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Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1893, 30 October 1913, Page 8

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WORK PRACTICALLY AT A STANDSTILL. (By Telegraph— Frees Association.) Westport, October 29. Work' at tho waterside was practically brousht to a standstill this evening, who:i tho wawffsiders met, and after a lengthy discussion resolved: "That wo cease work until the disputes at Huntly and Wellington are satisfactorily settled." Tho s.s. Navua is hung tip in port. Tho Flora sailed for G."'.'.vmoutli. aiiu is expected to icturn to tomorrow 'to load for Duncdin. it is understood that the Railway Department will call on railway watorsidcrs to turn to on tho Navua in tho morning. It is not known whether any attempt, wilt be made to employ free laoottr. Jheic is sonio 10,000 tons of coal available for shipment. All tho trucks and Inns are lull, and unless some relief is immediately afforded the mines will ha\e to cease work.

tho strike spreading, and the Storemen's Union becoming implicated in it, they vrero entitled to receive at leastone week's notice from tho -employers. The meeting uiicninioiisly resolved to support the action taken by tho union at tho last special meeting. Ships and the Strike. The ferry steamer Awarda went out to take up an anchorage in v tho stream yesterday. Tho ketch Lizzie Taylor, which arrived from Timarri last evening., dropped anchor in tho stream where sho will remain for an indefinite period. Tho steamer Nikau wall remain at Nelson dining tho strike,_ and thfi coaster Maungapapa will remain at Karamca. Tho Defender will lie up at 01)0 of tho West Coast ports, and tho Woottoii will remain at Lytteltoh. A Press Association roessago from Auckland states' that tho Tongari.ro was expected to arrive at Auckland about midnight last night, from London, via Hobart. Sho lias on board 8000 tone of cargo for Aucklandi but on account !of the striko will remain at anchor in tho stream. Otago Cheese Blocked. Tho hold up of shipping at Wellington consequent on the strike is already having its effect in Otago and Southland. Tho fortnights make of tho Southern cheese factories (4500 oases) which was /to have go.no North for transhipment ut Wellington to tho ltimutalca, cannot now bo loaded, and has had to be stored in the meantime by individual factories. Work is proceeding as usual at Dunedin wharves, The only communication received from. Wellington yesterday by the local. Waterside Workers' Union was os under :— "Position hotter. Conferring with employers. Will know definitely position Monday,—Signed, Young, Hie key."—Press Association. Latest. From Onchunga. . A Press Association message from Auckland states tho result of tho conference of Oneluinga watersiders is now to hand. The men, numbering about> TO, havo'decided not to restimo to-mor-row. Fifty members of th.o 'Harbour Board's permanent staff: will be sworn in as special constables to-morrow. Position of the Seaman. When questioned as to tho accuracy of a statement telegraphed from Auckland that tho seamen were ready to stand by tho watersido Workers, Mr. Belcher, general secretary of tho Fed' orated -Sea'inen's Union, said his union had not yet decided what action, it intends to take in connection with the, strike of tho watersido workers at Wellington, Tho position would ho a matter for consideration by tho different branches of tho union.—Press Associai Midnight In the Square, Save for a few knots of argumentative men and a dash of life provided by the coming aiid going of pickets mounted on bicycles, tho os-t Office Square at midnight presented no very unusual features, A thick wetting mist had settled ovar the harbour and city, givingf th£ distant wharf lights the appearance of so many, l fog-moons.\ Half a dozen policemen in greatcoats stood around, and plainclothes men kept, in more iutimato touch with tho little groups. These included' several young meji from the city, who , had evidently gono down to the wharf in tho search of something exciting. Ono of .'them was foolish enough to get into a heated argument with a strike supporter, and as the result there wan a bout of fisticuffs, in which tlio foolish young mait came off second best The police did not'deem the occurrence as one calling for their interference, and finally the youftg man wasi led ; away kindly but firmly by his friends, wiping the blood from a cut iit tlis check. Oil the wharves tho Harbour. Hoard's pickets smoked their pipes quietly as they moved from shed to shea, or: kept watch at.-the mail! gates. At 0.30 a.m.. tliero- were only, about two or three dozen moil left in tho Square, and of those only a Small proportion Were watorsiders.