THE STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 84, 9 December 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

AUSTRALIAN OPINION.

“DISPUTE IN A NUTSHELL.” [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] Sydney, December 9.

Commenting on Mr. Poster’s statement that the men working on tin New Zealand wharves were registered under the Arbitration Act, Mr Hughes says: “If he will pardon me for saving so, he seems utterly unable to understand what unionism is. Registration under the Arbitration Act doesn’t make a unionist. It affects the legal status of unionists, but the man has t ) be a unionist first and be independent'of the Act. Unit being so, the men now handling cargo on tin whaves are not in our opinion union ists at' all There is the dispute iu a nutshell. Employers regard the arbitration unionists its the men who ought to do the work. AVe consider the Waterside Workers’ Federation members ought to do it. That among other things, is the dispute which we ask to he suhnuted to ar hitration. We won’t take Mi 1 Foster’s decision as to who ought to dr the work as final, hut we will take tin arbitrator’s decision.” MR HUGHES IN REPLY. Mr Hughes says the action of the wharf laborers and the Newcastle cranemen was gratifying and constitutes recognition of the fact that only a strict adherence to the policy of the conference of unionists would make : t nossihle to avoid greater industrial upheaval. It gave every hope of a settlement of the dispute.

Mr Hughes says: “The General position is easier, and the dispute if now confined to comparatively narrow limits which the * policy of the conference contemplates and suggests Tf parties won’t come together volun tarily, the law should not stand Ip supinely in a crisis, doing nothing. Tin Commonwealth Act provides, first, : complilsory conference, and then com pulsory settlement. If the New Zea land Act does this, then its aid ongh to be invoked; if not, the Legislature ought to make immediate provision for it.”

ft is reported that financial help for New Zealand is being freely received from unions throughout Australia.

The Alanuka sails for AVellington next Saturday.

The Mahero arrived at six o’clocl this morning.

A NARROWING INFULENCE.

Sydney, December 0. The Herald comments with satisfac tioil on the fact that the decision o tne unionists’ conference regardin' confining the boycott to boats actual ly "trading to New Zealand has cm riod the day. The dispute is by n means over, but the circle of its influence is narrowed, which not onh brings a possibility of '.settlement near 'er, lint puts an end to dangerous pos Abilities. ON THE WELLINGTON WHARVES [Per Press Association.] Wellington, l)e cernber !). Yesterday and to-day fifty men: bers or the old watersiders’ unio: joined the new union and resume* "oi k. Hie total membership is nov. 2100. About 1000 men are working to-day. More could have been em plowed, as many stayed away in (“on sequence of showery weather.