The Strike is Over.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 94, 20 December 1913, Page 5

The Strike is Over.

GENERAL SATISFACTION.

SHIPPING SERVICE RESUMES. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.j Sydney, December 11). The strike is over. Following on the receipt of a cable from New Zealand notifying that the strike is officially declared off there, the conference of unionists adopted a resolution asking all delegates to inform the various unions and their branches that the strike is declared off by the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and that the embargo on New Zealand trade on the part of Australian unionists is consequently Avithdraivn. The termination of the protracted struggle has given much satisfaction, which is shared by the hulk of the unionists.

The Union Steam Ship Company advertises that the company’s boats avill resume tljeir normal running. the Maunganui w ill sail at three o clock to-morrow, and the Maheno on V ednesday.

The unionists’ conference has issued a further appeal for funds to relieve the distress caused by the strike.

Trouble over the unionists resuming work on the wharves is not anticipated.

THE SHIPPING SERVICE.

MR MASSEY’S REPLY

(Received 9.45a.m.) Sydney, December 20

Huddnrt, Parker and Co., have completed arrangements for the re-com-mission of their New Zealand steam-

Mr Massey’s reply to Mr Holman’s strike cable is now published. Mr Massey informed Mr Holman that with the exception of the coal miners and the seamen, work was being carried on almost as usual. Some thousand men had joined the Arbitration I nions, and the Government could not agree that the position of such unions should be referred to any tribunal other than the Arbitration. Court, 4 and then only when a breach of the *Act iv an agreement took place. Ihe statement concluded, usting Mr Holman to do everything possible to remove the hindrances to commerce between New South Wales ami New Zealand.

THE SEAMEN RETURN. NEW AGREEMENT SIGNED. Wellington, ■ DHtembcr 19. The strike situation was relieved -iis afternoon by the issue of an announcement, signed bv the delegates, to the conference of ' the Seamen s Union, Which has been sitting in Wellington this week, to the effect that the strike of seamen was declared off and- that the members of, the union were free'to accept work on any ships after. 4 p.m. to-day. A new agreement between the seamen and the shipowners was signed this evening. It provides that on the agreement being arrived at the Minister *of Marine be requested to reinstate the Shipping Act, which was suspended by bis authority. Wages and conditions of work arc to be as in the agreement dated Wellington, January 14. 1912, subject to minor alterations. The now agreement is to run till December 31,1916, and is to lie registered by the Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin branches of the Seivhien’s Union under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act As far as possible, the men will be reinstated in their old postions, but the. union undertakes that all qualified men engaged on ships since October 22 shall be permitted to join any branch of the union on payment of the i usual fees.

It is expected that by to-mororw night the re-manning of all ships requiring hands will be completed, and the various services will be running under normal conditions thenceforth. The Federation of Labor conference is now in its eighth day. and is believed to be still in session, but no pronouncement is forthcoming so far from that quarter.

ENTERTAINING THE SPECIALS. Auckland, December 20. Over 1000 special constables were entertained at the Town Hall last night by the Citizens’ Defence Committee, the mayor presiding. Major Lusk, who took a prominent part in organising the specials, was presented with an illuminated address amidst prolonged and most enthusiastic cheering. A presentation was also made to the officers, specials, and farmers’ wives, who were cheered again and again. The announcement that the seamen had declared the strike oil' provoked a storm of applause and cheering.

CONVICTIONS AT FOXTON. Foxtail, December 20. Before Mr Poynt-m, S.M., yesterday E. W. Martin, secretary of tin*, focal Waterside Workers’ Union, was fined £2 and costs, in default a fortnight’s imprisonment, for calling “Sanguinary scab” to one of Levin and Co’s, employees; and Walter Walker, president of the Union, was convicted for using insulting language to a fireman on the Himitangi.