SLENDER RESOURCES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 8

SLENDER RESOURCES.

STRIKE COMMITTEE SHORT 03? FUNDS. It will probably surprise no one to 'learn that the Strike Committee aro 'short of funds. It was recognised from the outset tliat the cliief difficulty tho striko organisers would have to coil tend with would be that of providing for strike pay, or relief to the dependents of strikers. _ A few cases luivo been _ dealt with, and tho number will, of course, _ increase rapidly as tho striko continues. The Wellington fund is reported from an authoritative source to be very slender, aiid it is understood that after tho necessitous eases had been dealt with on Saturday tho balance in hind was less than £200.

Tho strike leaders know that the shortage of funds' most eventually mean failure if the striko eontiiiues as at present. They arts therefore preparing to take the desperate step of calling a general striko with the object of putting upon tho community such extreme stress that a settlement of some kind will be forced. During the past few days a .manifesto has been under consideration aiid iii preparation, and it will probably be issued to-day. This manifesto, it is stated, will call on all sections of labour to "down tools" at once. Tho possible effect of such a call has been sufficiently discussed already, and the last threat of tho Federation will alarm very few people.

GENERAL LABOURERS.

DECLINE TO DOWN TOOLS.

Ah interesting tit-bit of strike news is that on Friday evening last, when a general meeting of self-appointed Labour delegates passed resolutions declaring in favour of a general strike the General Labourers' Union, meeting simultaneously, threw out a motion proposing that its members should "down. tools at tho call of the Federation of Labour.