GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1894, 31 October 1913, Page 8

GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

STATE BUILDINGS GUARDED. A. large number of members of the Civil Service wero sworn in yosterday as special constables, and were provided with tho badge of office. They will be employed chiefly in protecting public property, and to this end every building m which a Government Department has its office was closely watched throughout last night. In addition to the corps of messengers always in attendance "it the "biggest wooden buildings," a big contingent of Public Servants patrolled tho grounds and passages all night.Other buildings wore similar! protected. Many- of the Civil Servants have expressed their willingness to act as constables on the wharves or anywhere else where they may bo required. Territorials Enrolled. Many members of tho Territorial Forco volunteered for service in the special police yesterday, including severe! well-known officers. The commanders of one infantry company made a personal canvass of most of his men, and practically all of them set down their names, and took the oath. Rifles Called in. The Defenco authorities aro issuing orders that all rifles on issue to members of the Territorial Force must be returned to store ' immediately. The supplies of arms held in various portions of the city have also been putunder stong guard, i It is also suggest-t-d that it might be necessary to place a guard over shops which stock firearms and ammunition.

"Wo Don't think Muoh of It." It was reported in town yesterday (says our Wanganui correspondent) that a delegate from tho Wellington strikers was on the ,way hero to attempt to persuade tho Wanganui w'atersiders to join forces with tho men who struck in Wellington, but inquiries showed that' tho local men had received no word to such effect. A prominent member of the Wanganui Waterside Union, spoken to by a pressman today, said that there was not much likelihood of tho loeal men going back on their decision to handle cargo irrespective of what port it eame from. As to tho Wellington strike," he added, "we don't think much of it."

S.S. Jarilo Seddon Watched. Strikers and pickets kept a watchful eye oil the Government steamer Janio Seddon all day yesterday. -All her movements in the harbour were elasely followed, and reported to the chief pickets. Ambulance Ready. The Harbour Board E Shed, situated at the head ot' the Queen's Wharf, has tlio appearance of a field hospital. At the time of the Post Office Square incident last evening Mr. J.funro, wharfinger, gave orders to members of the Harbour Board Ambulance staff to prepare the shed for the recoption of anyone likely to bo hurt. Mr. J, M'ID. Johnston, superintendent of the Wellington Harbour Board's Ambulance Division, is in charge, and Mr. F. L. O'Connell, sergeant, is also in attendance. Three stretchers and blankets are placed in the shed, and necessary equipment, including bandages, kits of instruments, emergency boxes, lint, splints, ctc., aro kept ready. Interrupted Court Sitting. Business at tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday was disorganised somewhat by the strike. The civil business had not- proe'eeded far when Mr. W. G. Kiddell was forced to adjourn the Court till 2.15 in the afternoon. Immediately after the adjournment he left by motor-car, in company with police officials, for the water-front. The remainder of the day Mr. Riddeil spent in swearing-in police, and boing 111 readiness, should the occasion warrant, to adjourn'with all speed to any plnco where it would lie necessary to read tlio Ri*t Act. TJiara was somo uncertainty

as to whether the Court would Bit again during the day, the civil caso, however, from which Mr. Riddcll had hurriedly departed, was heard"in tho afternoon by Mr, J, S, Evans, a relieving ma.gistatf from Nelson. Assembling Free Labour. ' A Press Association message from Eltham states that an organised effort is being made by fanners, dairy companies, and other producers to raise free labour hero and throughout Taranaki to assist in handling produco at various ports. It is expected that there will bo a ready response, and that a good number of men and howes will bo available. "'The Injured Constable. Constable Murray, who was injured in tho meloo oil Lambton Quay last evening, is Well known in Auckland, where . lie was formerly watcbhoUßekeeperr Ho left Auckland four or five years ago, and' is now stationed fit Clive, Hawko's Bay. Ho is a married man. Harbour Cates Soourod. A locksmith Was engaged yesterday in fitting big Yal© locks to all tho gates on tho Queen's Wharf. The gates are now securely barred and padlocked, and the kqys have been banded to Harbour Board officials and other responsible persoits. Territorial Rifles. Yesterday's doines doubtless havesomo connection with the action of the Defence authorities in calling in the rifles of thf> Territorials, which lias been decided on. One striker, with a family, was heard to state quite open?ly yesterday that he had four rifles. ' Mounted Mon Armed, Tho mounted police wero armed with revolvers yesterday for the first titto . in the hißtory of Wellington since wartime. Auokland Drivers. Considerable interest was evinced in last night's meeting of the Auckland Drivers' Union,' in view of tho faot that, with the watersiders, it forms a local transport section of the Federation of Labour, and therefore sympathetio ■ action was expected. The meeting was largely attended, and lasted about twd hours. At- the close, officials announced that 800 men bad unanimously decided they would n&t eart goods handled by free labour. Most of the local shipping will not be affected by this decision, because, jn the past, the cargo in many of the smaller craft has been worked by the crews, and it was decided, after discussion, that auy former arrangements would do allowed to stand. Should the crews of tho largo steamers work cargo they will be looked upon as free labourers. —Press Association.

I Palmerston Complications. The Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union Exeou.tivo, at a special meeting on Wednesday, telegraphs our special correspondent, to consider tho strike, decided to issue circulars inviting dairymen and other farmers whose interests are menaced by the strike to ' volunteer to load and unload vessels carrying farm-produce, and,to act as special constables. The local batiks are receiving advice not to forward wool to Wellington, feir fear of overflowing the storage sheds, and the hemp millers are also faced with tho same necessity to arrange to hold outputs. Messrs. Mellsopp, EHott, and Co., general agents, have been advised from Sydney not to ship goods during tho strike, becausc the Sydney workers would probably refuse to handle Now Zealand goods loaded by free la- "~ bour, and the Sydney authorities are anxious to avoid complications. It is '/ probable that a continuance of the. strike will prevent southern exhibitors sending stock to tho Palmerston Show, Southern entries have been received from the Son. It., Heaton Rhodes., Messrs. J. C. N. Grijig, G. Gardiner, and several implement firms, . The dairy ( factories are iiow just entering the top of tho season, but accumulations at Wellington will closo tlio export outlet, and cause congestion at the factories. One local company alone hnd 20 tons of cheese and 1000 boxes of butter in Wellington awaiting dispatch by tho Athenic! tho value of the produco being •. £4100. ' ' Clsbome Men Standing Firm. ■ . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Clsborna, October 30. The Gisfcorne waterside workers ai« under the Arbitration Act. It is understood that tho men received a telegram from the federation executive to-day inviting tliem to join in the strike movement, but ail acceptance is not likely, as tho men ha™ had what they term a "hard time" lately, and' are looking forward to a busy season. Undoubted-: ly the general feeling of the men is against a rupture of anV kind of the present arrangements.—-Press Association 1 . ■