Power of the Federation.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 52, 1 November 1913, Page 5

Power of the Federation.

Work on Dominion Wharves cease ALARMING EFFECT UPON TRADE. FREE LABOR COMMENCES MONDAY

[Per Press Assooiaiion.]

THE LIST OF CASUALTIES.

part of a minority of irresponsible labor leaders to override all law and order, and calls upon the Government to take such steps as are necessary to preserve the liberty of action of every person in the lawful and peaceful transaction of his business, feeling assured that all employers, and the vast majority of workers would strongly support any steps taken with this object.” , FOOD AND LIGHTING. Some Wellington bakers are at their wits’ end with regard to the supply of flour. Two of them have exhausted their stocks, and as further supplies are not available, owing to the stoppage of so many steamers, t.ney have been compelled to shut crown for a, time. Several other bakers anticipate having to close down next week for the same reason. During the week the coal yards in the city and suburbs have been gradually depleted, and as there are no means of replenishing stocks at present, the outlook for householders is not too promising. Carters engaged in delivering goods to the wharves for shipment by coastal steamers, during the morning, were also forced to desist one after another.

Wellington, October 31

The following is the list of casualties so far as they are ascertainable in yesterday’s street scenes: —

Sergeant O’Halloran, hit by a stone in Post Office Square; well enough today to do reserve duty at the Central Police Station.

Constable Murray, injured in the melee outside Whitcombe and Tombs’ shop, doing well in hospital, and will probably be able to leave the institution in a day or two. J. Rickets, knocked down during the charge of mounted police in the Square; shoulder dislocated, condition not serious.

W. Everest, Bristol, Morris, and Adams were also injured in the Square when the police made their charge. Adams was the man alleged to have been shot.

WATERSIDE STRIKERS NUMBER 5200. By the calling out of the Waterside Union, this particular class of worker now idle approximately numbers some 5200 men in the principal ports, as follows:—Wellington 1600, Auckland 1500, Lytetlton 900, Dunedin and Port Chalmers 900, Westport 150, Greymouth 150. MARCHING TO WELLINGTON. The party of mounted men from Wairarapa, with others picked up, making a force of 148, after leaving Petone, left the main road and made a detour in the direction, it is believed, of Johnsonville, where it is supposed they will junction with the contingent from Manawatu, and enter the city by a roundabout route. The warship Psyche to-night played a searchlight along the Hutt Road and hills overlooking, which are held by the strikers’ pickets, waiting' frtf die approach of any parties of constables or free laborers who may attempt to enter the city by that way. A QUIET AND WET DAY.

All the shipping companies discharged their liabilities to the men to-day for all work done before the strike. The total amount distributed was less than £6OO, and as the funds of the union do not greatly exceed £2OO. there is a strike fund of only £BOO for support of a membership claimed to exceed 1000. The Strike Committee has decided to expend all the common funds in purchasing the necessaries of life for the relief of distressed members.

POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT. Conferences have been held almost continuously between the Mayor and representatives of the Harbor Board, police, Farmers’ Hnion and Chamber of Commerce, with a view to determining the best means of meeting the situation. As a result, Mr Parr has stated that he was able to say that if necessary an organisation could be called upon in a few days whose strength would make disorder impos-iible-fK: ".|C ORGANISED FREE LABOR. f • ' ' - V t. ... ' \ I Steps are being taken to organise a force of two thousand men who will undertake any duties which they may be allotted. Offers are being received hourly, and two thousand men have been offered by the Waikato farmers. Offers of assistance have also been received from other centres. The assembling of farmers will be commenced at the beginning of next week. The present intention is that before this body of men enters Auckland, a deputation from them will approach the Strike Committee with conciliatory proposals. A canvass of the city was made to-day with the result that, within a few hours, 600 citizens offeied their services to the Mayor foi work upon the wharves, or lor duty as special constables. A ROUGH HANDLING. In connection with the case in which a rough handling was meted out to a Wellington South resident, it appears that the man went down to the Post Office Square last Saturday morning, although ho had not worked on the wharf and was not a “scab,” as he had been termed. He was well known to most of the strikers, but after asserting that he did not believe in strikes, he was attacked by the mob and received a severe handling. According to a statement by the man’s wife, ho was in a terrible condition when he arrived home, having been severely bruised about the head ns a result of the maltreatment. The man’s, condition became so bad that he had to he taken to the mental hospital. WORKERS' MANIFESTO.

Matters along the waterfront and in the city were quiet to-day. Only a few police were in evidence, and noire of these were mounted. Post Office Square was less patronised by the general, public, though a number of people congregated here and there, and in the latter part, of the afternoon they were occasionally addressed by the Labor leaders. The only excitement was provided by rushes towards Lambton Railway -Station, as a result of rumors that free laborers were arriving by train ; but in each case those who had anticipated some frolic with invaders, were disappointed. About four o’clock rain began to fall, and this had the effect of thinning out the crowds in the streets.

THE LAST RESORT. What it will moan if the militia have to be called out was strongly emphasised by Colonel Heard, actingComamndant of the forces, in an interview with a reporter to-day. Colonci Heard had been approached with a question as to the truth of a rumor that the permanent forces bad been called on to serve in the strike disturbances. “It is an absolute lie,”, said the Colonel. “The men are well disciplined, and I have perfect trust in them, but the military will not be called out except in the very last resource, when the rioters have taken control and cannot be dealt with by the civil authority. Many people dr not realise the seriousness of the position when the military are called out. I have seen it in Ireland, and know what it means, and that is only as a last emergency that it should be used. If soldiers and sailors come out they do not come out and be police as some people seem to think, simply to look on. They come out as soldiers, with rifles, ball cartridges and bayonets, and they come out to shoot if called on by the civil powers to do so. Some people seem to regard the military as bloodthirsty, and think we like this work. We . do not. We hate it. We do not want to shoot anybody except our country’s enemies. We are as humanitarian as other people, and more so 'than many who have not seen warfare as we have, and who do not realise what it means. But if the rioters are beyond control of the civil authority and take charge, and life and property are in danger, then, and then only, action must be taken by the military, and we have to fight with the weapons placed in our hands.”

The following are the main portions of the statement issued to-day hy the Waterside Workers’ Union; “The Union lias agreed to resume work under the old agreement, to maintain the status quo of wages and conditions, but the employers demand the abolition of the union, the abrogation of the agreement, and the denial of the waterside workers as a whole to organised into one union. The Shipwrights’ Society had been in receipt of travelling time, or provision of a conveyance in lieu thereof, ever since the slip was built. The company in this instance docked their travelling time, without even reporting its intention to do so to the Shipwrights’ Society. The claims of this Society were then forwarded to the various employers concerned, and an advance of Id per hour was offered, with conditions of work greatly inferior to what had already been in existence. The shipwrights were successful in coming

KEEPING LAW AND ORDER. At the annual meeting of the Corporation of New Zealand Industrial Association to-day, the following resolution was adopted: “That tin’s conference views with concern the evident desire and attempt on the

to an agreement with the shipowners, and the matter was next brought before a general meeting of the union, at which two hundred men were present. A meeting next morning occupied one hour and twenty minutes. No drastic action was taken at the meeting. On the contrary, the matter of the shipwrights’ dispute was handed over to the Federation ot Labor for further negotiations with the employers. The men who left work to attend the meeting found their (places filled by others. Eepresenta- | tions were then made to the oinployI ers that this course of action would immediately cause trouble, and a request was made that the work should go on until the matter was brought before the local committee for settlejment. Instead of taking this course, 1 the employers throw down the gauntI let and tore up the agreement. The I number of cases in which employers I have been charged with breach of : agreement (vide Labor Department’s i report) were 436, whereas the emiployees’ breaches were 136. The 'committee sanctions no rioting and no j disorder. The men are "determined to win, with the assistance of all the workers in New Zealand if necessary. GETTING READY FOR MONDAY. It is announced to-night that no attempt will he made to work the ships by free labor before Monday. WELLINGTON PROGRESS REPORT i Wellington, November 1. Things are again quiet on the waterfront this morning.

The men held a meeting in the Harbour Board waiting room, hut the result has not yet transpired. The Victoria arrived and left two hours later for Dunedin, where she will be laid up, as she has no more coal.

More mounted specials have arrived from Manawatu.

AUCKLAND STRIKERS IN COM MAND OF SITUATION.

Auckland, October 31

Systematic intimidation was employed by an organised force of strikers this morning to prevent the handling of cargo on the waterfront. During nearly three hours a company, which varied from IQO to 200 men, patrolled tho wharves and compelled the steamers’ crews to cease work, carters to leave the wharves, and all work to stop. This exercise of authority which the strikers have assumed was under the observation of the police, but' as only a few constables were stationed on each wharf no attempt was made to oppose the strikers’ actions.

A policy of complete suspension of all shipping activity was commenced at eight o’clock.

Shortly before nine o’clock a company of about 150 strikers marched on to Hobson Wharf, where the Wevtralia was berthed. One of the leaders announced that only passengers and luggage would be permitted to be landed, and warning was given that if free labor was introduced to handle the cargo the strikers would not accept the responsibility for the result. Mr Canham declared that at the beginning of the strike he urged that the removal of any cargo from the wharves should he opposed. The majority considered that there should be no attempt at interference with the cargo discharged into the sheds before the strike, but he intended to propose that even that exemption should be withdrawn after to-day. After this demonstration no further work was done either here or at any of the other wharves, in every instance the threat of violence conveyed by the crowd being realised.

THE AUCKLAND CARTERS. A THREAT TO FARMERS. Auckland, November 1. Mr Davis, secretary of the Carters’ Union, states that if farmers invade the town and attempt to break the strike the carters will refuse to handle any goods for farmers to or from the railway stations. The Northern Steamship Co. announce that owing to the disorganisation of the service on the west coast the departure of steamers announced to leave Onehunga is postponed indefinitely; also that the trips to Whangarei on Sunday, to Paeroa today, and to Russell on Monday are postponed. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S POSITION. Auckland, November 1. Replying to a tele'gram of protest from the Auckland merchants regarding his speech in the House, Sir Joseph Ward denies havirig sympathy with the lawbreakers. He says: “One satisfactory result is that the mounted constables were withdrawn yesterday, and Wellington is absolutely quiet. If politics had been introduced into strike discussions, it had not have been bv himself.’’

IN CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, October 31. A rise of six shillings per ton is expected from the coal merchants generally, in view of the comparative Iwness of stocks. It is estimated that there is on hand in Christchurch at present only sufficient coal for all purposes to last a fortnight. Orders for one ton have had to bo cut down to a quarter of a ton. It is understood that the retailers are limiting the amount of sugar sold to parcels of six pounds.

Messrs J, M. Hey wood and Co., carriers, have found it necessary to give general notice to the drivers employed by the firm that their services may bo dispensed with.

At Aul sebrook and Co.’s hands are being shortened in some depart-

ments, and to-morrow the services of about twenty employees will bo temporarily dispensed with. SEAMEN AND FIREMEN. Shortly after midday it was ascertained from a reliable source that there is every possibility of the seamen aid firemen coming out to-mororw. This morning one of the -Maori’s ioainen wired to Mr Belcher for advice, aid received the following reply:— ‘Large and representative meeting aist night decided that nothing should ie done in the way of a call-out of seamen. We, at Dunedin, have no knowledge of any movement in that lirection, and advice from here is to idhere to your employment until some general action is decided upon. Who aithorised the call ? —Belcher.”

Throughout the morning the ferry steamer Maori was bunkered by the lermanent staff of the Union Com>any. Stores were placed on both the Maori and Ulimaroa without any effort icing made to stop them.

THE LYTTELTON WHARVES.

Christchurch, November 1

An advertisement appeared in the morning papers inviting persons willing to accept work on the wharves co apply to the offices of the Employers’ Association. A few applied, but -here was no considerable response. It is stated that some country hands, mostly farmers’ sons, are prepared to .•omo into town if required, but nothing definite has been done. Lyttelton contains very little shipping at the present time, and most if the strikers will be unemployed in 1113' case. The Carters’ Union meets to-night .0 consider the position. Members jmployed by the large carrying firms have already received a week’s notice in view of the possibility of the goods traffic ceasing. Pickets are busy at Lyttelton,where any movement was closely watched. The Wahine has arrived, and the company is attempting to secure firemen from another boat. It is stated that the attempt to use permanent hands in the engine room will bring other men out, and prevent the boat going north to-night, but the Company expect to overcome the difficulty.

The strikers have consented to allow the harbour dredge to take coal from the hulk otherwise dredging would have to cease.

CONSTABLES FROM CARTERTON. Carterton, November 1. About a hundred men, witn horses and gear, left at 8 o’clock in a special train for Wellington to-day as free labourers and special constables. WAIKATO ON SHORT RATIONS. * Hamilton, November 1. Tire Auckland strike is affecting the Waikato food supplies. Sugar and flour has risen £3 per ton, while there is a shortage of potatoes. The stores are limiting purchasers to lolbs of sugar and 501bs flour. SPECIAL CONSTABLES. Marton, October 31. At a meeting called by the Farmers.’ Union, over - a dozen farmers’ sons and employees were enrolled as special constables for Wellington, and several as laborers. Very short notice was given, and it is fully expected that over one hundred will be available by Monday. The constables will leave to-mor-row afternoon.

STRIKE BREAKERS FROM FEILDINC. Feilding, November 1. r J'he Farmers’ Union at an organis’d meeting yesterday appealed for men and horses for special duty at Wellington. The Feilding Show Association last night urged supporters to give every help to the Government to maintain arder. ENROLLING SPECIALS. NEW PLYMOUTH SECTION. New Plymouth, November 1. The executive of the Employers’ Association met this morning and decided to call a public meeting this afternoon of town and country people to take steps to enrol special constables and, if necessary, free labourers. AUSTRALIA STANDING BY. WAITING DEVELOPMENTS. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.! Sydney, October 31. The secretary of the Wharf Laborers' Cnion states that lie is unable to make any statement with regard to the New Zealand trouble till after the union’s meeting on Wdeensday night. The secretary of the Australasian Federation of Labor considers flint there is no immediate likelihood of the Federation being affected, hut the executive is closely watching developments in New Zealand. He added that the action of the farmers’ sons in replacing strikers was calculated to lead to a resort to force on both sides. The feeling of Australian unionists is strongly averse to handling any goods that they might regard as “black.”

JOTTINGS.

ALL LEAVE STOPPED

All the Government officials have

been warned to hold themselves in readiness to protect Government property. The warders at the Xew Plymouth Gaol have been instructed that

until the strike lias been settled all leave will be stopped. CALL FOR SPECIAL CONSTABLES. Only one man in New Plymouth and two in Waitara have responded so far to the Police Department’s call for “specials.” OKATO SETTLERS’ RESOLUTION. A meeting of settlers of the Okato district was held at Okato last night to consider the strike. It was resolved, by a unanimous vote: “That in any measures the Government may deem necessary for the protection of the trade and commerce of the country, this meeting assures the Government of its loyal and unwavering support.” A copy of the resolution will he forwarded to the Prime Minister.

SPECIAL CONSTABLES. STRATFORD’S CONTRIBUTION. Six men, each with a horse, left by the 10 o’clock train this morning for Wellington to act as special constables in connection with the strike. The pay for special constables is ten shillings per day, stabling and feed for the horses and board and lodging for the men being provided free. EFFECT ON COMMODITIES. Mr J. Masters, interviewed this morning, said that at present his firm had no intention of raising prices for any commodities as a result of the strike. Sugar and flour were very hard to get, and since the strike there had been a run on them, but a rule had been made that only small quantities were to be sold to any one person. For instance, a party who yesterday ordered six bags of sugar was only supplied with one bag. Motor spirit was another lino in which a scarcity could he looked for. Motor car owners had approched him for large supplies, but the same rule had to he applied to them—the wants of milking machine owners and other users had to be considered. Mr Masters said that so far as his firm was concerned no increase in retail price was contemplated unless the wholesale price was increased—unless the strike continuing, increased freight had to be paid on goods. If the strike continues long the stock of old potatoes may be exhausted and residents be compelled to buy new potatoes from the Auckland district.