GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 9

GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

PINCH ON FARMERS; THE QUESTION OF ADVANCES. . At a largely attended meeting of dairy farmers, (ho following resolution was passed:—"That this meeting of iisi'mers of tho Carterton district wishes to endorse tlio actio.ll taken by tho tanners Union during the present crisis, and pledges itself to do its utmost towards providing the labour necessary for the purpose of handling produce at Wellington for the Homo markets; that this mooting of farmers ™ ,e action of Messrs. Okey and vuikiiison, members of Parliament, in regard to their asking tho Government to guarantee monthly payments to dairy farmers lor produce, and that Sir W. C. Bviclianan, M.P., and Mr. Sykes, M.P., bq asked to approach tlio (loveniment with a view Co asking tbem to pass special legislation regarding the present difficulty." "Man Owerboard." WJiilst the Atlienie was being berthed alongside the Glasgow Wharf yesterday, .the cry of "Man overboard" was raised, but it was subsequently found that nothing very serious had happened. One of tho Harbour Board's permanent staff was standing on the wharf, leaning against ono of the ship's lines which bad just been, mado fast. The lino was suddenly slackened, and tho man disappeared over the edge. Willing helpers hastened to the sido of tlio wharf, but, they found that lie had kept « tight bold of the li.no, and had not reached the water, '.the officer was hoisted to tho wharf deck amidst hearty laughter, in whieli ho himself joined. A Quiet Evening. Tho peaceful nature of tho day's proceedings was construed in many quarters as an. omen of troublous happenings in the evening. Such predictions were not fulfilled. A big crowd gathered in the vicinity of tho barracks in Buckle Street, but there was not the slightest sign _of any trouble. The Square was quiet all day, and was practically deserted in the evening. The Next Ship to bo Worked. In addition to the Athcnic, the Whitest ar liner Corintliic will probably bo brought alongside to-day. She has some 5000 tons of general cargo to discharge. It is understood that the Union Company will also bring one of their p.roduc© steamers alongside the wharf for dischargo. Shortage of Gemont. The Peto.no Borough Council is at present _ engaged in several important works, including the drainago scheme, Tho work is likely to bo considerably delayed owing to tho shortage of cemeait consequent oh the striko. A considerable amount of cement arrived some time ago, so that tho work has been carried <m up till the present, but now the pinch is beginning to bo felt; and prospects are anything but bright, The Construction of tho sea wall au.d ! otlier works are also being held up. Auckland Exhibition. Tlio Auckland Exhibition workmen mot at mid-day and resolved to continue work on tho understanding that special Constables aiid stores are kept outside tho exhibition grounds.—Press Association. Tiie Dane and tho Ambulance. Dressing stations have been improvised by tho St. John Ambulance Association in various parts ef the town whore disturbances may take place, and ( officers of the association are- in con-" stant attendance; > The principal dressing station is in the Star Boating Club's rooms in - Jcrvois Quay, and from this station esitra help is so-nt wl'ierevor needed. Tho Garrison Hall has a wellequipped station, and it speaks well for tho men in charge when 'it is noted that nearly 40 men had various wounds redressed thero morning. Other dressing stations are at tlw Hoys' 1 Institute, the Railway Offices, and tho J slied on tho wharf. Tho worst case yet experienced, and olio that taxed the strength of tho half-dozen assistants present, happened yesterday afternoon, in the Star Club' room.?, when a huge Dane, standing over six feet in height, and broad in proportion, was led into tho dressing station suffering from a severe wound on tho head, caused,-110 stated, by a blow. Ho was placed in a chair and upon. examination it waß: discovered that the services of a doctor were necessary. An assistant, was dispatched for him. . From then on trouble loomed. The man appeared to have the impression he was there to be done to death, and right strongly did he strive for the door and freedom. But his ; "enemies" were too many for liim,. and at last tho stitches were put in and iho head bandaged. But all the trouble had not yet cleared. With a movement to his pocket lie declared lie had "something thero to do for 'e-m," He was seized, but despite his condition lio was a game quarry. Search, however, revealed that if lie had had "something," that "something" had already been taken from li.im, so lio was. Ouietiy, though firmly, conducted to the doctor's motor-car which carried him home.

Tho St. John Ambulance brigade ■ treated seven new cases in all yosterdey, most of them for minor cuts and bruises received in localised squabbles.^. Tailors and Strikers. Sympathy with tho watorsiders on strike was expressed on Wednesday night at a largely-attended meeting of Mks Wellington Tailors' Union at the trades Hall. Tho following resolution was carried -"That this meeting places ' °U record its emphatic pretest against tho Government's action in importing special constables into Wellington to; compel the- Waterside Workers® Union tr.ii submit to registration under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act- at the dictation of tho Employers' Association, : and calls upon tho Government to im-; mediately withdraw the special con-; stables, and in tho interests of public ■ convenience and safety to insist- upon the Employers' Association agreeing to the terms offered by themselves last week, and now accepted as a basis of agreement ' hy the Waterside Workers' Union, which this union considers to bo ■ a fair and just basis of a settlement to t-lie dispute." 'Tho union also voted £50 and agreed to contribute 2J per cent, of their wages to relieve the women and children. Plenty of Mod Offering. The following telegram was received yesterday by Mr. J. A. Young, M.P., from Mr. F. E. Smith (president of the Waikato Winter Show Association): — "Just returned extensive tour twentytwo meetings. Can assure you settlers of the districts are pefpaml to attend to preserve law and order. Please advise Premier,"

Mr. Young dispatched the following reply:—"Thanks for telegram. Similar messages corning from all parts Taranaki. Wellington, Hawke's Bay districts, offering further two thousand men. Work resumed Wellington wharf to-day with new union. Labour settlement no. in si.gtit," Commercial Travellers' Woes. _ Commercial travellers arc being considerably hampered in their work by tho strike. In many cases Uie goods ordered through .them liavo conio to band, but thoy cannot be delivered, and in the same way tho orders on local houses, through' travellers, are being held up, greatly io the. annoyance and incouvenieni-o oT eli-erjts in other parts of pAminkm. Thnrg ar«> -it. pfipftiit ■in Wellington some fifty "oonunoraials"

wild are held up by the, strike, as it i? useless securing order), for prompt delivery that cannot be executed. Union Men ta Meot. A meeting of union representatives "ill take place at tho Trades Hall tonight on tho lines of last Sunday's meeting. livery union in Wellington is being invited to wild representatives to tins meeting, and it is understood that the Federation of Labour will lay its caso in connection with the strike before the meeting. Conciliation Proposals, The Conciliation Commissioner (Mi. P. Hally) laid certain proposals before the Strike Committee yesterday morning with the object of "ending "tho dispute between the waiersiderg and tlio employers. 'Rio Strike Committee did not accept these proposals en bloc, and consequently matters were not advanced so far as the old anion is coiieenttd. Strikers' Ammunition. It lias been the source of considerable comment during the last few days that rioters liavo been given a gratuitous supply of ammunition by tho metalling of the streets in tho vicinity of Waterloo Quay. On Wednesday afternoon, just before the affray in Featherston Street, several men were engaged in spreading jagged blue stone 011 the roadway.' When the riot' occurred

those who wished to molest- the police found ft plentiful supply of missiles lying ready to their hands. Tho authorities yesterday realised the mistake that was being made. The Railway Department removed its supply of metal to a place of safety, a strong guard, being placed upon it until it could be shifted. The City Council and tho Harbour Board are also taking action. Tho suggestion is that all newly-laid metal should be liberally tarred, so that those handling it will bear ample marks which will lead to their detection. Palmerston Notes. Word' has been received in T'-almorsion (says our local correspondent) that tlio flaxmill workers at Shannon have instructed their secretary to forward £100 to tho Wellington strikers as a first instalment, alia have decided to solio.it subscriptions for strikers' wives and children. Some workers' wires iii Shannon, Tokomaru, and Foxton have volunteered to collect. Tho secretary has also been directed' to arrango for billeting strikers' wives and children. The same meeting instructed tho secretary to write requesting members not to attend the Falmersfoit Show. Paliner-stou Justices of the Peace met yesterday to'consider the local situation respecting tho strike. They agreed that there was no need for apprehensions of serious happenings.,' and .decided that matters can safely bo loft in tho hands of tho police. In Possession of Stones, When tho mounted "specials" passed Post Office Square last owning 011 their way home to the barracks, a man in tho crowd made a threatening demonstration. ' Unfortunately for him. Chief Detective Broberg raid other detectives and policemen were standing near him, and ho was arrested. He was in possession of Jaigo stones or rocks at tho time. Two arrests were made on, Waterloo Quay yesterday for bad language, while a seaman Was arrested on the Quay for allegedly using' threatening behaviour. Raid on Whitcomhe and Tombs—An Arrest. In connection with the riot that occurred <in Lamtitoir Quay 011 the evening of October 30, tho police liavo nittdo an arrest. Yesterday William Henry Lawton was taken into custody on a charge of' b6ni£l aTfiehiW of an unlawful assembly 111 front of Whitcombe and Tombs on the date mentioned.

It was with agrcoabl© feelings of satisfaction that an onlooker at yestc.r* day's parade of the special mounted constables in Peatherston Street and the precincts of tho King' S Wharf heard one of the mounted ."regulars" thus address a knot of roughs Who were standing 011 the comer of tlio pavement: "The first man that steps off the kerb wilt feel this," and so saying he raised his batoft and shook it impressively. .There were 110 "starters."

Amongst the casual spectators who surveyed tile special mounted constabulary when on parade at the King's Wharf yesterday was Mr. P. C. Webb, member for the Grey. The ex-president of the Bed Federation assumed an. expression of what was designed to bebut was not —impressive compassion for the "misguided" countrymen, as lie shook his head and observed, "You ought to bi> ashamed of yourselves—you ought." Whereat the specials to whom the observation was addressed smiled expansively. They Were not- impressed.