FEDERATION OF LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 126, 15 October 1912, Page 5

FEDERATION OF LABOR.

RESULTS ttt' THE DEMONSTRATION. MORE MEN GO ON STRIKE. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Auckland, Yesterday. As the result of two borough councils and two private contractors having refused employment to workmen who took a holiday last Thursday to participate in the Federation demonstration againßt the imprisonment of the Waihi strikers, the General Laborers' Union held a meeting to discuss the matter. It was stated that sixty men have been refused work. Members resolved, by a four-to-one majority, to cease work from 7 o'clock this morning until the victimisation is removed. There was nothing ! like a general response, but a fair number failed to appear at the various works. Of 400 men employed by the Harbor Board, 00 did not start work to-day. Of 120 D?cn employed by the Remuera Road Board, 100 failed to appear. The Drainage Board reports that about 50 laborers are on strike. The City Council workers are reduced by about the same number. The Morningside quarries are closed, owing to the laborers going on strike. Only ten men failed to appear on the works of the. Mount Albert borough. There is a disposition en the part of local bodies to decline to again employ the men going on strike. It is expected some uniform action is to be agreed upon.

WORKERS REFUSE TO STRIKE. Auckland, Yesterday. A number of men engaged under a contractor, putting down blocks in Fort street, were visited by strike pickets, who called upon them to down tools. All their arguments proved unavailing, and the men stuck to their work throughout the morning. While they were at lunch more strikers arrived, and a warm argument ensued, in which the men working denied that the strike had been authorised in a regular way. Meanwhile the police kept the gathering crowd of spectators from blocking the street. At the end of lunch-time the whole of the workmen resumed amid cheers from the crowd.

ANXIETY AT HUNTLY. Auckland, Yesterday. It has been reported from Hun My that, owing to the cessation of work at the Taupiri Coal Company's mine, four. trains have been discontinued for want of freight. The brick and tile works have closed down, owing to the want of coal. There is an uneasy feeling in business and among business people and residents generally. People are leaving the town, dreading serious trouble.

DUXEDIX REJOINS. Duneddn, Last Night About a month ago the Dunedm AVaterside Workers' Union held a secret ballot on the question of whether it should cancel its affiliation with the Federation of Labor. Out of a total vote of 246 the proposal to secede from the Federation was carried by nineteen votes. The result of the ballot, however, did not give satisfaction in some quarters, it being freely stated that the papers did not 'sufficiently clearly distinguish between the issues to be decided. At a meeting of workers on Thursday night it was decided to take a fresh ballot on the proposal, and this was held yesterday, when the voting resulted as follows: For remaining in the Federation 167, against 106.

FURTHER PROTESTS. Wellington, Last Night. The Wellington Operative Bootmakers' Association to-night passed a resolution "emphatically protesting against the action of the Massey Government in gaoling the Waihi strikers."

AX IMPORTANT DECISION. t ™"~~" Auckland, Last Night. An important decision in the history of labor disputes was arrived at by the directors of the Taupiri Coal Mines Company regarding the trouble at the mines. The" decision took, the form of the following statement, which has been presented to the Waikato Miners' Union: —The directors regret exceedingly the action of those members of the Union who, direatly contrary to the warning of the directors, absented themselves from work on Thursday last. The directors have reason to believe that such action was not unanimously the wish of the minors, with whom good relations have extended. They do not, therefore, intend to take any action te the prejudice of the miners as a whole, but they canriot allow so serious a matter to pass without marking their stronw disapproval of the same and they have, therefore, decided to forthwith notify members of the executive of the Union that their services are dispensed with. The whistle will be sounded as usual on Tuesday. At a mass meeting held at Huntly to-night the executive advised the men tn resume work, pending the arrival of the | Federation official whose advice will be to-morrow night.

MORE MEN AT WORK. Waihi. Yesterday. Strike, affairs were quiet this morning. The usual crowd assembled in the main street to watch the men going to work. About a dozen extra hands went on this morning.