"UP AGAINST IT."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1919, 29 November 1913, Page 12

"UP AGAINST IT."

OLD WATERSIDERS' FINANCES, FUNDS RUMNIN'C LOW. KKDUCTfOX IN strike pay. (Br Telegraph.—Prcas Aeeoelr.llon.l Aushlantl, \(!voi)'Ler 28. On tlio wlnvvos tliia morning work procroded briskly. Tim Tyscr stnamor Milritiii vacaifd tlio Ijorth at the Kind's and \yas roplacod later in the day bv -the Kaipar.i, wliicli has Livc'rjiool iiiorciinmiisp to laud bolure soutli. 'J lie Uaiwcrn, nt present in the pon-dor ground, lias a very largo quantity of explosives to land, and will not como up into port till early next week. In speaking of the ■situation this morning, tlio chairman of the Ilarl-onr Board (Air. J. 11. Gunson) caid tho progr.iimno arranged sonjo days ago wns being carried out systematically. The congestion amongst shipping had been overtaken, and the work of members of tho union was giving complete satisfaction.

"To the Bitter End." At n meeting of tho waterside workers on .strike, a motion was carried unanimously expressing rc-neivcd determination to seo the present struggle through to the bitter end. There ivero 400 mt'nibers present out of a union membership of 480.' It was stated that 52 men only had deserted the ranks of tho strikers, and joined the now union. Their names were read out to the nscevting, and were subsequently posted in tlio Trades' Hall. Iho chairman announced that tho action, of tho seamen in declaring a maritime striko meant that the strike was won. Arrangements, ho said', -s-ere being made to call the seamen out on all the boats trading between New Zealand, Australia, and tho Pacific Slopes. Tlio men on strike, ho declared, could not help winning in tho end.

■Several speakers announced that the.v were Hearing the end of their firiiancial resources, and that a« married men with families thev were . "sip against it." Those speakers, nevertheless. urged their fellow-strikers to see the trouble through to the end. It was also announced that some of the seamen who lmd loft their vessels were seeking financial assistance, in order that clothes and hoots be replaced or repaired. . Strike Pay to bs Reduced. Tho treasurer of the union announced that although the striko funds were coming in fairly freely, it, would be necessary to reduce the striko. pay from 15s. 6d. to Ms. Gd. per week. It was also announced that such articles as Butter, biscuits, fish, tinned meat, preserved fruit, pepper, spices, flour, curry powder, bread, cheesy and grog would no longer bo available at tlio Trades' Hall store.

A question was raised as to how many men could expect to get back to their ordinary work- on the wharves even iii tho event of a. satisfactory settlement, when so many -positions were already filled. A reply was given that, with tho exception, perhaps, of tho -union executive, all the men 011 strike could bo sure of getting back their jobs. After giving-- tlift" matter consideration this afternoon, tho Auckland Magistrates decided to suspend the order closing tho hotels for tho same hours tomorrow us to-day, namely, from G a.m. to 5 p.m. Tho membership of the new us; ion of ssanten has been increasing steadily during the last few da>% and has now reached a total of 100. Of this number a large proportion, including ! J ,O A.B.'s, havo joined tho Northern Company's fleet. It lis stated that GO seamen with A.B.'s tickets are members.