Page:"Red"·Fed·Memoirs-Hickey-1925.pdf/51

 In Ohinemuri a second ballot was necessary (a clumsy method, now repealed), the figures being:—

These two elections indicated that, apart from the industrial support accorded the Federation, there was also a marked tendency to display the same allegiance politically as well. On the death of Sir A. R. Guinness, Mr. Webb, after a strenuous contest, won the Grey seat, and retained it until his incarceration for his pacifist attitude during the war.

In the case of Ohinemuri, however, the seat was not again contested by Labour, due to the changed nature of the constituency following the great Waihi strike.

In the early part of 1912 the Federation’s prestige was used with marked effect in the Tramway Strike at Wellington. The members of the Tramway Union, incensed at the action of an inspector in reporting members without cause, approached the City Council and asked for his removal. This eminently reasonable request was refused, causing very grave dissatisfaction in the service.

A strike ballot was taken on the question disclosing a majority in favour of ceasing work. This threat was not treated seriously by the Council. A still further ballot was taken—how many were taken altogether I do not know—but whatever the number the City Council refused to take them seriously and, if the truth must be told, neither did a very large number of the tramwaymen themselves.

The press gave a great deal of publicity to these ballots, and taunted the Union for not possessing the courage to strike. That the majority of the members ever seriously entertained striking is very