Second Edition THE STRIKE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 November 1913, Page 3

Second Edition THE STRIKE

V Wellington, This Day. riie.ro are now IL\S() members in tlie new Watorsiders' Union. The secretary states that'it is intended to briny in a number of men from tlie country to briny the union up to a working basis. He points out that the strikers have had ample opportunity to return to work, but have not done so. I wenty boats are working this morning. The Arawa arrived from London this morning with about 500 immigrants, who met with a hearty _ reception from the crowd. 1 he statement made by the Employers' Defence ( l ominittee today reiterates that the sole responsibility for the strike rests with the old Wellington Waterside rs l r nion. It points out tinfact that sonic of the strikers have returned to work, leaving the workers who did not strike without employment. The Committee will have nothing to do wijh the .Federation in the settlement negotiation-;, having no faith in its written or giv.wi word. It will stand by, ni l for, the new Arbitration I Minus of waterside workers and drive,s and will resist the Federation of Labour to the utmost.

"SPECIALS" IN LYTTELTON. Lyttelton, This Day. This morning the special constables invaded Lyttelton at an early hour. The mounted men were divided in three forces, and came over the hills by three routes. The foot forces came by 'train and on foot over the bridle track. The tunnel was guarded at both ends, and precautions were taken lest the bridges en route were mined with explosives, but no explosives were found. No attempt was made to molest the "specials." The forces in the "port are approximately: . 400 mounted men and vSOO foot. About fifty free labourers, protected by this force, were conveyed to the wharf, and put aboard a tug, and taken out to the Ivoonya (their houseboat) for breakfast. The Rimutaka, the Dorset and the Cygnet are working, using their own crews. "Specials" are everywhere on the waterfront, all approaches to which are guarded by sentries, and none are allowed to pass witli> out permits from the Harbour Board's secretary or the shipping company's officials. Mounted "specials" paraded in squadrons up and down Norwich Quay all the morning, repeatedly moving through the crowd of strikers at the Post Office corner. The watersiders arc out-num-bered by three to one. There is no trouble at all yet. The townspeople and the strikers regard the "specials" canocuvres with mild amusement. A camp site has not yet been fixed. Coronation Hall, from which the watersiders were evicted, is used as a cook-shop and dining hall for the "specials,"' and No. 5 good shed is used as a dormitory. At eight o'clock the strikers went off to a meeting in. the hall at the back of the town, leaving the "specials" in undisputed possession. Pieporters are not allowed on the waterfront, oven with permits, unless they submit to a press censorship by Colonel Chaffey, the officer in command. The Lyttelton Times reporter refused toTiccept permits on these terms and left the waterfront.