AFFAIRS AT AUCKLAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 4 November 1913, Page 5

AFFAIRS AT AUCKLAND.

A GENERAL STRIKE FEARED, ORGANISATION OF FARMERS.

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Negotiations are still in progress with a view to bringing about a settlement of the strike. Strong hopes were entertained yesterday that the Mayer's intercession would bear fruitful to-day. I* anticipation cf a lt-sal agreement, »eeti«g« w«ro aTrstvgpsd ftr am early h«ur •tfcis »«rnin£. Tlie *e#p v tiati«n», however, had £• lie sihspentled as a result of a telegram sent fey Mr te the Mayor last evening, asking tk-at nothing be done in Auckland, pending an endeavour in Wellington this morning to settle the strike as it applies to the Dominion as & whole. ;ln. tbe event of there not being a" settlement, it is expefcted that,, the ; trouble will spread, and all labourers are likely to join issue by striking to-morrow. Urgent meetings of different unions are being called for to-night and to-morrow night. The opinions expressed by union secretaries at the Trades Hall this morning tend towards the belief that the trouble will spread generally if country assistance is brought to break the strike. Despite the negotiations for peace, the organisation work is proceeding* rapidly with a view to bringing into existence a large "force of special constables.

This morning the enrolment of special constables commenced and throughout the morning Mr Cutten, S.M., was briskly engaged on this work. Young men were arriving in squads to be sworn in, and by three o'clock this afternoon it was estimated that 500 special constables had been sworn in for the protection of property and the protection of free labour in Auckland. The Farmers' Union Executive, ever since Tuesday last, has been, with Che assistance of its branches, actively engaged in organising special mounted forces in the country .die-'. trjctSi ami "men .'.'to ,4ct'.as free' lab-;, ouiors on the. wharves, '■ " / : .; ; j >'.'..'.WitlnX a; few. dayf the' ■ FatmerV j Union bjelieyeS" it can. have a,' force." of i Iwl) men in the city. ' ..." ', ''

[ All through the - country districts I public meetings are being held, at which offers of assistance are coming forward. Meetings of city merchants and business men were held this afternoon, and arrangements made for establishing a fighting fund for the protection of business interests. The wharves are idle. The Maheno arrived l from Sydney yesterday with considerable "cargo, and is timed to return to Sydney this evening; Presumably tho steamer will have to take her cargo back to New South Wales ports. Out of twelve of the Northern Company's steamers advertised to ■sail to-day for coastal ports, only four will run to time'tablo.