WILL THERE BE A GENERAL STRIKE?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1545, 14 September 1912, Page 5

WILL THERE BE A GENERAL STRIKE?

WIIAT LABOUR EXTREMISTS SAW (By Tclegrapn.-Prese Association.! • „„ , Auckland, September 13. lac constantly-recurring threat of a general strike has for soma time, past beon a iooture oi the utterances of prominent members of the extreme Labuur circles. It has been vaguely intimated from time to time that nn early .movement of a combined nature may bo expected -Many employers do not think there is any probability of a .general strike being actually brought about, or of it proviii" sucoossful if it should take place. Some well-informed workers have givon a representative of tho "Herald" nn interesting statement as to how matters stand. In tho first place, it is stated that the Federation does intend to take a definite stand at the end of the present year or beginning of next year, either at Christmas or New Year. Several of the agreements under which affiliated unions aro now working terminate (luring December or jJanuary next. This is the case with tin* miners, general labourers, and waterside workers, most of whom, it is declared, ero far from satisfied with their present condition of labour. It is the intention of the federation, so far as con be gathered, to make application for new agreements from employers concerned at about the'time named. Fresh demands will bo formulated for different branches of labour represented by unions affiliated to Hie . Federation. Theso will seek to reduce hours and increase pay. It is declared that the failure ot any one union to obtain fair tiealment from its employers will be the signal for a general stoppage of work throughout the Dominion. They count, 100, upon the co-opera-tion of shearers, numbering 358!) workers. In the event of a general strike 14,077 members of affiliated unions would, it is stated, be directly involved, but it is believed that a total of 18,000 to 20,000 would bo out. Labour extremists questioned on the subject state that in the event of' the employers declaring a general lock-out, it would not seriously affect tho situation. They giro as a reason for that optimistic view that members of the Federation have been warned to hold themselves in readiness for a great struggle, and have in consequence been saving their money against a period of unemployment. Tho foregoing statements regarding Labour's attitude on a general strike are, it should be clearly understood, merely tho statement of the enso by (lioso in sympathy with the extreme section of the workers.