The Strikes.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 26 November 1913, Page 2

The Strikes.

An important development of the strike situation last week end in' Auckland was that the Painters' Union and the timber workers' Union officially declared the strike "off". The Carpenters' Union never sanctioned a strike, so that those who downed tools out of sympathy did so without the authority of their union officials. The Central Strike ' Committee announced that all Unions would be allowed to go back to work except those engaged in transport. Some of the unions, however, refused to start work again, but as the industries concerned are being worked with new arbitration unions,, their refusal cannot affect the positiom much. The "strike fever" has spread to the South Island, Christchurcb and Dunedin now having a turn on similar lines to the Auckland and Wellington trouble. In Wellington the position had much improved at the beginning of the week, the new Wharf Labourers' Union numbering over 1000 men. Th© wharves are getting busier every day and business is now proceeding much as usual. Twenty-nine vessels were, alongside the whaives on Monday. The Auckland Coastal Masters' I association was recently approached by the Strike Gonimittee with a request that the members should express their sympathy with the strikers by ceasing work. The association, however, ha& decided to have nothing at all to do. with the strike, and it intends to ignore, the Strike Committee. The^ secretary of the fva;para Cooperative Dairy Factory Company has wntten to the Mayor (Mr 0. J. Parr) as follows : -"I have much pleasure m conveying to yourself and colleagues the thanks of the chairman and directors of the above-named company fertile manner in which you have mamtamed law and order amongst the people ot your oity since the strike began. Had it not been for the splendid arrangements made for the maintaining of law and order mv directors realise that the port of 'Auckland, which is now being worked, could Dot have been opened." Now that the strike has collapsed the Auckland tram service is to resume to-day. At the request of the authorities the cars will not run in Queen street. The Auckland Bricklayers' Umou has decided to return to return to work - by a vote of 84 to 32, and the strike is' now practically-confined to watersiders, seamen and carters. The port of Lyttleton is now being; worked similarly to Wellington an! Auckland with Arbitrationists b&kw ing to new unions.