ITEMS FROM WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14843, 8 December 1913, Page 8

ITEMS FROM WELLINGTON.

MOVEMENTS OF OVERSEA VESSELS. (fress association tklvgkah.) WELLINGTON, December 7. Twent}' vessels were at the wharves on Saturday, and there was work for every one of the 1400 men who came forward. Tho Watersiders' Union membership is now 1925. At 11.45 last night the Taihiti got away for Sydney. She carried a large number of passengers but no cargo from this port. The Aorangi got away at 6.30 this morning for San TVancisco, and an hour earlier the Home liner, Kia Ora, had lifted her anchors in the stream and left for London with a large cargo of general produce.

It is hoped that the loading of frozen meat into the Nerehana will be completed so that she can depart for London on Tuesday.

At a meeting to-day of representatives of unions not out on strike, resolutions were carried calling upon the Government to intercede in the present industrial crisis "by compelling the employers to agree to the reasonable proposal put forward by the United Federation of Labour, that Sir Joshua "Williams be appointed to arbitrate in the dispute, and that a petition for signature among unions and the general public be circulated, asking the Government to bring the parties together." The Trades Councils in other centres are to be asked to co-operate in this direction. Fifty-four of the Maunganui's men were before Mr Riddell, S.M., yesterday. It was stated that the men wore wrongly advised regarding their articles. Each was ordered to forfeit 14 days' pay and pay costs. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON December 6. The offers of the Hon. J. Rigg, M.L.C., and Mr Edward Tregear, to act as sureties for Young, were refused. Mr Rigg'e surety was accepted for Holland. It is understood that the meeting of the Merchant Service Guild confirmed the resolution requesting the resignation of the secretary, Captain Watson, «o account of his statement early in the strike. In 'new of the difficulty of the appointment being permanent, according to the terms originally made, the members will probably, escape the dilemma by the formation of a new -guild. Mr O'Regan, counsel for the Maunganui's crew, made a significant statement. In pleading for leniency he said that the judgment might have an important bearing on matters not so directly connected with the Court. The men's excuse was that they were illadvised.- He echoed the sentiments of the Corinthic's firemen. Mr Hickey, secretary of the Red Federation, practically implores the public ,to forget the . "crimson past" of the Federation of Labour prior to July. It is a sign of the beginning of the end, when the "Rede" are becoming the "scarlet-run-nere" from their own records.

Interesting developments are possible, the employers having announced that they would give preference to members of the new Drivers' Union. The old union had preference. The bakers, drivers, who were called out on strike and remained equally loyal to their employers and the old union, want to know what their position will be in relation to the new union.