THE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 November 1913, Page 6

THE STRIKE.

AN UNFOUNDED RUMOUR

(By Telegravh—Press Association.) WESTPORT, Last Night. An unfounded rumour of the intention to work shipping brought three hundred Millertoii coal miners to town this morning. On present appearances nothing will be done here in coal export till tho New Year.

WAIROA FARMERS

WAIROA. Saturday. A meeting of sheep farmers of the Wairoa district held last evening dealt with the effect of tho strike on tho law and order of tho Dominion and the crippling of trade. Maori speakers also emphasised the seriousness of the situation and their willingness to assist to break the strike. The following resolution was carried unanimously: "Tho farmers of Wairoa district wish to convey to the Government their heartiest approval of the steps taken to "Uphold tne present laws of the country, and are ready and willing to Tielp in any way should assistance be required." The Natives present expressed sympathy with tho motidn.

LABOURITES AT FOXTON

FOXTON. Last .Night. Messrs Robertson and Parry addressed a publia meeting last night on strike matters. ' Mr Parry strongly urged the local Waterside workers not to handle any shipping until the settlement of the strike. Mr Robertson dealt with the political aspect of the strike, and condemned the Government's attitude. The meeting was orderly, find cheers were given for organised;lab" our. No reference was made to the attitude of the flaxmills.

POSITION AT NAPIER

NAPIER, Last Night. . As an' outcome of a campaign by a delegation from' tho Wellington strikers, tho situation locally has undergone' some ehange. The carters passed a resolution not to handle "scab" cargo, and a, section of the watersiders also resolved not to recogniso the union formed under the Arbitration Act. The railwaymen and the Painters' Union passed resolutions of sympathy with the strikers, and condemning the action of the Government, The painters voted £25, and will make a levy of 5 per cent, weekly for strikers' dependants.

MEETING AT WANGANUI

WANGANUI, Last Night. At a meeting of the General Labourers' Union, the secretary reported having received ballot papers from. Wellington in reference to the taking of a. secret ballot as to whether the I general, labourers should "down I tools." It was resolved to return I the ballot papers, with an explanatory letter that the local branch strongly censures the general secretary for his attitude during the strike, and recommend his immediate removal from office; and also resolv- > ed that a strike levy be made to support the women and children. At a meeting of two hundred trades unionists on Sunday, Mr McLeod, organiser of the Shearers' Union, who was present, said he anticipated a long and bitter struggle. He denied that the strike was fizzling out. The meeting passed a resolution condemning the inactivity of the Government in allowing the 'employing class full control of legislative machines to crush the workers, and condemning | the action of the Government in arresting the strike leaders, and demanding an .amendment to the" Industrial Conciliation Act, the release of , the strike leaders, and the with- i, drawal of special constables. The J action of the Waterside Workers' Federation in offering affiliation to a bogus union was also condemned.

THE NEW UNION

ATHENIC READY TO SAIL,

WELLINGTON. Last Night. I The membership of the new union is ndw 700. The iMararoa is unable to accommodate any more, and the ( men working the Marere are heing housed and fed on board. The Athenic has completed coaling, and will be ready to sail to-morrow. Some slight resentment was shown when the police first cleared the j square this morning, but a display . of force, in which no one was seriously hurt, quickly suppressed it. A number of ;men tried to get on to the Taranaki Street wharf, where the Dorset was working. Mounted specials arrived promptly and scattered the unruly element.

THAMES (MINERS

THAMES, Last Night. There is .some division amongst members of the Thames Miners' Union regarding their attitude re the strike. The Karangahake branch has always entertained a friendly feeling towards the Federation of

Labour, while the Thames and other branches strongly uphold the principle of settlement of disputes by arbitration only. The recent agreement was entered into by mutual consent without the intervention of any court.. Tho Karangahake jbranch passed a motion recommending the executive to vote £IOO towards tho strikers, but the executive find that the rules forbid this, and such appropriation can only bo made after a secret ballot of tho whole union has declared) in its favour. A requisition to the executive to hold a special meeting of tho union has now been made.

POSITION IX AUSTRALIA

(Received Nov. 17, 10.35 a.c.) SYDNEY. Nov. 17. Tho New South Wales branch of the Labour Federation of Australia has forwarded a resolution to Mr Cook asking tho Federal Government to prevent ships from New Zealand com in <r to Australia, which might imperil relations in thtf industrial affairs of the Commonwealth, especially in. view of the fyiet- that employers of New Zealand 'are attempting to load the vessels by blackleg, labour. Mr Cook replied that he would be glad to learn what steps,the Federation can suggest to prevent an ■upheaval. If the Federation's letter means that tho Government should take steps'to stop or impede ordinary' commercial intercourse between New Zealand and the Commonwealth, the suggestion is ono which, even if the Government pos-sosses . the requisite power, could not 1m; entertained.

SAWMILLING INDUSTRY

200 MEN THROWN IDLE

TAIHAPE, Last Night. One of the results of the industrial troubles was evidenced by the necessity for discharging 200 sawmill hands in the district covered by the operations of the Rangitikei Saw millers' Association, due to, the falling-off in the demand for timber.