TIMARU STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1747, 12 May 1913, Page 3

TIMARU STRIKE.

BIG INDIGNATION MEETING. PORT WORKED BY FREE LABOUR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Timaru, May 11. Work proceeded expeditiously to-day on the Zealandie with tree labour from farms chiefly, and the ship got away sooner than was anticipated. The small f-teamer Storm arrived and was promptly loaded by free labour. The largest meeting which has ever assembled at Tatter=all's Horse .Mart was held this afternoon. It was convened by Mr. J. Talbot, president of the Farmers Union, to deal with the situation. Mr. Talbot spoke strongly against the-' strike of the waterside workers, as being without a scintilla of justification. The majority of people sympathised with the just aims of unionism, but a strike ot this kind was calculated to destroy, that sympathy. The unionists had wantonly stopped the work of the part fliitl farmers hail been forced to put an end to an intolerable position. The time had como to try unu put a final stop to. that sorb of thing. The place was getting a bad name through continual strikes, ana some remedy must be sought. He urged i farmers' and business people to combine to provide a remedy, as all interests sujioml inconvenience and lo<?s, una nil should combine to secure, that end. The following motion was carried with great applause: "That a committee representing the Fanners' Union, the A. and V. Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and shipping firms be set up to take such steps as it deem desirable to preserve the trade of the port.' Mr. W. Evans, chairman of tho Atlas Flour Mill Company, spoke on the same lines and characterised the action ot unionists as tvrannical. He regretted that the Union Steam Ship Company had not taken a firmer stand over previous wntersiders*' strikes. There was nothing for it now but for everyone to be firm and deal with the union. This remark was greatly applauded. Mr. R. Gould, secretary of the .Waterside Union, endeavoured several times to speak, but could not set a hearing. After ihis first essay, when he was proceeding to ask that a conference bo agreud to, he was met with llic reply that the time for a conference had gone by, and there was nothing to confer about. A member of tho union blaiued the stiitionmaster for the men's refusal to work the Pukaki' because he sent io work with them men who had been working with free labour ot. the "ealandic. _ The meeting liooh-poched this and sa-Ki the men thc:iu"elvns were wholly to blame. § . , A numerous committee was appointed in pursuance of the resolution and all present who were a<rr€eabl<? were asked to sign an agreement stating their willingness* to assist the work of the port when called upon to do so. Many signatures were obtained after the meeting, ally of farmers aud farmers' sons. Uhe committee will circularise the branches of the Farmers' Union and others to get tho lists available to arrange them in groups to act in turn as may be required.

STRIKE DELEGATES AT ASHBURTON Asliburton, May 10. Two members of the Smithiicld Freezing Works Strike Committee visited tlia Fairfield works to-day with the object of enlisting the support of local men. A meeting was called for noon, but only two unionist butchers put in an appearance. These reported that the freezers were sympathetic, but that apart from the freezers aud the unionist butchers there was no sympathy with the Smithfield men. The reception given the delegates was cold and discouraging.