OTHER STRIKE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1888, 24 October 1913, Page 8

OTHER STRIKE NOTES.

. RUMOUR ABOUT THE TRAM MEN, A rumour was in circulation yesterday to the effect that the Wellington Tramways Union were to bo called upon to strike in. sympathy with the WaterBide, Workers' Union. From inquiries made it was ascertained that tho rumour was entirely without foundation, and that the _ local Tramways' Union was not allied in any war with the Federation of Labour, which is controlling tho watersiders in the present trouble. Not Much Free Labour. An inquiry was made at the employment branch of the Labour Department • yesterday as to whether there would bo enough free labour in Wellington to meet the demand likely to be created by ' the watorsiders' strike. The opinion was given that as far as the Department was aware there was not a great deal. of . unskilled labour available at' the_ present time, though thore was no telling what a crisis fiko the present one would bring about. "If 80 men were offered work at the Patent Slip or anywhere near tho city at 9s. or 10s. a day, I don't think thoTo would ,be much difficulty in getting it," Baid 'one official, "but it was a different matter if the work was away up the country. Wo could jfind work for 100 men willing to take oil milking at from 255. to 30s. per week and their keep, and there is at present. work available for' painters, carpenters, fencers, and married couples 'for stations. Wharf labourers do not seem to come our way to any extent and now that they know there is work offering- on. the wharves they would naturally apply direct ' to the shipping companies and Harbour Board." ■ Of the condition of tho unskilled .labour marked the last report published in tho "Labour.Journal" Bays:—"Pur- ; ing the month, there has been no appreciable increase in the number of men seeking work at this office. Employment in the country has been plentiful, and at the present time there is an unsatisfied domand for general farm hands. Thoro are some thirty positions for this class of worker still unfilled. £n tho city there has been very little work offering, and consequently a number of single and married men wlw either cannot or will not go into tho country remain unemployed." • Storemen'a Resolution. At a well-attended meeting; of the Wholesale Storemen's Union, licld last night, the following resolution' was unanimously carried: "That this meeting of the Wholesale -Stpremen y s Union its sincere sympathy to the Waterside Workers' Union members in the present strike and lock-out; and calls upon its members, in the event of their being called to undertake work on tho waterfront, to emphatically refuse, and in tho event of the Drivers' Union refusing to undertake carting of froe-labour-handled goods, the members are requested to do likewise." "Anyone Want Jobs?" Whon the labour foreman for the Harbour Board entered the waterside workers' waiting room and mounted the platform yesterday morning, ho was taken no notice of. Ho asked tho men if thoy wanted any jobs, and for an answer they turned their, backs, and, turning their heads, smiled at the Wharfinger and foreman over their shoulders. Hoots. At the time that the proposal was made to form a band in connection with tho Waterside Workers' Union, all the shipping firms in Wellington were approached for subscriptions. It is understood that the Union Company was the only firm to accede to tho request. The band showed their gratitude yesterday by hooting outside the office as they passed down tho street. , Shipowners' Committee, A meeting of the Shipowners' Committee waa held yesterday afternoon. At its conclusion Mr. W- A, Kennedy > told a reporter that the meeting had been held simply to "swap ideas," City Coal Stocks. In view of the proposed withdrawal : of the colliers from the West Coast' i trade inquiries wero made at tho State 1 Coal Office regarding the stock on hand. It was ascertained that tliero was a fair ' supply ill stock, and more was expected to-day. An unconfirmed rumour was going tho "rounds j-csterday to tho effect that tho Waterside Unions at Auckland, Lyttolton, and Dunedin had struck work. ' ,