-day, but she will now be held up. It is understood that the authorities to-day failed to make up a crew for the Government steamer Tutanekai, which it is proposed should be ready as an emergency vessel for the ferry service, as the Hinemoa was to have left port to-morrow. In the event of crews being unobtainable for both the Hinemoa and Tutanekai, it is understood that bluejackets from H.M.S. Psyche will work one or both vessels, in order that communication between the two islands may be uninterrupted.

A TRUCE TiLL FRIDAY

LYTTELTON FERRY SERVICE. CLOSING SOME OF THE PUBS. Wellington, November 4. t The Lyttelton lorry steamer Maori got away soon after eight o’clock without any trouble. One of the Maori’s firemen when asked if there was any likelihood of their following the Wahine men’s example replied: “Not on your life I Belcher’s the man we’re following.”

The licensed victuallers met this afternoon and expressed their willingness to fall in with any request of the authorities for a closing of the hotels’ bars in case of disturbances. The hotels on the route between the city ijnd Newtown Park were closed, and others will be closed if necessary.

AT AUCKLAND. POSSIBLE TRAMWAY TROUBLE. The Tramway meeting to-night had two proposals put before it: —First, that the men should work until the present coal supply is exhausted, and should pledge themselves not to work if free labor coal is introduced; and, second, that the cars should stop immediately free labor is introduced on the wharves or special constables appear. One hundred and thirty-four members voted for the second proposal, and o2 for the first. The .second proposal was therefore carried. 'lbis afternoon shift will consider the proposals to-morrow. It is understood that the Inhibition workers, as a whole, are not in favor of downing tools,.

SPECIAL MOUNTED CONSTABLES. Auckland, November I. At a conference between representatives of tin* Farmers’ Union and members id the A, and P. Association executive this afternoon, the latter agreed to co-operate to the full extent of their ability in the general scheme for organising the fanners of the province. It is understood that the farmers are to be encamped on

of tho reserves in the eastern suburbs, so as to be at close call in case of their services brine required in tho city. This moraine; aTelegram was received by the Mayor from the Hokianga Chamber of Coaimerce, as follows:

“Hokianga is prepared to provide 200 men to assist in such manner as may he thought conducive to restoring the peaceful receipt and delivery of merchandise or country produce.” From Coromandel comes an mfer of CiO men for service as special constables, with horses if necessary. Te Aroha offers to send 150 men “at an hour’s notice,” for working cargo or acting as police. Dargaville sends word that 10 men are available as special constables. | J.C.W. COMEDY CO. Auckland, November 5. In consequence of the dislocation oi shipping, the Julius Knight season terminates with to-night’s performance instead of on Saturday. The Company proceed to Wellington by Tnursday’s Main Trunk express to connect with the steamer for Sydney. TRAMWAY STRIKE IMMINENT. Auckland, November 5. The tramway men vote on the strike question was completed this morning, 197 voting in favor of striking directly free labor or special police are used, and 75 for the amendment to run the trams while the present supply of coal lasts.

ALL QUIET. EFFORTS MADE TOWARDS SETTLEMENT. Auckland, November 5. Up to noon all was quiet on the waterfront. No attempt has been made yet to utilise free labor for ship ping or on the wharves. Meantime, a strong effort is being made by representative citizens to arrive at some understanding with the strikers fc tho relief of the situation as affecting tin’s port.

Auckland, November o

Nearly 1000 special constables wer sworn in here on the Show Grounds. At Westfield there are 520 mouutec specials under canvas. 'Phis number is expected to be augmented to 1000 to-night.

As the result of a conference this mornkig, the flavor promised a truce till Friday; meantime no mounted spbciaT ‘constables will lie (allied uppn foil duly in the City,' in. order that' in tjfip meantime la ( 'final effort nifty be ilulde for settlement.

AT LYTTELTON. A PARSON AS STOKER. PRICES OF GOODS NOT TO BE RAISED. I A. ...... | || I Christchurch, November 4. The Mapouiffka arrived at Lyttelton at 3.35 p.m. to-day, and was met by two or three hundred strikers. On the way down a young elergyn’.an, who was a -.passenger by the vessel, volunteered for duty in the stokehold. He was very seasick, ■ but liiservices were accented ami he showed himself quite capable to take his part. Although he was suffering a good deal from seasickness, he kept going until midnight. .This morning he was in his bunk, still unwell, but lie turned to again in response to a request bv the firemen, and kept going till midday. The crews of the Kowhai and Karar.m were paid off this afternoon, and the Flora’s crew will be paid off tomorrow. Pickets continue in front of the Employers’ ’ Association’s offices in Cashel Street, but their work does not seem to be very arduous. Offensive inscriptions have been chalked on |!n interior walls of the building advising those who read not to he “scabs,” and intimating that the office is a “scab” agency. Similar notices are chalked on the footpath near the office. Tr is not alleged that the inscriptions are the work of members of the picket, but they have been written evidently by a strike sympathiser. Desnite these and other methods, the enrolment of free labor goes on steadily. A leading grocer informed a reporter that there is no present intention, to increase the price of sugar or of any other groceries. It is likely that the price of kerosene will be increased by 6d per ease, due to the action taken by the supplying authorities. Even if the strike is settled this week, it is likely that sugar will be scarce for a week or so. The conduct of the strikers continues exemplary. The inner harbor this morning presented an'oven more deserted appearance than on the preceding days.

MAPOURIKA’S MEN CO OUT

i SYMPATHETIC TRAM WA YM EN. ! Christchurch, November 4. The men on tin* Mapourika gave noi lice to-night and will leave the ship | on hor arrival at Wellington to-nior-II) w. f At a meeting of tlio Tramway Employees’ I ninn hold to-day, a resolulion "as passod of sympathy with tho watorsido workers and others out on strike. and agreeing to raise voluntary

coni rihutlons to assist the wives and families of those unionists in Canterbury a fleet od by the stoppage of work. A speeial mooting will he held on Tuesday next to take a vote on tin' ! -.d to join the Federation of Labor.

AT MOTUROA.

AS OTHERS SEE US.

THE MAORI'S FIREMEN OUT. Christchurch, November 5. j Lyttelton is still quiet, and no attempt has been made to work the wharves with free labor. A union meeting carried the following resolution ‘ ‘Seeing that the employers have declared hostilities against organised and industrial workers by the rejection of eminenth reasonable proposals, the meeting pledges itself to stand by its comrades on strike.” The Maori arrived from Wellington at eight o’clock. The firemen handed in their notices last night, and it is considered doubtful if she will get away to-night, AT THE BLUFF. WILL WORK WITH FREE LABOR. Invercargill, November I. The Bluff waterside workers held a meeting last night and decided to work the boats loaded by free labor, subject to the approval of the Waterside Workers’ Federation. The Bluff Union is affiliated to this federation, not to the labor federation.

on THE WEST COAST. MINERS DOWN TOOLS. Greymonth, November 4. The Blackball miners held a meeting to-night and decided to strike. Sufficient men are left to keep the pumps running. The Brunner miners and enginedrivers have struck. Sufficient are left to man the pumps. MASTER BUILDERS’ SUPPORT. Wanganui, November 5. The Builders’ Conference yesterday resolved to telegraph to Mr Massey as under: —“The master builders in Dominion conference assembled, desire to convey to the Government their sympathy in this trying time, and express their appreciation of the means adopted to preserve law and order.”

New Plymouth, November 5

The .local watersiders met thismorning for three hours, but had nothing to communicate to the Press. Mean-* with free laborers ‘continue discharging the Ivittawa’s coal. The -100 tons intended for this port 1 has been discharged, and they are now discharging some of the coal consigned to Wanganui. offers, of free labor have come from the country districts.

TARANAKI’S POSITION. THE LOOKED-FOR “20ih.” Wellington November 5. Messrs Okey and Wilkinson. .A!.P’s, Waited on the Prime .Minister to-day and. pointed out the great hardship that will be imposed on Taranaki dairy farmers in the event of the usual twentieth of the month payments being withheld, on account of the strikes preventing shipment. It was suggested that the Government Plight guarantee the hanks making advances on produce in cool and other stores until the shipments could he made. Mr Massey promised to give consideration to the proposal, hut he pointed out that the request could only bo given effect to by legislation.

INTEREST IN AUSTRALIA. INFLUENCE OF EXTREMISTS. (Received 10.30 a.m.) Sydney, November 5. The “Herald” says that Australia is watching the progicss of the New Zealand strike with more than ordinary interest because the issue at stake is one which sooner or later will have to be faced in the Commonwealth. The journal asks: “Is the principle of peaceful settlement of industrial dispute's by arbitration or mutual argument to endure, or are the workers to revert with impunity to the clumsy anti-social weapon of the strike. We are glad to think that these' suggestions of Sabotage of these syndicalist agitators are by no means approved by the main body oi workers; but unfortunately the extremists arp loud-voiced and übiquitous, and the agitator is often able to dominate Ins more moderate anel less articulate colleagues.” The paper regrets the failure of the Wellington conference.

SYMPATHY IN SYDNEY. STEAMER NOT UNLOADED. (.Received ILSO a.in.) Sydney, November • >. The unloading of the Wavrimoo was not started yesterday though the company anticipates no trouble. Some oi the wharf laborers stale that until they find out whether the cargo was loaded bv free labor they will not stall. FIGHT AGAINST ARBITRATION. “FORMIDABLE, ANGRY STRIKE.” (Received 1 1 .50 a.m.) Svdney, November 5. The Telegraph, commenting on the strike, says the fact that things should come to such a pass in New Zealand, of all countries is ominously instructive. There, advanced legislation had gone further than anywhere in Australasia, if not in the world, and tho most that was possible was done

for the mass of the people. After all these years of experimental uplifting legislation, one of the most, formidable and angry strikes c\ei known in Australasia is being persisted in because the men refuse to come under tho trumpeted Arbitration Act and give a guarantee of industrial continuity. it was really a strike against the Arl itration Act.

JOTTINGS. At Moturoa the work of the port is nroceeding as usual with free labor, while at Waitara where there is no union matters are at normal. The Farmers -of Masterton district are organising a large body of free laborers to proceed to Wellington to work ships. Already dairy companies in the district have been compelled to postpone payment of milk cheques, owing to nonpayment of advances -by the hank against bills of lading. The sheep farmers have offered to guarantee at tho bank any dairy company requiring assistance. The Dunedin Drivers’ Union decided to extend sympathy with the wat-

erside workers. There are now almost one thousand men in camp in Wellington. The Mount Cook schools have all been closed on account of the disturbance, the use of the infants’ and boys schools has been granted by the Education Board to the authorities who have to make arrangements for quartering the men. One of the most serious aspects of a protracted strike-(states the Auckland Star) is that the large quantities of butter coming forward daily from the numerous provincial factories to the freezing works will of necessity be kept in cold store till such .time as the shipments can he placed aboard Homegoing steamers. ()i course there is a good deal of space available, but the stores cannot be expected to hold out indefinitely. As it is, 16,000 boxes of butter and a small consignment of cheese loaded at Auckland by the White Star liner Athenic a fortnight ago is held up at Wellington, where the steamer is lying at anchor. Prior to the strike arrangements had been made for the Rimutaka to come to Auckland to life upwards of 25,000 boxes of butter which have come forward for shipment from the province

this fortnight. The Rimutaka. in common with other largo liners, is held up in the South, so that there is no immediate prospect of getting the consignments away to Home j markets. The quantity for th > Rimn- ! taka would have brought up the total exported this season to 88,627 boxes. It will naturally be unfortunate if New Zealand butter cannot lie Taken forward when such excellent prices obtain as at present. , s ■ At a special meeting of the Taranaki Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Eltham on Monday, the following resolutions were carried: “That a It-' - branches be asked to keep a register of those milling to give their services as laborers or special constables when required in eases of industrial emergency,, and that the Dominion executive he asked to bring the matter before other provincial executives. That thishexeciVtite upholds Government in. Hie firm attitude it is taking in its endeavour to preserve Jaw and order during the strike, and trusts i that Parliament will take such action as will permanently insure industrial 1 peace and give every man willing to j work the right to do so without being I interfered with/” • The statement was made by Mr W. T. Young at the Opera House (.Wellington) on ; Sunday evening that hi response to the representations made to him by the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Prime Minister has given instructions that no more special batons are to he made at the Petone Railway Workshops. AH batons manufactured there and not sent away are to he destroyed. It is understood that four j railway workshops employees were dis- | -barged for refusing to take part in il “ making of batons, hut were almost ■mmediately reinstated on a deputation of the men waiting upon the management. It has been stated that an employee it the Masterton railway station was

impended for using insulting lang-

' ln fie to some “specials” who were leaving for Wellington. It is said the railwayman will hold a meeting to discuss the merits of the oosition.

H’imv was a great demand in Wellington on Saturday night for the tunning paper, hundreds rushing after the earners to secure a paper. So u as the rush afetr the hoys that th.e police found it necessary to protect the lads. Papers were disposed of in many cases at 2d, and In one or two isolated cases as much as 2s was paid for one.