Page:"Red"·Fed·Memoirs-Hickey-1925.pdf/57

 Manufacturing Department.—To include all workers employed in the textile manufactures, garment workers, boot and shoe workers, curriers, harness makers, tailors, etc.

Printing and Journalistic Departments.—To include all wage-workers engaged in the printing and lithographic trades, electricians and firemen, and all machinists, operators, clerks, etc.

Public Services.—To include all wage workers engaged in the Post Office, cable operators, municipal gas and electric plants, street cleaners, hospital and sanitoria workers, teachers, theatre workers, domestic servants, etc.

It was decided that the Preamble (I.W.W.) and the Constitution and Rules should not come into force until January, 1913, or at such time thereafter as the Executive considered advisable.

For reasons that will be given later this constitution was never put into operation, and the practicability of the plan of organisation drafted was never decided by the acid test of utility.

Of the dark days of 1912, when the whole power of the State was placed at the disposal of the mining companies at Waihi, and organised lawlessness, backed by the police authorities, held undisputed sway, I saw nothing.

Almost as soon as Conference rose, I was dispatched to Australia for the purpose of raising funds to assist in the struggle against the mine-owners. For a time P. C. Webb was engaged in a similar task, but was subsequently recalled, and for the greater part of the time I had the Australian field to myself.