POSITION AT AUCKLAND

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 3 November 1913, Page 5

POSITION AT AUCKLAND

SHIPPING HELD UP. HUNDREDS OF FARMERS READY

ATTITUDE OF SEAMEN. AUCKLAND, Last Night. A settlement of the watersiders strike is apparently as far off as ever. Tho wharves havo been quiet today, and the men have held meetings. The Mayor has been endeavouring to arrange for a settle of the trouble, but up' to 5 o'clock to-night no word had been received of any success. Telegrams from all over the province indicate that the farmers to a man are anxious to assist in combating the strike. Five hundred niomited men from the country' are expected to camp near the city early in the week, and later a thousand more will probably arrive.

The men have perfected their picketing organisation, so that all the wharves are idle, and shipping is practically at a standstill. No attempt will be made to work the vessels in port by free labour until the police force has been strengthened sufficiently to ensure adequate protection. . Each day brings in its train mor§ and more serious consequences of the waterfront strike. Up to the present the coastal passenger services have not been interbred with. 'the Northern Steamship Company announced yesterday afternoon, however, thai a number of advertised sailings for 'the coastal ports have been abandbned. The inconvenience to towns on both the east and west coasts will, in consequence, be very considerable 'indeed. •.

Developments of interest are expected about the beginning of the week, provided a settlement is not reached.j The (barters' Union executive officials declare that while they are averse,to being drawn into the trouble, there wili be no alternative for them but to refuse to handle any goods to or from the country by rail, if. the farmers insist on coming to Auckland to assist in breaking the strike. ' " There would seem to be ,a disposition among the Auckland seamen to keep clear of the strike movement. A very strongly-worded resolution from the members of the executive of the Auckland Seamen's Union has been seut to Mr W. T. Young( warning him against any action that would involvo other branches of their Axistralian kinsmen, who are also in the Federated Seamen's Union. : i