BACK-TO-WORK MOVEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 4

BACK-TO-WORK MOVEMENT.

The Pederationists -who boasted that they would paralyse the industries of Auckland and close the port have been put to confusion , by the events of the past km days. The port hag now been reopened, shipping activity is _ increasing every' qlay, and there is said to be ample- la'bottr to handle the cargo, The -strike leaders in Auckland, like their Welli.ng.fcon colleagaesj still deny the accuracy of these statements, but the fact remains that the Jiner Opawa is taking away to London a record shipment &I 40,000 boxes of butter to tho great satisfaction of tho farmers, a number of whijm sent up a hearty cheer as the first sling of butter went up. The. latest reports also state that the Auckland coastal services have been' completely resumed, and that, wliarf work is also- going on at ; Onehunga. These facts can be verified by anybody on the spot, and Uiisujjported denials by strikers Or anyofle else cannot get rid of them. Did, tlio watersiders really imagine that any.' British community was going to sit' do\yu helplessly and let itself be starved into submission at the dictation of a_handful of Syndicalists? "If they did, they must know by this time, that they made? a- great mistake. Tiio' ■strike':is breaking down in the city of Auckland, as well as on the waterfront. . Tlis "-dowTi tools" moveinsnfc: seems to liave come to a full stop,; and many members of the unions that obeyed the Federation's call have gone back to their employment. Carting operation.s are going on energetically, restftttramts a xi.d tea rooms are providing for thek cus-tomers-as usual, Wpro men are at work on the Exhibition Bitilcliags, ■and the licensed victnalleya am receiving numerous applications for ■ Gnjployment. It. now appears that the' , report; ' that , all the-' Auckland ■ Harbour Board's employees went on' strike is ineorrcct, The chairmaji .states that many havereinaihed .loyal aad have done splendid work. It is really; futile for the Strike Committee to deny that a strong baek4o-wor3t movement has set in afc Auckland, As a- matter of fact, there'_ ha-i Jjcen nothing like, a general strike either in Wellington or Auekand, and the most complete answer to the empty toast of the Federation leaders that victory is assured is pro-vided by Mr.. HigKby's own admission at the meeting of Wellington tramway aiieni In reply to questions ho stated that while no. fewer than .53 Wellington unions bad been called upon to join in the strike, only four had. obeyed the call. He m.ig : lit have .added that in all four of these the baek4o-wo:rk ißoveinent had sot in.