THE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 19 December 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

CONFERENCE STILL SITTING

A MINER ARRESTED.

(B« Telegraph—Preu Auociation.) WELLINGTON. Last Night.

The conference of Federation of Labour delegates, which has now been sitting for a week, is still incompleted, and the officials decline to make any statement. Edward Hunter, a miner from Westport, was arrested this afternoon on a charge of using seditious language during a speech in Wellington last Sunday,

GOAL SHORTAGE.

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

AFFECTED,

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The shortage of coal caused through the strike, haS been causing the hospital authorities some concern, and a deputation asked the Minister of Railways if he would allow the hospital needs to be supplied from the railway stocks. Mr Herries said he could not accede to the request. The mental hospital and St. Helen's Homes were being supplied, but the general hospital could only be classed as a private institution, and he suggested that "the deputation should apply to the chairman of the Citizens' Defence Committee. Hospital board members to-day expressed dissatisfaction with this answer, and the chairman announced that arrangements were being made so that a cc>al supply would be available for the* hospital.

AT LYTTELTON

CHRISTCHUBOH. Last Night.

Were it not for the special constables to bo seen and the production, of passes necessary to obtain access to the waterfront, a visitor to Lyttelton might easily remain in ignorance of the istrjke, so orderly is the town, and so briskly is work proceeding among the shipping. Although the number of special police lias been considerably reduced, there still remains to guard'the waterfront a force of over one and seventy men, of whom over sixty are mounted, and the remainder on fdot. This number will not be reduced until the present industrial crisis' is definitely settled.

DtNEDIN SEAMEN,

DECIDE TO RETDRN TO WORK

DTJNEt)IN. Last. Night. A meeting, of * theDuhedmbranch of the Seamen's IJnion- was held this afternoon, when the proposals of the governing the wording cdnditions, at present under discussion, in Wellington, were submitted for the approval of members. These proposals provided for the resumption of employment on certain terms which do not. involve a material departure from the existing agreement,, which, however, is to. be registered under the Conciliation and Arbitral tion Act. After a meeting lasting about half an hour, those present decided by an overwhelming majority (it is said by 173 votes to 4) to return to work. The meeting closed vrith cheers. . .. ,

AT WESTPOBT

~,5 , ., STOKERS <<,, ,•: . WESTPORT, Last Night., At the Police Court to-day, before Mr Simpson, J.P., Dan Alexander, a member <rf' the Westport Strike Committee, was fined £2 iind costs _or 14 days' imprisonment, for applying the word "scab" to a tycal business man. * Frank Hagen, for a similar offence, was fined lQs and costs, or 48 hours; Alexander asked for three mdnths in which to- pay, stating that he had done no .work for eight weeks, but lie was riven merely a. fortnight. Tile enrolment of special constables is going.on. bi'iskly in Westport, and it is the intention of the authorities to enrol up to 500. There is a_ strong fefeling in the mining communities to the mines, and it,is antic'pated that as soon as the shipping companies decide td send their boats to Westport there will be little or no difficulty in'"arranging coal cargoes.

AT SYDNEY.

LITTLE CHANGE REPORTED

(Received this morning, 12.35 o'clock.) SYDNEY, Dec. 18.

Two seafaring men were fined £1 or 14 days' imprisonment for offensive behaviour n6ar the wharves. It is- stated that they interfered with men leaving the Makura, after working aboard. •The delegates from the Clerks' Union at the Labour Council to-night, reported that the wharf clerks had decided not. to deal with cargo unless it was td them, by the Trolley and Draymen's Union, whose members decided recently not to cart stuff for boats trading with New Zealand. 1 The Unionistsf' Conference has been adjourned, having received no definite information from New Zealand.