Strike Rumours

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 January 1917, Page 3

Strike Rumours

A SURPRISE FOR THE AGITATORS. Wellington, January 2. There are as many rumours as ever ■about impending strikes, but the real fact seems to be that there is less justification for the rumours now than there has been at any time during the last month. The watersiders and the coalminers liave asked for a conference with their ; -employers, but without submitting demands, and it is understood that both set's of the employers will refuse to meet the unions unless they are first supplied with a full list of the unions' demands. Out of these disputes a strike may follow, but it does not seem at all likely that there will be a watersiders' strike in Wellington on the conscription issue. The men have seen | that the Governmnt is ready for a struggle, and they can see certain preparations being made which Vtell them pretty plainly that if they get into a fight they will not find the other side wholly unprepared. The .biggest shock the strike promoters •have yet had was the arrival of a ship in Dunedin with 7000 tons of coal. This was a development on which they had never counted, and iof course "they know there is more coal in Japan. y