PROTECTION OF DUNEDIN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 7

PROTECTION OF DUNEDIN.

STRIKE COMMITTEE CANNOT 1 GUARANTEE ORDER. PICKETS BLOCK MEETING OF NEW UNION. (By Telegraph.—Press A-ssßoiation.) Duitedin, November 9. A meeting of tho Waterside Workers' Union, which was formed under the Arbitration Act, was to have boon held yesterday, but tho strike pickets iiavo many of the new unionists marked, and persistently followed them about, with the result that no meeting was hejt). 'ihero have been isolated instances of scuffles between strikers and unionists, and some of tlio latter have been subjected to very insulting and provocative treatment in tho street,;.

It is -understood tliat the Green Island minors, aro likely to allow "their lino of action to bo determined by tho course adopted by tho minors iu other places. Work is proceeding as usual. The Otago '.trades and Labour Council has decided to get up ji committee to raiso funds if necessary to assist workers who aro out of ottiployimtsnt in Dunedia as a result of tlio strike. Tlio fund j's_ intended not for tho relief of tho strikers, but for those who have been temporarily thrown out of employ- 1 ment as a eousecjnonco of tho strike. Tho KiVi Ora, which has been idle at Port Chalmers sinco tho commencement of the trouble at Wellington, left fot Gisliorno yesterday afternoon. ' A mass meeting of - strikers was held this afternoon, there being an attendance of about 800 persons. Some halfdozen speakers addressed tho gathering on the present industrial crisis, and tho following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That this mass meeting of Dunedin citizens calls upon tho Government to immediately take steps to effect a settlement ori tho basis of tho proposal submitted by tho United Federation, which proposal was first submitted by tho employers themselves, namely, tho providing of ft bond under clause _'38 of tho agreement." In view of tho fact that tlib now Arbitration union will bo starting during the week, tho Mayor, Mr. Downio Stewart, asked tho Strilro Committee to meet him, ;*s ho was given to_ understand that- they were giving intimation that no violence or intimidation should lie Tesorted to. Tho Mayor pointed out that if such an undertaking was given it would avoid the necessity for tho enrolling of special constables, turd all tho' procedure that had been gono through in Wellington. Ho also stated that lie. had been informed by those interested that a largo number of mounted men were ready to como to Duncdiu when called upon. Ho discussed tho wliolo position very fully. Tho committee would not givo any satisfactory assurance, however, because they eottkf not Ira responsible for what' outside members of the puMic might do, and they would ho blamed because of violence committed by tho crowd, I also they could not he responsible for | what individual members of'tho union might do.