Carpenters' arid Joiners' Strike.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 296, 21 December 1885, Page 2

Carpenters' arid Joiners' Strike.

In accordance with the resolution agreed upon at tho mooting on Saturday evening, all tho carpenters and joiners engaged upon tbo Victoria Arcade, 45 in numbit, wont out on strike this morning. All day long the committee appointed to watch the works patrolled around the premises to note if any man returned to his work. The proceedings throughout wore vory orderly, there being no attempts at bullying or intimidation. The men congregated in front of the building on the opposite side of the road, and discussed tho situation of affairs. From their language it is evident that the men do not blame Mr McGuire bo much as those who thoy boliovo to be the cause of the attempted reduction. Apparently they doom that he is merely fetching the nuts out of tho firo for those who do not wish to burn their own fingers. Whether or not the men are right in their conjecture it is hard to cay, but one thing is certain, the men aro very positive in making the assertion that other contractors have combined to make the trial of reduction. During tho whole of the day the central committee have been in seßeion at the Working Men's Club-room, and in the morning it was decided to make the strike general. Sub-committees were appointed to visit, during the dinner-hour, the principal works now in progress, and appeal to tho men not receiving 10a per day to como out on strike.

• At 12 o'clock tho various deputations waited on the monengaged in the city, and succeeded in persuading those engaged on the Free Public Library building and on Messrs Mallondino's new premises, Wel-lesly-streot East, to .also como out on strike. . I This morning two men appeared inclined to Btart work at the Victoria Arcade, but the Vigilnnoe Committee mot thorn and explained the eta to ef affairs, when they at once withdrew. About dinner-time tho caretaker of the Working Mens' Club felt it incumbent upon him to notify tho Committee that they could no longer meet in the room occupied by Ihem. Consequently the men secured tho schoolroom attached to the Primitive Methodist Church at the foot of Alexandra-street, where] the secretaries and a numbor of assistants have remained tho whole of the aftornorn, taking; down tho names of the men who from time to time aro brought in by the.pickets and registered as being on tho strike. About 100 men are now on the strike, and numbers' of others are constantly arriving. The Committee havo acted with commendable promptness, handbills boing already printed, and a decision arrived at to hold a monster meeting of tho trade on Wednesday in somelarge hall.

Tbo Trades and Labour Council have but n written to, to afford all tho assistance in thoir power to tho movomchr, and tho various trades unions are understood to be in favour of voting pocunlary aceitance to tho mon on strike. Tho men ongagod on Horon'B job on the wharf havo promised to como out to morrow morning. Men are on strike from the following employers :—A. McGuiro( Victoria Arcade), Malcolmson and Price (Freo Library), Ponk and Allen, Mallondino's Bros., 'buildinge, and Watson'i) buildings. A meeting is being arranged of all connoctod with tho building trade to consider tho position of atfairs, and Mr Moss, M.11.1V, hn.M ogroed to take the ohair on tho occasion.