GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 9

GENERAL STRIKE NOTES.

Youthful Stono-thiowers. A regrettable, feature of tho stonethrowing incidents of the past few days has been tho number of boys in Knickerbockers among tho crowds. In i'eathcrston Street yesterday afternoon somo of those who weret filling their po:kets with stones woro mere boys. Registration Question. In -view of the attitude taken by the employers at tho recent conference when t-ney insisted on any agreement with tho watersiders being registered under tho Arbitration Act, it is interesting to note tho attitude of tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) on that question. Mr. Luke is emphatic in his opinion that the employers had right on their side. "Tho Arbitration Act,''' ho points out, "was demised for tho purpose of promoting a good relationship between employers and "mployees, as a means of settling disputes. It provides a proper Court where tho two parties can come together and get the stability of tho Stato in tho settlement of differences. The men who are out on strike have refused to bo associated with the Arbitration Court, and consequently, to my mind, they are a body of freo labourers, with no right to interfere with others who desire to work on tho

wharves. It is a case for freedom of contract all round if tire Arbitration Act is excluded." Julus Knight Company. In consequence of tlio dislocation of shipping, the Julius Knight Company's season terminated at Auckland with last night's performance. The company will proceed to Wellington by. Thursday's Main Trunk express to connect with the steamer, for Sydney. "Render Recurrences Impossible." A meeting of dairy farmers from the Manawatu, Rangitikei, and Hawke-'s Bay districts was held on tho Palmerston North Show Grounds yesterday, says our special reporter. it was resolved: "That this meeting of dairy farmers deplores tho present paralysing position that has been brought about in regard to the productions of tho Dominion by the strike now in progress, and tho similar one of last year, and urges upon the Government the immediate necessity of introducing legislation that will rondor their recurrence impossible." A copy of tho resolution was telegraphed to the Primo Minister. Ambulance Treats Fourteen Cases. The St. John Ambulance Brigade had a busy time yesterday afternoon, as the result of tho melee between tho strikers and tho mounted special constables in the vicinity of tho railway offices. No fewer than fourteen cases were treated by the brigade, under tho direction of Captain Keennn, of the Railway Corps. Quiet at Mount Cook. Last night was easily the quietest night recorded at Mount Cook since the special constables .took up their quarters there. The place was comparatively clear the whole night, and by 11 p:m. _ tho conditions were such that thoy' aro normal. A Little Strategy Wanted. It has been suggested that the mounted special _ constables could bo much more effectively used if they wero divided' up into sections of 25 or 50, and so handled as.to make it possiblo to take the bands of stone-throwers and rioters in the rear. Yesterday, for .instance, it only required a small section to make a detour now and again to liavo caught tho stone-throwers in Stout Streot between two forces of mounted men. A little strategy of this kind I would quickly demoralise tho rioters, most of whom have no stomach for real trouble at close quarters.

The Conference. We have received a great many communications expressing satisfaction at the attitude of tho employers' representatives at tlio recent conference in insisting 011 a form of agreement which would ensure some guaranteo against constant breaches. The general impression appears to be that tho record of the Federation of Labour and tlie utterances of its leaders left tho employers' representatives no alternative in tho matter. . Horses Sent to Riccarton. Following is tho list of horses shipped to Christchurch aboard tho Maun<ranui last niglit:—Football, Downham, Sea link, Ventura, Culprit, Tatterle.Vj l 1 rencli Rose, Patronale, Haskayno, Hymettius, Hyettus, Peary, Witched Altcar, The Haguo, Undecided, Lady Moutoa, Lord Renown, Ariom, Kaniki Bonny Helen, Ardent, Princess Moutoa, Imarose. Kingsway, Brocade, Glennnnan, Autumnus, Crown Pearl, Royal Anns, Sanguinary, Wahino. Mr. Young and the Spocial Men. While tho racehorses wero being shipped on board tho Maungs.nui yesterday Mr. \v. T..Young, president of'the Federation of Labour, was a spectator. Ho "forwards. movG d on towards tho head of tlio Railway Wharf, where a squad j mo ' ,n^ec l special constables waß posted. Some dialogue ensued. "Look here you fellows," said Mr. Young. "If you would only leave tho town this strike would be settled in a day." "Oh wo've only got your word for that, you know, was tho reply. "Can you give PA" 1 '? fiuaranteo .V<"» will settle J* n oUn £ l°ft that question practically unsolved. Later, another group of riders came upon tlie scene. And there was another dialogue. Mr loung told the old tale about returning to tlio country over again, tho Arbitration Act, tho Federation of Labour and many other things. During tin's argument Mr. Young stated that ho held the opinion that tlio ' watcrsido workers had been "fools" to strike in the present instance. "You know " he continued, "the Federation of Labour were not responsible for this strike Wo camo m after it was started. In fact wo had nothing to do with it until ivo wore asked to take it over." Before tho president had succeeded in converting the special constables to his wav of thinking, tlio captain of tho squad gave the order to mount, and tho troop moved off, leaving Mr. Young alone •