THE WATERSIDE SYNDICALISTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1921, Page 7

THE WATERSIDE SYNDICALISTS.

DIRECT CHALLENGE TO TH® PUBLIC. WHAT THE “TRANSPORT WORKER” SAYS. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.) At the annual meeting of the Wellington Harbor Board, the chairman, Mr. J. G. Harkness, in discussing the labor question quoted the following from “The Transport Worker” of Jan. 1, 1921: — THE FUTURE OF LABOR. “Let us then get together. We of the water front and. of the transport industry generally have our course mapped out clearly. Not as individuals working at a given trade, but as a body operating an industry, we set out to make that industry our own. All together conferring and cooperating, we settle for ourselves the working conditions best and safest for ourselves. In unity and with a common understanding we present as our demands to 4he present owners the terms on which we are .prepared to toil. Qay by day we strengthen our grip, an intelligent and combined grip which is unbreakable, upon the transport industry.” A CHALLENGE TO THE PUBLIC.

It would be well for all to realise that when “The Transport Worker,” which we understand speaks for the N.Z. Waterside Federation, says deliberately “we set out to make that industry (transport) our own,” it means just what it says. This is not language used in heat. It is a cool deliberate statement that their purpose is to rob the present owners of the industry that belongs to them. Now the industry is largely owned by the public, and it is a direct challenge to the public when these syndicalists tell us plainly that they propose to make it t|jeir own, which is just a polite way of saying they propose to rob the general public of what, now belongs to them. In order to make it quite clear that this is what they mean, the statement affirms thia:—“Day Jjy day we strengthen our grip, an intelligent and combined grip, which is unbreakable, upon the transport industry.” So the waterside problem is not a question of hours, or pay, or overtime work, or conditions of any kind. It is solely a question of whether the public through the Harbor Board and otherwise, shall retain the ownership of the industry they have paid for, or whether a band of syndicalist schemers shall be allowed day by day to extend their grip and ultimately make the industry their own. PERFECTLY PLAIN POSITION. The recent hold-up was a mere scratch. The real struggle that is coming is between the public and the spoliators. The Union S.S.Co., or other companies, may believe in Messrs. Roberts, Glover and Co., if they like, but they can make up their minds that the public is in this independent of both Shipping companies and the Waterside Workers’ Federation. The time is coming and very rapidly when a demand shall be made that there shall be no agreement, understanding dealing whatsoever with any syndicalist combination that impudently tells the public it intends to make the industry its very own. The position is that the public has stood this bluff and cheeky bravado quite long enough, zlt has exercised its patience over the secret confabs of the shipping magnates and the syndicalist agitators until its patience is worn threadbare. The demand of the public will be that the shipping companies stop dealing with men who only raise issues as a cover whilst their purpose is plainly that of grab. The companies may think to do just as they please and the syndicalist likewise, but in the test, if it has to come, the public will prove stronger than both put together. y RIGHT Ofi MIGHT.

The strength of the public will rest on the fact that it is right. This industrial anarchism strikes at the bonds that hold society together. The transport industry does not belong to either the shipping companies or the waterside workers. It is, in the main, the property of the public. To allow any union to combine to get out and take the industry for its own would be to sanction a procedure which would land society in a state of chaos. The syndicalists boast of their numbers, and talk of their might. As a people we have met that sort of thing before. Those who did not fear to fight the Junkers lie of “might is right” will know how to deal with the same He expressed in the bombast of the syndicalists.