NO EXEMPTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 8

NO EXEMPTIONS.

BLOCKING CITY TRANSPORT, .WORK ON THE WHARF.. Uiy Telegraph— Frees Assocl/atlon.' Christchureh, November 24. Lyttolton to-day was simmering with suppressed excitement, and all kinds of rumours were afloat. Holiday quiet feigned along tho waterfront, but on all sides the opinion was expressed that something was bound to happen to-day. Early visitors in the port this morning witnessed tho arrival of H.M.S. Psycho from Wellington. Tiio warship came into port shortly before 7i o'clock, and was moored oil tho west side of No. 3 wharf at about 7AS a.m. As soon as tbo ship was mado fast a sentry with rifle and fixed bayonet was stationed on the wharf, and challenged any person who came near the ship. by instructions from tho commander cl tho l'&yche, the wharf was' cleared of trucks during tho morning. It is understood that tho Psyche will slot make a long stay in Lyttelton. H.JI.S. Pyramus is expected to arrive at Lyttciton from Wellington to-morrow morning. It is expected that tho Psycho will leave Lyttelton to-morrow, probably returning to Wellington.

r Work on the Wharves. 'The ferry steamer Patoena, which went out to an anchorage ill the stream after she had landed her passengers and mails yesterday, camo in this morning at about seven o'clock and berthed at No, 2 wharf/ Tho Paieena has on board about 300 tons of cargo'. Tho Fedoral-HouWer-Shiro Lino steamer Dorset resumed discharging operations at eight o'clock this morning, and good work was done by l her crew, who wore handling the cargo in the holds and working tho winches, permanent railWay men receiving the cargo in tlw trucks. Codling from the Blackball Coal Company's hulk Waiiti was also proceeded with, tho engineers and liremen of tho Dorset working the coal into tho bunkers, A squad of about twclvo policemen was drafted oil to the wharf alongside the Patoena, but they had a very quiet time as no cargo was worked. Drivers Favour a Strike. Tho Drivers' Union held a big meeting in the .Socialists' Hall this morning, in which gathering a great deal of interest was taken, judging by the crowd that assembled outside and waited for several dreary hours for news. The crowd, or as much of it as could get into the Socialists' Hall, went in at D a.m. and came out at 1.35 p.m., so that it took about four and a half hours of heated argument, judging by the noise, to arrive at a decision. A newspaper man who saw Mr. Hiram Hunter directly after tho closo of the mooting asked what decisioa had been arrived at.

"Well, tho strike is on," said Mr. Hunter. "Docs everyone como in P" was tho question. "Yes, everyone," said Mr. Hunger, "including the council mon and the bakers." "Havo any exemptions been granted?" "No, none," replied tho secretary of the Drivers' Union. "What about funerals?" inquired tho pressman. "Oh, well, wo would make arrangements for those," said Mr. Hunter. "And what about the ambulance?" asked tho reporter, but Mr. Hunter had had enongh questioning and intimated that tho main fact was that tho decision to strike had boon carried and that it would affect all members of tho union. To say that tho meeting had been an entirely unanimous one would bo far from the truth judging by the remarks of many who came out of the hall at its conclusion. There was an undertone of triumph in having "beaten them" that could only havo referred to the opposition, which must havo beon fairly strong to keep things going for over four solid hours of oratory.

Attempt to Blocli City Transport. The decision of tho meeting means that if tho Federation, can manage it there will be no transport in the city with ±ho -exception of tho drivers of coal and meat carts, and tho work done by the owners of private camera' carts and taxieabs, till tho strike is declared off. Those cab and taxi drivers who own thoir own vehicles intend to stand outside the present movement and continue their servieo to the public as heretofore. In spite of being called out much against their will, it is quito possible that tho majority of tho council's men will ignoro the order and go to work just tho same-as usual now. If they offer to do so tho council will have no objection, and what is more, it is intended that adequate polico protection will bo given t<s any of tho men who decide to continue their occupation.

One of tho men who was present at tho meeting said that thtire was a great deal of opposition shown to tho moro rabid section of unionists. First of all a resolution was passed that all tho City Council employees and bakers should bo exempted from being called out; then, after much fierce argument, this resolution was rescinded, and a resolution was passed to tho effect that men without exception in tho Drivers' Union must all coroo out.

Miscellaneous Matters, Addington camp was quiet this morning, tho specials and Arbitrationists apparently being engaged in ordinary drills and fatiguo, duties, A train of thirteen carriages without an engine was drawn up beside tho camp, bo that the um.Eount.ed men could move on short notice. A general parade of tho specials at tho camp was hold at 10 o'clock, tho largo muster apparently exceeding a thousand.

There was no bread delivery-, on tho majority of rounds this mornuig, but thn meat and coal carters remained at work, in accordance with the decision of Friday's meeting. Some taxis on the streets are driven by t) 10 owners, but the company-owned cars arc all idle. Many carriers possessing their own carts arc on the stands as usual, but will refuse to carry "black" goods. Some additional firms closed down today, and others aro reducing hands owing to the lack of orders, raw mate rial, and transport facilities. The Strike Committee was offered fifteen tons of coal for the Defender by a local merchant. Two trucks of potatoes are arriving, and a large further supply will ho available for distribution from the strikers' d.ppot, but there are few demands for assistance yet.