AFFAIRS AT AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14842, 6 December 1913, Page 12

AFFAIRS AT AUCKLAND.

WATERSIDE UNION GROWING. MORE APPLICATIONS COMING IN. (rSESS ASSOCL4TION TELEGRAM.) ; AUCKLAND, December 5. There were some interesting proceedings at a meeting of members of the new Waterside Workers' Union, held last evening, when preparations were made for a ballot. Some explanations were made regarding the attitude of the union towards five young\ farmers who were refused admission on. Tuesday night. It was agreed that they should .go to the,ballot again. A.total of 49 members of the- original Waterside Workers', Union were balloted for. Eleven others had applied, but their i references were not thought, suitable, fin addition about 50 outside applica- : tions were received. * On a ballot being taken it was,found that the five farmers had been elected, and 50 outside applicants, but in every cc*o 49 members of the old union were "blackballed." A number of other applicants gave in their laiincs this morning. It is expected tnat'they trill be balloted' for. along with others Fone days hence. As a rule three days must elapse before a ballot is taken, so that

there are still numbers of old waterside workers whose applications have not been dealt with, it is stated that the union is now 1000 strong. JAPANESE COAL. This morning the steamer Kwanto Maru arrived from Newcastle with 6000 tons of coal aboard. The arrival of coal from Newcastle is of interest, in that the Waterside workers at Newcastle refused to load any coal known to be destined for New Zealand at Newcastle. The Kwanto Maru was announced as a projected departure for Java, so that it seems likely that the men who loaded her were not aware that her plans had been altered, and that sho was to sail for Auckland. The Kwanto-Manx is manned by a Japanese crew, who presumably are not interested in tho Australasian industrial trouble. Ever since there appeared to be a possibility of local and Australian coal supplies being completely cut off it has been "■ rumoured that arrangements would be made by the shipping companies to secure coal from Japan. It is understood that preparations are now being made to dispatch colliers from New Zealand for Japanese ports. It is understood • that the first steamer from Japan with coal for Auckland will arrive during the first week in January. THE MAHENO. This mornifglc wireless message was received by the Union Company from I Captain McLean, of the Maheno, stating that good progress was being made, and later in the day a telegram game from Cape Brett which said'that the Maheno had passed north at 3.30 a.m. The latter message shows that the Maheno is doing a lot better than was anticipated, an average of 12 knots being maintained from the harbour to Cape Brett. The Maheno should reach Sydney about Tuesday next. Another message received by the Union Company is from the Atua, en route from Auckland to Sydney, by way of the Islands. Captain Wallis stated that the crew were doing splendid work. HUNTLY MINERS. A largely-attended meeting of members of the Huntly Miners' Union was held yesterday. Tho principal speaker was Mr P. H. Hickey, secretary of the Federation of Labour, who congratulated the men on the firm stand they were making, and said that all hands were standing steady. The miners and seamen, he said, held tho key to the position, and they would fight on. The speaker expressed himself in favour of the settlement of the* trouble by arbitration, and suggested that Sir Joshua Williams was the man to whom the whole matter should be referred. "TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED." It is evident from preparations now being made ; that it is intended to work the Taupiri Company's mines at an early date. Notices were to-day posted in. conspicuous places notifying trespassers that they will be prosecuted. At the Extended mine a strong barbwire fence is in course of erection; at Ralph's mine, also, iron and wire fences are being erected.