TRADE IMPROVING IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14831, 24 November 1913, Page 8

TRADE IMPROVING IN AUCKLAND.

WHAT THE WORKERS HAVE LOST. £46,000 IN WAGES. (aPECIAL TO "THE PEE3S.") . AUCKLAND, .November 22. To-day ends the second week of. the general striko in Auckland; it is twenty-four days since the members of the Waterside Workers' Union ceased work, and five weeks since the Huntly miners "downed tools." The position does not appear to change vastly from day. to day, but looking back ..over the developments of the past fortnight, it is apparent, despite any claims to the contrary, that considerable ground has been lost by tho strikers. This is borne out by the resumption of operations in many of the ; trades and occupations originally affected, and by the fact.that approximately one half of the 6000 men who "downed tools" at the height of the excitement have returned to work. Calculated on a fairly reliable basis, it is estimated that the workers have lost something' like £46,000 in wages since the trouble commenced. The approximate figures arc: — ." .' £ Waterside workers ... 10,500 Huntly , ... ... B,COO Carpenters ... ... 3,500 Seamen, and firemen ... 3,000 General labourers ... 3,000 Carters. ... .... 2,800 Hotel and restaurant workers ... ... 2,500 Timber workers ... 2,400 Tramwaymen ... ... 2,000 Furniture workers . ... 1,500 Northern coal miners ... 1,200 Painters ... ... 1.200 Harbour Board employees 1950 Bricklayers ... ... 950 ' Engine drivers ... 900 Hikurangi miners ... 600 Total ... £46,000 > According to information supplied by the employers, workshops and factories are augmenting -their staffs each day, while over one hundred regular carters have returned, in aduition to the fifty or sixty new hands who have volunteered their services.

The Exhibition executive state that they have all the men they require to finish off .all work by Monday week. Work on the wharves - to-day proceeded briskly. Next week there will be an increase in the number of watersiders at work to over aOO, and a full programme has been mapped out for berthing the various vessels awaiting their turn. The principal feature.of the operations will be the attention to be given to the unloading ot coal supplies from the large colliers.

Enquiries made to-day elicited tho gratifying information that, there has been a marked improvement in business since work was resumed on the wharves and public confidence was restored. It is considered that if the trams resumed running, trade would speedily.be back to normal, though the enormous loss of .wages incurred by the' strikers must make a difference in the spending power of the working classes.