The Strikes.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 November 1913, Page 2

The Strikes.

An Auckland strike picket paid a visit to Helensville last Thursday, but got little satisfaction. On arrival of the 1.40 train they proceeded to the wharf and attempted to " talk, over " the men at work there, but at: the request of the JStationmaster they quietly retire i. A number of workers and district residents had who no time for strikers and Federation methods ke^t the visitors under close surveillance until the 3 o'clock train lined np, and by this the strike pickets wisely departed.

The first contingent of northerners for wharf and police duty passed through Heleusviile last Thursday, and as they left the station were given hearty cheers. The men numbered 48 and had an equal number of finelooking1 mounts with them. A do* tachment of locals nnmbering 27 went through on Friday morning and 7 more went by the mid^day train, Tne Strikers who had, for about a week set themselves up as controllors of the Auckland wharves, received a huge surprise last Saturday morning, for a force of over a thousand police took control in the early hours and thus ended the lawless proceedings that had been practised. Later in the day the discharging of cargo from a number of coastal steamers was proceeded with, the workers being assured of ample protection.

As the result of cargo being worked and oider being maintained with the assistance of special police, the Federation called a general strike of a number of other unions, and brought the number of Auckland strikers to abour 7,000.

Thirteen vessels of the Northern Company's fleet berthed at the Auckland wharves on Monday to unload cargo, which was worked by arbitrationists without interference. The handling of cargo at Wellington has also been proceeded with, large quantities of dairy produce having been placed aboard the Athenic.

All hotel licen&eKhave been suspended for a further period of a week from yesterday morning both in Auckland city and suburbs.

The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr Harle Giles) who had been in JSuntly for some days trying to effect a settlement of the strike, left that place for Auckland on Monday, but by rnutual agreement of the parties to the dispute no details as to the conferences were made public.

The Farmers Union has made it quite clear that its members have no quarrel with unionism. The Union has expressed its determination to put dairy produce aboard the Home steamers, and to assist in keeping law and order in the community to cairy out this purpose. The effects of the strike are being felt.almost everywhere in the increased price of food stuffs. Various tradesmen are also out of employment owing to lack of coal and timber supplies. A number of dairy factories have been compelled to close down, which is a serious matter for dairy farmers. The local dairy company is not yet SSected having a good supply o f fuel aud ample storage for its butter.

At latest advices work on the Auck-. land wharves is proceeding without interruption, the members of. tae new Arbrtiatiou Union showing great skill in carrying out their duties. Sensational strike developments have occurred in Wellington, whore several of the strike leaders have been arrested. These are Robert Semple organiser of the Federation, Peter Eraser and George Bailey, also Henrv wl * ?'/ dlt? r of Maoriland WorkeV (Ihe Federation's Journal). Various cnarges of, using seditioua language and to resist tho police are preferred against them. Another attempt was made yester^ day to get the parties to the strike to consider proposals for a settlement, but the employers declined to recog' n: hmaYtr dFederationofLab°-

The federation officials have, from the outset, sought to bring about a general strike, with the view of paralysing trade and industry all through the dominion To do this they are feeding the public with lies. Dav bv day they issue a little sheet, headed Our Appeal" whic h misrepresents he issues, and encourages the belief that the employers, backed up by Government, are endeavouring to • smash up unionism." The wfr la iuture of unionism is at stake. Tf the S OJerS JT Vail ' tW the «tnke leaders say the unions are absolutely at their mercy The real issue, ho£ T\v ? at °f Saue uni o«ism versus the blind, unreasomng hatred of the employing class that leads up to such! strikes as the present. T & «S *ed leaders use as one of their party war cries, « To Hell with a £ reements." They have advised ?£e members of their « Federation » that no agreement is sacred" ; that there can be no industrial peace in New Zeal and while the capitalist systS lasts, and they have urged the workers to "recognise that every agreement entered into is not binding upon you for a single instant," not even it it were signed by a thousand officials and ratified by a dozen Courts " Was it any wonder? th- eretoro, that as a condition of settlement the employers should demand thate Som d 6 bln<*ing agreement should be