THE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 8 November 1913, Page 6

THE STRIKE.

TROUBLE ON THE WILLOCHRA

FIREMEN MOLEST ARBITRATION J STS.

STOPPAGE OK WORK

WELLINGTON, Last Night

The Arbitrationists who boarded the Willochra did not meet with a friendly reception by the firemen and some of the crew, who cried "scab!" When the work was actually .started, some of the firemen commenced to hurl lumps of coal from the deck on to the workers in the hold. Only a few missiles were thrown when work was stopped before anyone was injured. About fifty special constables were then sent for, and as they climbed the gangway they were ironically cheered by the firemen. . The speeals wore still aboard the vessel at 2 o'clock, but no further attempt had been made to handle the cargo. The firomoti threatened trouble if another "novo was made in this direction.

AUCKLAND PRECAUTIONS

(By Telegraph — Tress Association.) AUCKLAND,' Last Night, A hundred Justices of the Peace assembled at tho Court this morning, presided over bv Mr Kettle, senior S.M., and Mr Cutten, S.M'. Mr Cutten explained that it -night be necessary for Justices at any moment to do their duty by reading the Riot Act, and he explained the procedure. It was not a question, of taking up a position of hostility to the strikers, but solely to protect pror perty and y aQ liVos of They should oo satisfied that the circumstances warranted tho reading of the proclamation, and exercise- wise discretion and good common sense. If the police applied fo>r the reading of the proclamation that would be a very strong reason for compliance.

Mr Kettle drew attention to sections of the Justices of the Peace Act, and the Licensing Act,*%uthorising the closing of hotels in the locality of a riot and tumult, or where such disturbances are likely to happen.

ASKED TO "TAKE A HOLIDAY."

GISBOIINE, Last Night. The local watorsiders at their ordinary .monthly meeting considered a wire from Mr W. T. Young, asking thorn to take a holiday. The meeting unanimously declined to accede to the request, and decided to continue under the present agreement, which is registered urider the Arbitration Act.

EXHIBITION WORKERS "DOWN TOOLS."

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The exhibition workmen all "downed tools" this morning, alleging that the special constables are not observing their'.undertaking to keej> away from the vicinity, and are grazing horses there.

Wellington, Last Night. In the Magistrate's Court this morning, beforo Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., Edmund Barlow, previously convicted of theft, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment tor throwing stones at specials. Thomas Eodgers for obscene language, and Patrick Daly on a similar charge, were sentenced to fdurteen days' imprisonment. Several others. were remanded oh bail of £BO, the bail being increased, to" £IOO in tha case of a .man who was alleged* to have been prominent in ihei riot in front of "Wliitcombe and Tombs' ehon.

THE POLICE FORCE

REPUDIATE IMPUTATION AGAINST THEM.

WILLOCHRA CARGO BEING WORKED.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. \ A largely-attended meeting of police passed a resolution repudiating ' the imputations of disloyalty or shirking by the general body of constables, and courted an uequiry and proper punishment if any were convicted on the evidence. * The remainder of the racehorees for ' Christchurch -were shipped the Maunganui this afternoon. Therewas no molestation. ' , A cargo of butter is being shipped j on the Moana by" arbitrationists. I Work has been resumed on the Wil- ' loclira, and four gangs of arbitrationists are now discharging her cargo. Tho firemen deny that they threw, coal, an<f sfty it was others on board Whq did, it, 1

VARIOUS ITEMS

MEETING OF TRADES UNIONS

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT INDIGNANT.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Sergt.-Major Thompson, who was struck on the head with a stone in tho riot at tho barracks, was able to leave tho hospital to-day. The other, injured men are progressing satisfactorily. Work has been started on tho Moana, from Sydney, for San Francisco. A meeting of unions affiliated with the Trades Council will be held tonight, at the request of the Federation of Labour. Messrs G. W. Russell, member for Avon, and Robertson, member for Ota.ki, were very indignant this morn-

ing when they wore stopped by special constables from going past a cordon guarding the wharves. The specials had orders not to allow anyone to pass unless they had got a Harbour Board pass. Subsequently orders were issued to allow members of Parliament to. pass on showing their badges.'

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA

.THE WATERSIDERS' DEMANDS

(Received Nov. 7. 9.2.") a.m.) •MELBOURNE, Nov. 7. A conference of the Steamship Owners' Association and the Waterside Workers' Federation will be held in the third week in December. In tho meantime the existing conditions will continue.

It is stated that a demand will he presented for a minimum wage of two shillings an hour for all wharf workers and three shillings an hour overtime.

"NOW IX THE STRIKE."

. • (Received Nov. 7, 8.15 a.m.) ■SYDNEY. Nov. 7. The secretary of tho Wharf.Labourers' Union has declared that whether thoy wanted to otr not, they were now in the .strike, and will have to see it through. So far as his union was concerned, New Zealand was cut off the map a.s far as cargo trade with Sydney was concerned* "If other Australian ports don't take similar action I'm a Dutchman," said the .secretary. "We are all in the .Waterside- Workers' Federation, and Melbourne can bo relied-upon to show, loyalty to fellow unionists."

PRESS COMMENT

(Received Nov. 7, 9-M *a.m.) SYDNEY. Nov. .7

The Sydney Morning Herald says the industrial upheaval in New Zealand will be memorable in more than ono respect. New Zealand is characteristically a country of new things, and, with a grim fitness, fate is* presenting there tho first exemplar of a new style of strike reserved for it; This is tho federated strike. It Is the increasingly bold and lawless expression of unionism gradually applied to the purposes of deliberate industrial warfare, and recklessly indifferent to institutions, rights and national conditions. It is the more essential, therefore, that society should systematically and earnestly prepare itself for protection in recog 1 - nition of the presence of the new and warlike -class spirit of unionism. This is work .in which the guidance of a prompt and practical policy will naturally be expected from the,., Government.