Evans and the brutalities which followed. Subsequent cables indicated that the strike was practically over, and that my mission was at an end.
Acting under instructions, I returned to Sydney and there awaited further orders, whilst the Executive in N.Z. discussed the wisdom of declaring a strike throughout the country and securing the co-operation of Australian unionists to isolate the Dominion during its currency. Having decided against any such action, and the strike being declared “off,” I returned to N.Z. via Auckland. It may be of interest to those who frequently sneer at the “good time” the union representative has when engaged in work of the nature which had occupied my time in Australia, to learn that on reaching Auckland I had to borrow my train fare to Wellington from W. E. Parry.
A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY
The lesson of the Waihi strike, and the events arising therefrom, was not lost upon the Federation officials. The formation of bogus unions and the utilisation of the Labour Department to assist the employers to destroy Labour solidarity had been made manifest during the Waihi upheaval. The immediate problem to be faced, in the opinion of Federation officials, was the reorganisation of the industrial forces of Labour and the closing up of the ranks.
It was decided by the Executive, at a historic meeting held on November 24, 1912, that a conference of representatives of all unions in the Dominion should be called to consider the grave position which existed in the Labour movement. The resolution calling the conference was moved by Mr. J. Dowgray, and seconded by Mr. M. Fagan, and reads:—
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