TIMBER MILL HANDS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 12

TIMBER MILL HANDS.

HALF THE MEN RETURN w> WORK. (srcciAL to ''toe tress.") AUCKLAND, November 21. There were interesting development " to-day in connexion with the "general strike," inasmuch as tho timber all resumed work. At a meeting of the Auckland Sawmiilers' Association held earlier jn tho week, it was r©! solved that tho whistles should blow at 7.30 this morning at the sixteen mills and factories controlled by members of tho Association. This, it was generally understood, meant that a final opportunity was being given to tho men after a fortnight's idleness to res\;me worlt. About 1000 members of tho Timber Workers , Union have during tho period mentioned been on strike, and consider. - able- interest centred in the question as to how many men would answer the whistlo this morning. Yesterday % meeting of members of" the Union was called to consider th© position. Only 174 attended, and although a practically unanimous vote was carried against roturning to work, it was evident that A this vote could not affect tho other 800 odd men in the union affected by the strike. That this was so became «vident this morning, when all the mills were ablo to commenco operations with fairly strong staffs. Details as to the actual number of men at work are not yet available, but it is considered that quite half tho men who went on strike are busy in the mills to-day. Pickets were busy outside all the mills at an early hour, but mounted '"specials" had also been drafted on to-tho scone, so that there was no opportunity for any* thine in tho nature of unruly conduct. With other trades tho position remains much tho same. THE HOTELS AND THE SEAMEa.

Mr Adam Nixon, who is president of * the Auckland Seamen's Union, made a point in giving evidence yesterday in connexion with tho application of the Licensed Victuallers' Association to have the hotels reopened, that in theinterests of tho maritime services it was advisable that tho hotels should ', not be reopened. In support of this contention. Mr Nixon and other prominent members of tho Seamen's Union stated to-day that had tho hotels in * Auckland been opened on Wednesday tho mail stoamer Makura would not have had enough seamen to go away with her, and others had had a very hard job to persuade tho members of the Makura's crew to get away to their ship. These men were under Anstra* lian articles, but their feeling was very keen against the present method of working the waterfront. The Seamen's Union officials wished above all things *- to prevent a maritime strike, a condition of affairs that was very imminent .' at the present time. If any hasty or * - ill-tiruod action were taken", it would - precipitate matters, and the whole of the members of the Federated Sea-_ .-. men's Union of Australasia would be involved. Peoplo did not seem to i realise, he said, Low very keenly every "* seaman felt concerning things which they believed were not all fair and --■». above-board, and they would over- Jride their executive in. order to-carry. their feelings into effect^