THE STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1168, 6 November 1913, Page 2

THE STRIKE.

E M PLOYE NIK ESTO

UNIOISM UPHELD

Wku.ington, Yesterday,

The Wellington Employers’ Committee issues the following manifesto in regard to the Waterside Workers’ strike ;

The Wellington Employers’ Committee, while regretting the failure of negotiations to settle the unfortunate strike, intimates that it cannot see its way to enter into any agreement with any organisation which refuses to register under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

“The employers throughout have been ready to resume operations at rates of pay and under the general working conditions which obtained at the time of the strike, with a stipulation that the new agreement should be made for a term of years and should be registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and they regret that the delegates from the Waterside Workers’ Union positively declined to entertain the proposal. “ The Act provides for disputes regarding the interpretation of agreements, etc. to be adjudicated by Stipendiary Magistrates with appeal to the Arbitration Court and is the only means provided by law by which power is given to decide disputes between parties to industrial agreements or awards, and to impose penalties tor any breaches which may be committed by either side. “The Committee, speaking in the name of the employers of the Dominion, intimates that employers are more than willing at all times to deal direct with organised unions which are prepared to undertake that if the the parties to any industrial dispute cannot agree to the terms of settlement, that the matters in dispute shall be settled under the conditions provided by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and the decision so secured shall be loyally accepted by both sides.

“As it is essential that the trade of the Dominion should be carried on it has been decided that workers who are prepared to subscribe to the above conditions shall be employed forthwith under fully adequate protection and to guarantee a continuance of employment after the present trouble is over, and those who perform their duties satisfactory. “Ordinary current rates of pay for waterside workers will be given and in Wellington uutil normal conditions prevail, satisfactory accommodation will be provided free of charge and a minimum wage of £2 los per week will be guaranteed by the shipping companies. “As labour is urgently required applications for employment should be made to the various shipping companies without delay.’’

MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD.

LOYAL TO THEIR MASTERS,

WON’T COME OUT

Wellington, Yesterday.

The fellowiug resolution was passed at a meeting ot the Merchant Service Guild this atteruoon: “That the members of the Merchant Service Guild view with regret the statements in the press with reference to their attitude in refusing to work with free labour, and at a largely attended meeting to-day decided to refute the statement most emphatically, and to state that we have not the slightest intention ot doing otherwise than remain loyal to our respective masters,”

THIS MAORI’S FIREMEN

Wellington. Yesterday

The Lyttelton ferry steamer Maori got away soon after 8 o’clock without any trouble. Capt. Manning, when seen, said he anticipated no (rouble with the firemen, of whom there was a full complement.

Some firemen from the Wabiue stood about saying unkind things about the Maori’s men.

One of the Maori’s firemen, when asked if there was any likelihood of their following Wahine men’s example, replied : “Not on your oath. Belcher’s the man we’re following,”

MORE DISTURBANCES.

REVOLVER SHOTS

TWO ARRESTS,

Buckle Street was the centre of more disturbances on Tuesday night. The fact that the special constables are quartered in the Mount Cook barracks seems to draw an ugly crowd to the vicinity. It must be said, however, that the crowd does not consist of strikers. There were probably no more than 20 of them at Tuesday night’s scenes.

A great number of those who congregated at the street corners in this part of the town are, according to the police authorities, nothing more than idlers, some of whom are well-known to the police. All day the mounted constables and permanent guards at the corner of Buckle and Taranaki Streets were subjected to abuse. The vilest epithets were hurled at them, and a stone or two were thrown in the afternoon, fortunately with no evil effects. In the evening, however, matters became decidedly worse. At 8 p.m. a big crowd had collected at the corner of Taranaki

and Abel Smith Streets, and stones again flew. The violence of the previous evening threatens to be repeated, and on several occasions a squad of mounted regular police found it necessary to turn their horses to the crowd and clear the street.

At 8 p.m. it was that matters took a serious turn. A window of the Royal Tiger Hotel was shattered by half a brick. Almost immediately afterwards from the top of a building near by two shots were fired from a revolver towards the crowd. No one was hurt, but some of those present declared that they heard the bullets strike a bouse on the opposite side of the street. There was a great scampering of the crowd from the spot with the mounted police behind urging them away, but two minutes later the corner was again packed with people. Investigations were immediately made as to the origin of the shooting, but although a man was found with a revolver near the hotel, it was not definitely proved who was the culprit.

After the excitement of this incident had been done, stone throwing was again resorted to. The crash of broken glass was heard frequently, and the windows of the hotel received further damage. Every now and again the crowd would jeer at the police, and detonators were thrown under the horses’ feet.

Some slight injuries were inflicted by stones. One young man, Albert Hay, a tailor, living in Abel Smith street, had the back of his left hand badly lacerated by half a brick.

A notber man received a nasty gash in the cheek from a piece of glass, which was thrown from the crowd.

This type of missile was frequently used last night, and it was fairly evident that the police were the targets. At 9 p.m, the arrest of two men caused some diversion. Archibald Campbell, a middle-aged man, was arrested tor being in possession of a murderous-looking weapon—an xßin. length of lead pipe of formidable thickness. The business end of the weapon was bent clumsily and closed, and the pipe itself was loaded with lead. The other man was Robert Hill, who was taken __ in charge for allegedly assaulting a constable on duty. [The men have been remanded till the rath. Bail was refused.]

THE SHEARERS’ UNION.

A statement in regard to the position of the shearers was made late on Tuesday afternoon by the secretary, Mr M, Latacy. He said they had been waiting anxiously for a settlement of the strike during the last week. He bad received numerous telegrams from shearers all over the Dominion, asking if they should strike. He had advised them not to, but now it was finally stated that they would not get a settlement. He had sent the following telegrams to the secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, Sydney i “Keep shearers and all labour away from Maorilaud. A fight to a finish here. —Laracy.”

A previous telegram had been \ sent preparing the Sydney men for 1 this, to the executive ot the Shearers’ Association, conveying the following motion, which he would move:— “That the shearers continue work and that a strike levy ot per week, and general hands ss, while in work during the strike time. Fighting to a hnish here.” To all the shed representatives throughout New Zealand : “Keep going and pay the levy. Our mates will require it all, and don’t take notice of Mulga wires. Laracy.”

RACEHORSES SHIPPED.

POLICE ATTACKED

SEVERAL WOUNDED

(By Telegraph.) Wellington, Thursday. Another sortie took place yesterday afternoon, the scene being the vicinity of the Government Buildings.

A column of about. a thousand special constables had ridden down from the barracks in Featherston Street, and were greeted by an attack with sticks and stones.

The mounteds were on their way to the railway wharf to protect a line so that racehorses for the New Zealand Cup meeting, which were isolated at Trentham as a result of the strike, could be shipped on the Mangauui. The Federation of Labour decided to allow the horses to go south, but the notice was hardly posted, when the specials appeared in Willis Street.

At the Post Office corner they were met by a large crowd who commenced a fusilade, which was kept up en route. Several charges ensued and five or six on both sides were injured by batons or stones. Many sought refuge an d a man who entered the gate at the Government buildings was followed by a stone which hit him on the back of the head and knocked him senseless-

As a result of stone throwing generally, five men and a woman - were arrested.

After a few charges by the mounteds, the trouble subsided and the troops returned to barracks about eight o'clock.

There is no indication of an immediate cessation of the collisions which occur every time the special police make a public appearance*

XATER PARTICULARS

LIST OF CASUALTIES. FIELD HOSPITAL ESTABLISHED. FREE LABOUR TO UNLOAD

ATHENIC

To-day, 10.20 a.m

Tweney patients were at the barracks on Wednesday night as a result of injuries in addition to at least five others who are known to be hurt at the Lambton Quay police station. Fifteen special constables were attended for minor injuries. A field hospital was established next to the railway offices by the ambulance corps and fourteen cases were treated during the afternoon.

An attempt to load the Atheuic by free labour is expected to-day.

MR ROSE’S MILL HANDS.

RETURN TO WORK

In our last issue we gave particulars of the intention ol Mr Rose’s mill hands to cease work as a result ol one of his employees —a cutter having volunteered for special police work. A meeting of the employees engaged at the mill was held on Tuesday night, at which the secretary of the Union was present. It was finally agreed that work should be resumed and Mr Rose was so informed after the meeting. It is satisfactory to know that the matter has been amicably settled.