OPERATIONS AT AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1920, 1 December 1913, Page 8

OPERATIONS AT AUCKLAND.

DURING STRIKE PERIOD. OVER 54,000 TONS HANDLED. THE TAUPIRI MINERS. OPTION GIVEN THEM TO HESUME. (Br Telenrajili.—Prcas AGSoctatlon,! Auckland, November 20. There lias been no cessation ill work amongst shipping during the past week. Throughout this period the berthage available has been occupied almost continuously, and now the Harbour Board is able to deal with vessels as they arrive- Conditions on tho waterfront are rapidly becoming normal. During the three weeks previous to the ana just completed, the list of vessels awaiting discharge showed a market! preponderance over tho number entered outwards. For the timo the harbour was full of vessels at anchor, but that state cf affairs has been overcome. The seven vessels still at anchor arc: —Karori (coal laden), Kauri (sugar cargo), Navun (laid up), Kaituna (laid up), I'ona, barque (coal laden), A\'estralia (laid up), Whangapo (coal laden). Last Saturday as many as sixteen vessels were at anchor. On the Saturday previous there was iiftceu, and, ou Saturday, November 8, forty-two. In ad dition to the coastal fleet, tlicro are now fifteen vessels at the wharves, and indications are that, for a week hence, the berthage will be fully occupied.

The Port Figures. Asked whether there haii been any congestion en the wharves or in iho shells, iir. tliinsnn (chairman of tho Harbour Board) replied: —"Wo have !::iiuilotl 33.000 lons of cargo inwards. 10,000 ton;; outwards. ;iml about 11.000 ions «f coastal wro within iho last tlirco wcc!c». Tills makes an aggregate of iiver oJ.1)00 ions. Isnt we have experienced no difficulty. The transport facilities for the port have been excellent, and tile wharves and sheds were neve" in bnUer condition than they arc to-day- What cargo remains in Dip sheds is all in splendid order, and undo!' control of the respective companies. During the strike period the harbourmaster has dealt with 33 oversea vessels and 30 coasters."

Employers' Offer to HuiHly Miners. Tile directors of the Tatipivi Coil Mines, Ltd., have derided to givo the miners on strike at liuntly an opnor tiinity to return to work under the terms of the agreement existing when <;lic 1 rouble was declared. The olior has been conveyed in the following letter from the company to the sem'tarv of

tho Runtly Union, and it remains open tiil Thursday next:— "I am instructed by ilie directors of the Tnupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., to communicate with you on the subject of the resumption of work. J. have to remind you, ii.nd members of your union, Hint the mines of this company have all along remained open for work, mid J am directed to olfer to members of your union who nro now 011 •strike the opportunity of going back to their work under the existing agreement. This offer will remain open until Thursday nest, December 4, and T shall bo giad of your reply by Wednesday next, December 3. lam also instructed to state that, should your union disregard this olfer, the company will take sueli steps as it may think Jit." A correspondent at lluntly points out that a point of interest to miners is whether the sixteen men dismissed are to ho included in the offer made. Although the men out on strike are still very solid, there is a feeling ; n. the township that, if the matter of going back to work is put to the vote, the olfer will be accepted. A meeting is to be hold to consider the letter, but tile time lias not yet been arranged.

Farmers' Constabulary Scheme. The recent movement to establish a. Farmers' Union Constabulary Carps, to bo ready jit a moment's notice in ease of envcrgcucy, has assumed definite shape, and :i constitution has now been framed hy a Provisional Committee setup to draft rules. According to tlw constitution <ira;vn up, the -objects are tiro preservation of fanners' rights and tlm maintenance of law and order. The. corps is to be organised by tho .Farmers' Union, and to be under its control. Members aro to consist of formers and others directly or indirectly interested in fanning, and will also includo professional men living in country districts. Members must be over 21 years of ago. The organisa» tiori is to be run as a- military body, •under rules laid down in tho King's and other army regulations, and tho New- Zealand angulations. The- force is to bo formed iivto troops of 21 men, and 0110 officer; four troops t-o be a ,squadron, and four squadrons a regiment squadron. Tho staff is as follows: Squadron leader, second in command, sergeant-major, quartermaster-sergeant, farrier sergeant, two shoeing smiths, bugler, and orderly. Tho regimental staff will be; The officer commanding, second in command, adjutant, regimental transport officer, quartermaster, medical officer, veterinary officer, ser-geant-major, quartermaster sergeant, saddler, sergeant, and two orderly-room clerks. Two regiments are to form a brigade, for which there are to be similar officers, All organiser is to be appointed bv the Executive Committee in each district to choose a Selection Committee of six, who will then select the balance of tho men required to make up . any troop. The appointment of officers is to bo liy election, each troop electing its leader, and so on. The subscription is to be os. for the first year, and 2s. 6il. thereafter annually. Parades arc to be held at least half-yearly.