The Strike.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 14 November 1913, Page 3

The Strike.

Auckland, Wednesday. Work was proceeded with vigorously on the waterfront yesterday. A collapse of the strike is predicted in many quarters. Sensational developments are reported from Wellington. A message was received early this morning stating that three strike leaders, Robert Semple (Dominion/organiser of the Federation of Labor), Peter Fraser (well-known in Auckland), and George Bailey (Chairman at the open air meetings in Wellington) were arrested yesterday in connection with speeches made. An .entirely different atmosphere prevailed in Auckland yesterday. Work was proceeding at the wharves, and goods were carted through the streets; The noisy element was nowhere apparent, and there was a general air of confidancc in the measures taken to restore normal conditions. Goods were carted from the wharves under the protect'on of mounted escorts. The drivers were special constables licensed by city by-laws. .Foot "sp?cals" movel about, the city fr;ey in small groups, and no interference was attempted.

On?, farmer who walked the I city al ne was attacked by several men. He made such a good defence, for not only did he withstand the assault, but he actually arrested one of them and took him to the police station. A significant indication of the present position is the fact that practically all the men who struck in sympathy with . the waterside workers either applied for reinstatement or notified their former employers of their anxiety to resume work. ARREST OF STRIKE LEADERS. REMANDED FOR A WEEK. Wellington, Wednesday. The principal feature of last night's strike news was the arrest of four strike- leaders—R. Semple, Organiser of the Federation of Labor, P. Eraser, Secretary of the Social 'Democratic Party, George Bailey, Chairman of Open Air Gatherings, and H, Holland, editor of the Maori land Worker (the organ of the Federation of Labor). The first three were arrested at 10 p.m. at the railway station on their return from attending a strike demonstration at Petone. Eight detectives were engaged but there was no disturbance. Holland was arrested later at his' house.

Bail was offered for the arrested men, but could not be granted until they had appeared before a Magistrate. They therefore spent the night in the lockup. The charge against Semple is that on November 1 he incited persons to resist constables and used words implying that he would undertake if there was any shooting to shoot Inspector Cullen first.

The charge against Eraser is that on October 29 he incited resistance to the police, and suggested that the workers should help themselves to food even if a few doors had to be burst.

The charge against Bailey is that on October 29 he said that the grooms attending the horses of the Mounted Constables should be induced-to cease work, and suggested dropping a few matches or indulging in a little sabotage. / Against Holland there are four charges. On October 26 of inciting constables to commit a breach of the peace by suggesting the use of pick handles " and have a pick at the end of it"; of using similar language at the Basin Reserve, on which occasion, he mentioned, he had been sentenced to two years for sedition at Broken Hill; on November 2nd of urging, among other things, the sailors from H.M.S. Pyscbe to remember where their interests lay, and point their guns accordingly ; and that railway nun should refuse to carry, free lab. r .-rs, and a! >o that the police should te.ir off their uniforms and stand in with the strikers.