GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1897, 4 November 1913, Page 7

GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

EMPLOYER & STRIKERS* Says our 'Auckland- correspondent:— An encounter occurred boSwccn about 30- of tho strikers aw! Mr. J. J. Craig, of tho firm of Messrs. J. J. Craig, Ltd., coal merchants and car- : riers, in Lower Hobson Street this morning. Mr. Craig was in his yard at tho back of tho Northern Boot Factory, lvhero coke was being tipped, and tlio strikers who -were passing at tho time took the opportunity of casting certain observations at biiu, particularly in rcfcrenco to somo statements that he was reported to have jnade concerning tho attitude which tho employers should adopt in tlio present struggle. When the discussion had been exhausted, Mr. Craig ordered the waiting carters to proceed with tho work. "They won't do it for you." chorused the. strikers. "It" they won t, I will <lo it myself," retorted Mr. Craig, | and he we«t over to tho leader at-tach- : cd to ono of _ tlio carts with tlio inton-' tion of carrying out his word, but the I pickots wero activo. They promptly | unfastened tho traces, and Mr. Craig was left in control of tho horse. He mado an effort to harness up the leader, but, as ho was fixing ono side, tho strikers unfastened tho other. Single-handed, Mr. Craig was powerless, and his carters remained passively by. Then tlio strikers loosened tho head gear, and finally tho whole of the harness,tumbled on to the ground, and the horse was driven along tho road. Mr. Craig, however, declined to give in, and recaptured tho horso and harness, but, as tho strikers had cut or taken possession of the essential parts, ho 'had eventually to give up the job, Tiie strikers wero too numerous and activo to bo coped with single-banded, and Mr. Craig drove away in his-■motor-car. A constable viewed tlio seen® at tho middle of tho incident, but loft without intervening. Watersiders and the Churohes, Tho waterside workers met yesterday morning. A motion ' was passed expressing the union's appreciation and thanks respecting the action ,of the churches in meeting and considering tho striko position, and passing tho resolution notified at Sunday night's meeting in tho Opera House. The resolution was carricd with cheors. Three cheers were given for tlio Ror. Mr. Braiusby, for his activity in tho matter. This was the only business related to the Press. Employers Urged to Stand Firm. . An enthusiastic and numerously at- [ tended' mooting of tho Levin branch of i tho Now Zealand Farmers' Union resolved to urge employers to stand firm in tho strike. _ Twonty names of men wore handed in to go to Wellington as special constables, and twelve older j farmers signified their willingness to work oil the wharf if required.—Press Association. Auckland Exhibition, Four hundred workmen employed at the Exhibition Buildings have receded notices requesting thorn tp attend a meeting at tho Trades Hall to-night, to consider what action they are prepared to take with reference, to tho striko. It is stated that tlio majority of the cmpjoyees have received tho notices with disfavour. Farmfirs' Produoo, The cold storage at Auckland contains 25,000 boxes of butter intended for shipment to London by the Rimutaka, held up in the south, ' "Keep Out of the Square," - The chairman of tho Post Office Square meetings, Mr. Bailey { made another appeal yesterday morning for thfl preservation of order by the strikers. He said tbat as liegotiations were in progress throughout the day, there was no need for the presence of tho general body of strikers in the Squaro. Ho therefore appealed to them, and also to their sympathisers, to leave at onco, and not return to the Square all day. Many of tho strikers accepted his advice, and went away, but hundreds stood at tho corners throughout the day,, discussing the situation.

A Falso Alarm* About midday a report reached tho Square that a largo body of mounted men had left the Mount Cook Barracks, and there was a great.deal of speculation as to their destination. Many of the strikers concluded that they were going to escort another contingent of special constables Into tho city, and immediate!}- rushed to Lambton Station. It transpired, however, that tho troopers had merely ridden about tho streets near tho barracks, in order to exorcise their horses, and had never entered tho city. Emergency Men Ready. A meeting of representatives of dairy companies in the Damiovirke district was held yesterday afternoon, says a Press Association telegram, to consider tho position as it affects tho factories. A resolution was adopted approving the notion of tho Government, and pledging tho meeting to form a company of men to act as emergency men to load Homo steamers at any timo during l the •export season, when other help is not available. It was decided to communicate .with other factories in the Dominion with a view to_ taking combined action in this connection. The durnt Flaxmlll. The hemp destroyed at Mr. J. Ljggins's flnxTmli at Tokomaru on Saturday night is valued at £135. The fire destroyed the mill, clectric motor, a.i.id other equipment. Residents Goal tlio Cobar. The difficulty of coaling the harbour ferry steamer Cobar on Saturday was agafn overcome by tho residents of Eastbourne. The, Cobar carried a number of residents and some ladies (who provided meals) to a hulk, where, it is stated, some 25 tons of coal were bunkorcd. Guarding tlio Lina. Another tram load of 2GO specials, all of magnificent physique, went through to Wellington last night fsnys a Press Association message from Palmerston). It gathered from as far north as New Plymouth and took tho Manavratu route. Tho line in the vicinity of Shannon, where tho Fedorntionist (laxmill hands are, is being tsuanlwl arid patrolled by a largo force of gangers. Backing tha Dairy Industry. At a meeting of sheen farmers held at Mastcrton last night (says our correspondent) it wns decided that, in the event of any Wairnrapa dairy farmers boing nnablo to make tho usual monthly payments to suppliers owing to their produce not being shipped, they will guarantee qny additional overdraft required.

Women and Street Encounters, While tho mob was still cntlicrecl in, Taraiiaki Street, just after last night's inoleo, a lady doctor arrived in lieV motor-ear, and mingled freely with the craml. She sought out tho women who formed a considerable proportion, of tho gathering, and appealed to them to go homo. The placo, she pointed out., wnr> one full of danger, and women niid children had no right to br> there. If a woman were injured serious trouble must ensue. Tho majority of tho women addressed tonh her adviec, and left tho scene, there being very feiv of them loft in the streots when tho mob finally dispftrsod.