THE CALL TO STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1904, 12 November 1913, Page 8

THE CALL TO STRIKE.

CITY DRIVERS COME OUT. j

STRfKE PENALTIES. THE COAL CARTERS INVOLVED. CARRIERS UNMOLESTED. In accordance with the resolution passed by the Drivers' Union on Monday evening, the members of that organisation struck work at noon yesterday. J'hc uumbcr of workers afrcct&l is between 300 and '100. Tho strike was unaccompanied by any disorder or even (Jtiiwiistrntion. The carting of goods ii om tho wharf sheds and other places proceeded briskly during the forenoou. lost Office Square Was occupied by the usual crowd of watersiders and others, and a small force of mounted and foot fconstables kept guard over tho carting operations. Tho only change observable as twelve o'clock approached was that a number of empty lorries and otijer vehicles woro driven through tho i.quare, presumably en route to their various stables. In the afternoon the transport of goods from the wharf still went oil briskly, members of firms that employ carters, aiui volunteer drivers, filling tn& vacancies created by the strike, Mr Young, manager of tho New' Zealand Express Company, was observed driving a lorry in Courtenay l'laee and many other employers were similarly occupied. Was It Foresean? _ One important factor that has arisen tii connection with the strike of drivers is that some of them corns under tho strike-penalty provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Ac-t of 1908. This measure provided that if any person employed in any of tho industries mentioned below strikes without having given to his employer, withm ono month before striking not less than fourteen days' notice in writing of his intention to strike, lie is liable oh conviction to a fine not exceeding £25. For a lockout in any of these industries all employer is liable on conviction to a iine not oscfloding £500. Similar penalties arc provided for any person or member or industrial association which instigates, aids or abets a strike or lockout in breaeh of tho section.

■ The industries in' question arc (a) The manufacturer or supply of coal-

gas. (b) The production or supply of electricity f«r light or power. (c) Tlie supply of water to the inhabitants of any borough or other

place. ■ (cl) The supply of milk for domestic

consumption. (e) The slaughtering or supply of meat for domestic consumption. (f) The sale or delivery of coal, whether for dtfmestis or industrial purposes. (g) The jvorkittg of any ferry, trainway, or railway used for tho public carriage of goods of passengers.' In the present instance the question arose in reference to coal-carters who are involved in the strike of the drivers. Tha nianager of a local coalvending firm communicated with, the officials of iho Drivers' Union and pointed out that drivers of coal carts weve liable to penalties for striking. Tho executive committee of the union met last evening, and after deliberating, decided to stick to the resolution passed by tke mass meeting of members in the previous evening. This means that the coal carters are called out with the other drivers attd that tlie only exemptions will be: ' bakers' cartels; City Corporation drivers; 0110 or two Bieu employed by a. contractor engaged in transporting parcels for tlie Postal Department, and one man employed in collecting snails from tlio various Departmental buildings. Most of the transport- work of the, Post Office is done by its own ittuw with Government plant.

As will bo seen from a report in another place in t-liis issue- the question of strike penalties has also been raised in reference to the drivers employed ill carting offal away from tho city abattoir. These men have, been called out with their fellows. City carriers who -own their own expresses are not affected by strike. An understanding has been arrived at in terms of which the earners will abstain from carting cargo to or from the wharf, but will be free to carry passengers' luggage to or from the wharves or railway stations or to carry goods about' the city in tie ordinary Way. The Strike Committee has of course 110 pcw-cr to enforce such restrictions on tho carriers, but some of the latter who wore spoken to yesterday indicated that they would gladly adhere to the arrangement because it leaves them untrammelled to their ordinary vocation. Under normal circumstances they do not handle heavy cargo,_ It is_ transported in lorries and similar vehicles at a cost of one shilling a ton or less where a carrier would want 2s. 6d. a ton to derive any profit from the job.

Meeting To-Day,

A meeting of the Drivers' Union is to be held i:il St. 'Peter's Schoolroom, Ghuznee Street, at 10 a.m. to-day to consider various matters in connection with the strike.