POSITION AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 21 November 1913, Page 5

POSITION AT CHRISTCHURCH.

STRIKERS ON THE LOOK-OUT. PREPARING FOR A GOOD "GO." CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The strike has now completed its •third week. The position at Lyttelton to-day was unaltered, and everything was quiet. i Crowds of strikers and out-of-work seamen and firemen w,ere gathered about the Post Office cornea- and railway gates, in consequence of their belief that specials were arriving at the port at 2 o'clock this morning. A large number of strikers and others stayed up all night, and posted themselves at various strategic positions, which specials would have to pass to enter the town. £Fo specials arrived, however. The Maori arrived from Wellington at 7.25 a.m., and berthed a few minutes later. Her passengers and mails were landed without any trouble. About 200 strikers gatheredrin the. vicinity of the Post Office, and 1 under orders .from their leadens they formed into a procession and marched to the Oddfellows' Hall in Winchester street, where the usual meeting was held. . The only steamer working cargo in Lyttelton to-day was the Northern, which is making good progress with the discharge of her general merchandise. The Northern is expected to complete the discharge of the Lyttelton portion of her cargo, by, Saturday night, when she will' sail for Dunedin. The steamer Defender made a start this afternoon to unload her cargo of timber. The captain and officers passed the timber up from the ship to railway hands in the truck, and there was no interference'by the strikers, v A number of racehorses and a truck of stores were shipped by the Maori. Woi'k at the Northern proceeded uninterruptedly. It is rumoured in port that the •strikers intend vo give the special constables "one good go" when they arrive. No word ,has been received in Lyttelton as yet as to when they will come. Ballots of members of the Christchurch Tramway Employees' Union on the questions o? illation to the United Federation 'of 'Hiabour arid to the Social .Democratic Party resulted in both proposals being negatived. Of 230 papers sent out 198 were returned voting on the question of affiliation to the United Federation of Labour, the voting was: For, 80; against, 118; majority against, 38. On the question of affiliation to the Social Democratic Party, the voting was: For, 88; against, 110; majority against, 22. < ' With the exception of an odd two or three dismounteds, there were no large additions this morning to the showgrounds camp; but a large detachment from Waimate, Timaruy and North Canterbury will reach it this evening. ■'•'., ,' ' The horses in camp wero examined, and valued this ! morning. Throughout Canterbury it is reported thaVrocruits are* coming.