GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1908, 17 November 1913, Page 9

GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

THE CITY ORDERLY.

There. wore no incidents of moment to disturb the peace of the City on Saturday. Speeches of a "not-down-hearted" order wore delivered in the I'ost Offico Square during tho forenoon and at Clyde Quay at night, but they were of a colourless character, and were listened to without any of those manifestations of enthusiasm which marked similar scenes a fortnight ago. A . great number of the mounted special men were given foot leave on Saturday evening, and mixed with the promenading crowds. A Canard. _A rumour gained; currency in the Cityon Saturday to tho effect that tho water in some of tho public horsetroughs had been doctored in order to harass those carriers who are carrying on tho work during the absence of the drivers now on strike. This rumour proved) on inquiry, to be baseless, but it nevertheless caused carriers to order tho men who were at work to bo careful not to water their horses at the publio troughs. 'Tho City authorities ordered the troughs to be drained dry as a further precaution; Cheering New Unionists. At 'about 2.45 p.m. yesterday strollers along! the waterfront. were stirprised to find their attention assaulted bv volleys of cheers coming from across the harbour. On scrutinising the bay it was Seen that tho harbour steamer Duchess, well laden with harbour trippers, Was passing the Mararoa in midstream, and the cheers given arose from tho passengers of tho Duchess and were in honour of members of the new union who are boarded on the Union Company's steamer; '' ' Oantaru Lumpers. On Friday night tho Oamnru watersidors' meotirig decided, by a three-to-one majority; not to form a new union under the Arbitration Act. . Some claim that they will lose 3d. an hour if they go baclc under Arbitration, but this lacks confirmation. Pickets Pass tho Cordon. ' An Auckland Press Association message statos that the announcement that a large; number of Auckland aerated water cartas woro returning to work on Saturday drew'a party of special police and a fairly largo number of strikers to Stanley Street. The pickets insisted on their right to pass the lino of specials, ; and were permitted to continue their job peacefully. Number Out In Auckland. It is estimated that the nutaber df men' on strike at Auckland, including seamen and firemen, is about 7000. Of these about . 1000 have resumed work, including 400 City Council employees, 300 hotol and restaurant employees, 165 exhibition, workers, and a number of carpenters, drivers, and general labourers. Tho employers report genornl anxiety on the part of tho men to resume work, but tho strike leaders deny any signs of weakening. " Dunedln's Specials. A Press Association message from Dunediu states that one hundred and thirty special constables, city men, wore sworn m up to noon. It is espccted that the number will be increased to

500 by the evening. Tho membership ; of the new Union is said to be now between 70 arid 80. It has been officially announced that work ■ will start early this week. ■ Dunodln Moulders. The Dunedin Iron, and Brass Moulders' Union protest against the Government's action in dealing with tho strike leaders.—Press Association. Timaru Shipping. Everything is quiet at Timaru. Tho Storm for Wanganui and tho Kairaki for Hokitika got crews and got away on Saturday.—Press Association. Word from the Moana. On Saturday . evening the' secretary of -the General Post Officii (Mr. W.' R. Morris) received wireless message from the captain of the Moana, bound for San Francisco, to the effect that everything was running excellently, and that the new crew wore working efficiently. . The Special Men. Some of tho country special constables have been leaving fdir home during' tho jpast few days, to attend'to private affairs. Places thus vacated have been filled by drafts of fresh men from the country, the aggregate strength of the force remaining practically unaltered. Coercing a Carter. Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon, solicitor, writing on behalf of the Drivers' Union, States that he was the solicitor who called at Buckle Street Barracks in connection with an incident in Adelaide Road on Friday last, reported in SaturI day's Dominion. Mr. Fitzgibbon states [ that an acquaintance of his was interI fered with by the "Specials" when the j acquaintance'in question was approaching an expressman (who owns and drives his own express), with a view to getting him to do certain wort. Tho "Specials" threatened him with their batons, and it was in consequenco of this interference that' Mr. Fitzgibbon callcd at the barracks, and, after interviewing one of the "Specials" concerned, intimated that more probably would ,be heard of tho matter. Mr. Fitzgibbon expresses the opinion that some of tlw "Specials" are too ready to display their batons, and show, a want of tact.