Colvin, Neville Maurice, 1918-1991:Banned music. [3 April 1951]

A man representing the 'wharfies' plays the 'Direct Action March' on a huge horn. In front of him the rest of the band who represent 'The other unions' have torn up their music and try to quieten him down as they turn their backs on him, while behind him another player tears his 'Direct Action march' in two. The title is 'Banned music' (wordplay on 'banned' and 'band').

Context - In 1950 the union movement split and the militants (mainly wharves, mines and state-owned railway workshops) walked out of the Federation of Labour conference to form the Trade Union Congress. The Watersiders, in particular, had built a radically democratic union sub-culture and felt confident enough to risk a confrontation with the state itself. Anxious to strangle this infant TUC Hercules in its cradle, the shipping companies, backed by the National Party, provoked a confrontation with the watersiders. Within days 20,000 workers belonging to the TUC were either locked out or striking in solidarity. This cartoon is about the 1951 Waterfront Strike (or lock-out, depending on your point-of-view). The 'wharfies' were the Waterside workers led by Jock Barnes and Toby Hill, (the musician is probably Jock Barnes) who in the cartoon are taking 'direct action' while the 'other unions', those which remained with the Federation of Labour, turn their backs and take a more conservative stance. (Notes from Chris Trotter 'Class collisions in NZ: 1913, 1951, 1991' from 'Solidarity Library' - Sunday, August 27, 2006).

Below the cartoon is the title in pencil 'Banned music' and the words '3 col Tuesday 3rd April'.

Other Titles - Band

Quantity: 1 original cartoon(s).

Physical Description: Ink on paper 405 x 560 mm