SERIOUS POSITION AT AUCKLAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 November 1913, Page 5

SERIOUS POSITION AT AUCKLAND.

A GENERAL STRIKE CALLED

SIX THOUSAND MEN OUT,

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST LAW-

LESSNESS.

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The long threatened general strike has eventuated.

Yesterday the waterside strike extended to the carpenters, bricklayers, painters, carters, construction work employees, coal miners, general labourers, and cooks and waiters.

Other unions are stated to have indicated to the Strike Committee that they are ready to join issue and, amongst these is mentioned" the gasworks employees. In other trades men are idle because o7 shortage in coal. Tramwaymen to the number of 750 are amongst those out of work. It is estimated that approximately 5000 men are on strike, ancl that with the tramwaymen and employees in other trades which are idle, the number out of work totals nearly 6000.- v

The general strike was precipitated by the arrival on the waterfront at daylight yesterday morning of 800 special constables.

The unions above enumerated had carried resolutions confirming their intention of coming out the moment that the special constables arrived on the waterfront. Consequently/ when the men belonging to the various union arrived'at their places of occupation, word was given to cease work.

The men went out on the passive I resistance and proceeded straight to the Trades Hall, where a Central Strike Executive was set up to conduct strike affairs, after which the great majority of the men quietly dispersed. it is understood that the leader made a strong plea that the men on strike should avoid aggressive tactics, and keep out of any street disturbances.

The arrival of special police oai the waterfront wa« carried out in accordance with" a very well arranged plan of campaign. Three hundred men spent the night at tho Drill Hall, and at five o'clock started out for the Queen's wharf.

These men arrived at the foot of Queen street simultaneously with detachments of 500 "specials" from the mounted camp at the Domain, and they, took possession of the waterfront without hindrance.

Formidable bftr&cafles were at onco erected Yfgllt across the city end of tlie Queen y s whavf. ; Throughout tho moriiltig strong "detachments of mounted fclfeil allowed the crowd no nearer to the waterfront than the Central Post Office.

Ferry traffic was diverted to the Hob son street and King's wharf, so that in tho vicinity of Queen's wharf there was no occasion for traffic.

During the. morning seven of the Northern Company's boat? were berthed and worked at tho wharf. An interested crowd of spectators Stood and watched the proceedings throughout the day. / No "free labour," in the unionist sense of the term, is being employed on the wharves.

It is announced that adequate ceasures are to be taken 'for the protection of the city day and night. One thousand special constables will bo billeted nt the Drill Hall, and the big tshed on the Queen's wharf, and at two other places in the heart of tho city. Four hundred mounted men *will be within call of the waterfront day and night. At the direction of the Magistrates of the city, all the hotels in Auckland are closed 1 .

A collection of pepper and sand, iron pipe, batons (loaded in some •cases with nails), wire, and other gear was found in tho watersiders' rooms When searched by the police.

Last Night the city was quiet, and to-day, numerous unions on strike gathered, flind march to the Domain to hold a mass meeting.