A SIGNIFICANT TELEGRAM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 November 1913, Page 5

A SIGNIFICANT TELEGRAM.

PROPOSED FEDERATION OF ARBITRATTONISTS.

A HOPEFUL MOVEMENT.

WAN.GANUI, Last Night

The following telegram, over the signatures of the President (D. McCarthy ; of Napier) and secretary (G. McKay, of Wanganui) was despatched lost night to the secretary of the new Union of Wellington Waterside Workers

"Without prejudice to the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation, in the event of the suggestion herewith not being approved liy you, our Federation (comprising tilo watersiders of Wanganui, Napier, Gisborne and Bluff), believe «that the affiliation, of your union with! ua would <be the best step possible at the present timo in the interests of the workers of the Dominion. Tho prosent position has been forced upon the ArbitratioaLsts by an organisation with which wo have no connection or sympathy. That organisation was fully aware that there existed such a thing as the New Zealand Water si do Workfirs' Federation, th'i union of which are bound by agreements under the Act, and therefore it would he twgswjist the law, and the members * 1)

would be under a severe penalty the moment they discriminate against any cargo or cease work. This is an entirely different position to that they were in themselves. B\it in face of all this, they bring this trouble about, and ask for assists •ance. The Federation Unions have stood loyally by the Act. We believe if tho watersiders generally had not abandoned the Act in favour of the extreme policy of the Federation o? Labour, the present crisis would not have arisen. Without expressing any opinion on tho merits of the initial cause of the trouble, we believe an equitable adjustment could have been secured without precipitating a crisis. If all the waterside unions iegi«tered under the Aot became affiliated, the affect will be to show their fellowworkers in the Dominion that an adherence to law and order is the best means of settling the present dispute and preventing a. recurrence *of similar disaster. All ports would bo kept open, employment would bo available to Tien who liavo gone out against their wishes, and the connections and moral effect would help materially to hasten the termination of a grave industrial deadlock. If yolur union approves oS affiliation, you ai'o at liberty to accept this as an acceptance of your application. Please wire the secretary."