THE STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1165, 30 October 1913, Page 3

THE STRIKE.

ATTEMPTS AT A SETTLE-

MENT,

PRIME MINISTER PRESIDES,

A conference of representatives of both sides was held on Tuesday evening in the Government Buildings- The Prime Minister was present by invitation and presided. The conference lasted three hours. The proposals ware submitted to the principals of each party. The following were the delegates attending the conference : For the employees—Messrs W. T. Young (secretary of the Seamen’s Union), F. Curtice (president of the Waterside Workers’ Union), G. Bruce (assistant-secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union), Connel (member of the executive of the Waterside Workers Union). For the employers —Mr W, A. Kennedy (Union Steamship Company), Captain Evans (shore superintendent Shaw-Savill Company), Messrs R. Fletcher (chairman of the Harbour Board), and W. Bennett (manager of the South Taranaki Steamship Company).

WATERSIDERS REJECT PROPOSALS.

Wellington, Oct. 29

A mass meeting of watersiders this morning discussed the proposals resulting from last night’s conference and decided to reject them.

It is understood the men insist on being allowed to return to work under the complete conditions in the agreement in force up to the time of the strike.

It is also repotted that the employers are prepared to enter into a new agreement to apply to all ports of the Dominion on condition that a bond be entered into for the forfeiture of a substantial amount if the men break away from it.

AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS OUT. WARSHIP RETURNS UNEXPECTEDLY TO PORT. Auckland, Oct. 29.

Acting under instructions from the executive of the United Federation, the whole ot the Auckland waterside workers struck work this morning. Work on the wharves is generally at a standstill, except for the steamers of the Northern Company, whose crews arc performing what work is necessary. The Tofua arrived from the Islands with a lull cargo of perishable fruit. The crew were asked to unload. After discussion they refused.

H.M.S. Pyramus lelt last night for Napier, but unexpectedly returned to port this morning, and berthed at the wharf. Her return is assumed to have some connection with the serious aspect of the strike.

ONEHUNGA NOT THETICAuckland, Oct. 29. Work is proceeding as usual at Onehunga, where the watersiders have their own union, having seceded from the Auckland Union some time ago. A delegation from the Auckland strikers endeavoured to prevail on the men at Onehunga to cease, but they w*re unsuccessful. ; If the Onehunga men continue to unload Westport coal it can be poured into Auckland from that side, and largely nullify the effects of the strike here.

The Onehunga men were still working at noon.

Later. The Onehunga men have ceased work.

WESTPORT WATERSIDES

DOWN TOOLS,

Westport, Oct. 29

The Navua arrived from Lytteltou at 9 a.m. The watersiders decided not to work her pending receipt of instructions from the Federation of Labour. The steamer has 40 or 50 tons of sugar and cement aboard. The Union Company are not taking any definite steps at present.

JACK TAR APPEARS

Wellington, Oct. 28

Mr E. Canham (president of the Auckland Wbtersiders’ Union) referred to the visit of the warship Psyche, which had just arrived. As an ex-man-o’-warsman he would urge the meu not to come into conflict with the naval men, who were well drilled and disciplined, and who would be able to walk right through a crowd even of the size of the one he was addressing. It was useless for the strikers to resist them unless they were as well disciplined and trained as the bluejackets.

PROVISIONS FOR SHIPS BARRED. The strikers are holding up provisions for the ships in the stream. Horses for the New Zealand cup meeting were allowed to be shipped by the strikers after some altercation. PERISHABLE GOODS. Some of the small steamers have perishable cargo on board of them -—food supplies included. The Watersiders will not allow these to be landed. An attempt was made to unload cream from the Blenheim into a launch and to take it ashore at Oriental Bay. The movement was nipped in the bud by pickets, who appeared to be sufficiently determined to prevent a lauding, for the cream was relumed to the ship.

WARSHIP ARRIVES,

The cruiser Psyche arrived unexpectedly on Tuesday morning. Her presence in port, it is understood, has nothing whatever to do with the labour trouble. She berthed at the Wool Wharf. There were a few people down on the wharf when the warship berthed. As soon as she was tied up a picket ranged up forward and gave a version of the strike and its causes to the bluejackets.

COAL SUPPLIES RUNNING

SHORT

Enquiries made at Wellington elicited the fact that the State Coal Department is experiencing a mild rush on its supplies, both from industrial firms and householders. On Tuesday the Department (according to the general manager, Mr W. C. Gascoigne) had about 500 tons in the local depots. How long that quantity will suffice to supply the needs ot citizens’ depeuds entirely on the demands ou it. The Department has another 1500 tons on the Poherua in the harbour.

SPECIAL CONSTABLES FROM PALMERSTON.

Members and ex-members of the Mounted Rifle Corps at Palmerston have offered themselves in response to the appeal of the Commissioner of Police for special constables with horses for service in Wellington in case of need. The men are largely sous of farmers, and have their own horses. In all they total about 20 men. A special train is being held in readiness to convey the men and horses to Wellington.

HELP FROM WAIRARAPA

Masterton, Oct, 28

Twenty-eight horses were tailed from Wairarapa to Wellington today for the rise of the police, and scores more horses are under offer. There is great indignation throughout the district at the prolongation of the strike, which is calculated to seriously affect the butter industry. Men are to be enrolled tomorrow to proceed to Wellington as tree labourers, and it Is expected that two or three huudred will be available at once.

EFFECT OF STRIKE IN WELLINGTON.

COST OF LIVING GOING UP

Wellington, Oct. 28

The result of the strike is already being felt in the shortage of the various produce and food supplies. Economy will be necessary to keep the city going over what may be a protracted famine. Enquiries to-day among the various wholesale and produce merchants showed that stocks were very low. Sugar is already nearly exhausted, and in consequence of the decision of the Supreme Court in the Sugar Trust case, wholesale merchants have deemed it unprofitable to keep stocks of this, as well as other commodities. The retail grocers are nearly out of sugar, and can only supply small quantities. The price has already been raised from 8s 6d to ns 8d per 561 b. bag. Auckland is sending some sugar, but it is understood not to have much in stock. There is a shortage also of flour, potatoes, and other produce. One of the largest dealers stated this morning that he expected to have all his stock taken away by to-morrow. He had a huudred tons or more on the water or on the wharves, but that was, of course, out of reach, owing to the strike. The cost of railing the stuff from Auckland was more than double the freight by water, and the difficulty of getting produce in the shortage would necessarily mean a big rise in prices. Possibly they would be doubted.

Weeeington, This Afternoon. Nothing special to report. This morning a number of special mounted men were stoned with road metal.

Already the prices of commodities have risen in Wellington.

There was a suspicious outbreak of fire at Stewart’s mill last evening, where batons were being turned for the police. The fire was quickly got under. The blue jackets from H.M.S. Psyche and the vessel’s stay in port are not appreciated by the strikers. Some strikers had a brush with mounted men near the post and telegraph store last night. The wool sales have been postponed. Special accommodation has been provided for men and horses coming from the country on police duty. Foodstuffs for Roua Bay per the Cobar were forcibly removed by the strikers.