THE STRIKE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 November 1913, Page 3

THE STRIKE.

POSITION IN SYDNEY. [ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, COPIMGHT.j [FER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, This Day. Mr W. M. Hughes,'member of the Federal Parliament and President of the Transporters' Federation, has summoned a meeting of the Federation, and also a confer ence of the Federation, the Australian Workers' Union, and the Labour Federation. Questioned as to whether he thought the strike trouble would spread, he replied that he did not like to say anything on the point, but there was always a danger that an industrial fire, once alight, would spread. Shown a cablegram reporting that the New Zealand Employers' Defence Committees reply to the Federation of Labour's offer to accept Sir -Toshpa Williams' arbitration, declining to recognise the Federation or any third party, and stating that it will deal only with the Ari itration unions, Millughes said : "If that is really I the attitude r>f the employers, I am very sorsy indeed. A policy of sweet reasonableness was cer-j tainly most desirable, and quite apart from the rights or wrongs of the original dispute, whereof 1 know nothing, here is a bona fide effort being made for settlement by peaceful means by arbitration, with the assurance by responsible leaders that whatever the decision the -men will loyally abide thereby. In the face of this it is difficult to understand the attitude of the Employers' Defence Committee. However, I decline to believe that the employers have rejected this proposal of the men for a conference.'' On Monday the whole iron trades will consider what action to , adopt in regard to the repairs of New Zealand boats. Some unions outside the Federation of the iron trades have already decided not to touch these

boats. The Tofua's bananas nearly caused trouble at the Darling Harbour goods yards on Thursday and yesterday. The Tofua's bananas were classified as "black," and the Queensland bananas as "white," but as both were arriving at the railway yards simultaneously, the men did not know which was which, and consequently the men were half inclined to take~action without consulting the officials of the union. However, two officials prevented precipitate action, but the men are determined to stand by the resolution of the Federation of Labour regarding "black" goods. Their executive meets to-mor-row.