THE STRIKE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 622, 26 November 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

AUCKLAND UNIONS RESUME. TRANSPORTERS CONTINUE FIGHT. Auckland. Tuesday. As was generally expected, the commencement of the third week in regard to the, strike has witnessed a very considerable change. The general strike, culled 1 (> bays ago, has, in fact, keen practically declared "off," rind the Central Strike Committee has fallen hark upon the transport workers to maintain .". sectional strike. The union? expected to participate in continuance of the present trouble are those including the waterside workers, the carter:-, the seamen md the tram w .i y m en. The Central Strike Committee, in explaining its action in advising most of the onion.- to go buck io work, stated thai; bnsneisl assistance is necessary, and (he union:-' winch return will be able U< assist ; n maini aining a sectional strike of transport workers. '■uteres! on the water front em Saturday afternoon centre;; retmd H.M. third-class cruiser i'yramus and the mail steamer dnrema, If was reported at four o T dock ihef the Pryamsus was to sail for byftdion, and tha statement was borne out by the fact that stragglers were- hurried aboard, while the Union collier Komata was taken alongside to tranship a supply of bunker coal. It has never been officially announced that the Pryamus returned to Auckland bo as to be handy in case of riot or tumult during the strike, but nevertheless the fact of her presence has given the "specials" a comfortable sort of a feeling in time of trouble. Now, however, it seems that Auckland is able to look after itself, and since there appears to be more likelihood of serious disturbance at Lyttelton, it was evidently thought advisable to request that the Pyramuß should go south. The warship Philomel, from the China station, will fill the position at Auckland later on. was evidence of the cordial feeling existing between the "specials" and the men of the navy when in the emergency volunteerß were called for to assist with the coaling. All that were required were forthcoming, and entering into the spirit of the thing, they hustled the work along at a great rate. In seven hours coaling was completed. A letter was received by Mr Plugge from Captain P. J- Stopford, of the Pyramts, expressing warm appreciation of the "specials' " help. It is reported that a result of their action in assisting, however, wbb that the crew of the Komata at once went on strike on the ground that free labour has been employed to work the ship. The letter from Captain Stnpford to Mr Plugge reads as follows:--"! wish it were possible to express in even the least adequate manner my thinks to those volunteers who assisted to coal H.M.S. Pyramus. It was an incident «'bicb. " think, was without parallel in Cm history of the navy, and (here can be little fear for the futuie et a. country which produces men ef end; spirit. Deeds like this help one ;o realise the caUße of the greatness of the Prifish Empire. Will you do me the favour of conveying to those thorough rpe-nsmen a message of the npprc dabon of every soul on board the ship by allowing this letter to he rend on parade, or by any other means which seem good to you. Believe me that, the incident will never be forgotten. This is hot a poor way of expressing my feelings, and I beg to remain yours very gratefully, P. J. Stopford, Commander." Some people were doubtful during the lay whether the mail steamer Marama would get away for Vancouver, but pnnetuily at 5 o'clock lines were lei go. and the vessel backed out. into tlie stream. The crew lined the ship's side, and there was an assemblage of "specials" on the wharf, but beyond a little hooting, there was no suggestion of ill-feeling on either side. STRIKE SENSATION. ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. Wellington, Monday. lames P. Hassett was charged at the Magistrate's Court to-day (1) with taking part in a riot, in Taranaki street on November drd. ('.!) with attempting to winder Police Commis- ..• inner Culler. (d) with assaulting a constable. 7bo enactor ihe Crown was (bat accused we.:-- standing under a shop verandah in the- vicinity "f the barracks, ana rind at Mr Culien, who was standing ndngede C-e bio hose when water ws<i played <m to tbe crowd. Aetna d we:;!, into the she)) and fired \ fee.ne'e of lliccsiv was the attiaa'e ei a witness named Andrew 7o!iv, who contradicted his signed i-iatem-e-nt made ;,i the police to the ed'ed that be saw accused do the dmotme. Paid new said that the Vi' :nemcut. was 'w; itten by Detective Ciwesld. who did not read it over to ] ; ;. ; ,_ it ( . e;in!i] e.f identify llassettas i|,',, ' ji-an v. be died at Mr Culien. •''• noihei" witness, s girl, v, ho had also r-.-ndc ;;. ststenan; to she police, that io'the' best, of eer heldf Hnsaett did the shooting, no-, aid he was not the man she had blend i lied in the police yard. After hearing Portlier evidence accused was committed for trial. SPIaCPdbS AT AUCKLAND. Tie KiUTI CONTINGENT. MKMUKKS RETURNING HOME. A number of the specialß who proceeded to Auckland from Te Kuiti to a.sKist in maintaining order during the strike returned on Saturday laßt. Those who dove urgent calls at home will remain, but a number are prepared to return in a few day i However, it is the general impression of the authorities now that the force of

mounted specials can be reduced by half, tbuß affording relief to many who answered the call for help at considerable personal inconvenience necessitating the holding up of work on their farms. It is considered likely that the majority of the specials will return before long and Bn opportunity will then be taken of according them a public reception in recognition of their services. Those who have returned ;?peak in the highest terms of the treatment received by them at the hands of the general public at the strike centre. The mobilisation of the men from the country wbb organised and carried out in such a complete manner that little more than a display of strength was necessary to convince the aggressive section of the strikers that any attempt at violence would be futile, and the alertnes and restraint exercised by the countrymen was undoubtedly an important factor in maintaining order during a very trying period. POSITION AT LYTTELTON. SHIPS BEING WORKED. Lyttelton, Tueday. About 275 men are working in the port. Of these 64 are railwaymen, 160 ships' crewß, and SO free labourers,the rest being permanent hands of the ship working. The Dorset and Rimutaka are using ships' crews only. The Opouri, Breeze, Cygnet, and Kini are being worked with free labour and permanent hands. The Maunganui is not working for fear of the firemen coming out. Tne shopkeepers are signing a petition asking that the big mounted patrol should Btop because they irritate the residents. UNION BOATS AT SYDNEY. OFFICE STAFF UNLOADING, A DELICATE SITUATON. [IJT TKLKGRAI'H. —I'BICSS ASSOCIATION.] Received Tuesday, 10.50 p.m. Sydney, Tuesday. The Ulimaroa'a mailß and luggage are landed. The discharging of the Manuka and the Makura by the office staff is slowly proceeding. >, The Willochra is tied up to the wharf and the cargo will not be handled until the Makura is finished. The Karitane's cargo has also been left untouched. There has been anxiety felt in connection with the discharge of a record cargo of bananas arriving to morrow from Fiji by the Tofua. The wharf men have announced it is not intended to discharge. It is now definitely stated the stewards of the Makura and Willochra last night decided to ceaße supplying food to the office staff engaged in discharging the Bteamers on the ground that they are free labourers. STRIKE EFFECTS AT SYDNEY. . PASSENGERS HELD UP. Received Tuesday ,10.60 p.m. Sydney, Tuesday. The offices of the Union Company were besieged yesterday by intending. passengers to New Zealand. There wbs much annoyance and unavoidable delay, many people waiting for newi as to the possible prospect of getting away. Over 450 applications were made for berths in the first boat away. Four hundred were booked by the Maheno which has only a remote prospect of sailing to-day. These include the Manuka's complement. The vessels laid up are the Manuka, Makura. Mabeno, Karitane, and Willochra. The mails were removed from the Manuka and transhipped by the Zealand! c for Auckland. She also took a large portion of the Dunedin mail which usually goes south via Melbourne. The Zealandic took 1079 bags of mails—a record for one steamer —to the Dominion. The total includes the English mail by the Macedonia. WELLINGTON CORPORATION DRIVERS. Wellington, This Day. A meeting of the Corporation drivers decided to have nothing to do with the new Drivers' Union. LATEST FROM AUCKLAND. THE EMPLOYERS CLAIM. Auckland, This Day. Every available [berth on the waterfront is now occupied and good progress is made in working cargoes. The Employers cUim they are now quite independent of the two old unionß—the Watersidera' and Drivers'. WORK AT WELLINGTON. WHARVES VERY BUSY. STRIKERS JOINING UNION. Wellington, This Day. The wharves maintain their lively appearance to-day. Twenty-four vessels are working. Between eight and nine o'clock 30 men, including 10 strikers, signed on as members of the Arbitration Union, the total amounting to 2400, but many country members are now getting their clearances and returning to their homos" Ten Feilding men left this morning. Nine hundred and fifty men'are working, and so much work ia offering that employment could be found for another sixty or seventy. v Mr W O. Long, the secretary, points out that at present there is an abnormal amount of shipping, and labour that is required now may not be maintained! throughout the summer. The longer the strikers hang off from joining the Ibb? chance they have of constant work. The total number of strikers who have returned ia 120.