THE STRIKE.

Evening Star, Issue 15342, 17 November 1913, Page 7

THE STRIKE.

WELLINGTON ITEMS. [From Otm Own Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, November 17. IT.unrlreds> of strikers' wives and children are now feeling the pinch. Flour and coal in Wellington are almost unbuva:4e just now. Tho Wellington beer dutv collected last week totalled no less than £527 2s lOd. as against £224 4s tor the corresponding week ot last year. Nineteen steamers will be .at their berths to-day. These are the Maori,' Marere. Lorinthie, Himitangi, Opawa, Putiki, Stormbird, Blenheim, Aorere, Kapuni. Arapawa, Mangapapa, Dorset, Athenic. Kaitoa, Rimutaka, Kaiapoi. Mapourika, and another. The White Star liner Athenic hauls in her lines ami sails for Loudon at o p.m. _ to-morrow. It is understood that she will bo given a rousing send-off. As iar as cargo goes, she is almost a. full ship. It seems that the new Arbitration workers are popular with the public. Thov live out in the bay on board the Mararoa, and yesterday all the harbor pleasure steamers which passed and repassed the steamer cheered tho Arbitrationists heartilv.

A mass meeting of watersiders held at Newtown Park yesterday was more remarkable for noise than regard for truth. Since the arrest of the strfke leaders has made it apparent that seditious speeches will not be tolerated, the strike, "bosses" have taken quite a, new departure. They have fallen back on pure-fabrication. To illustrate : Mr P. Hickey, secretary of the federation of Labor, stated yesterday that the officers of the shipping"companies at Lyttelton had gone to the 'Strike Committee thero one day hist week, and had offered them a blank signed cheque. The committee were at libertv to fill in tho cheque for any amount thev lilted on condition that the strike should bo called off. llm Strike Committee declined this offer, lh© shipping companies must have been very desperate when they made, such an offer. "I dare say," continued Mr Hickev, "that we could make a good deal of money this way, but we don't want it. We will not be bribed by money." Judging from the cheers with which Mr Hickey's astonishing assertion was received, it was evident that his hearers accepted this as a solemn statement of fact.

—A Mysterious Warning.— Speaking at the Opera-house la-st night, Mr W. T. Mills, of Milwaukee (U.S.I, alter talking of civil war and other desperate measures, concluded with the mystic warning that "the day after to-morrow they would discover that the Japanese working man was a better friend of the New Zealand working man than was the New Zealand employer, and that just as the black and white men had learned to light the battle of Labor together in America, so the day after to-morrow they would find that they had formed a worldwide brotherhood." What he really meant is unknown, but it is believed that some of the Federationists have been cabling to Japan, with a view to stopping possible importations of coal, should such become necessary. —Coming Strike Trials.— For the approaching hearing of the charges against the strike leaders now lodged in the Terrace Gaol about 12 Wellington pressmen who took nates of the speeches' have been subpeenaed as witnesses for tho Crown. It is understood the other side will call the whole array of the strikers to give evidence by wav of rebuttal. Talk: Scoffed at by Employers.— Employers here are irritated at settlement notions which are ventilated from time to time in the newspapers. From the first the Wellington employers were resolute that whatever the employers in other centres might do, the- would hold out, •even if they stood alone, for the onlv terms under which they believe a settle"ment with any branch of the Federation of i Labor is possible—viz., a settlement under the Arbitration Act, with a clause providing penalties for failure to carry out future agreements. The doctrine of'tearing up agreements at will has been so often j preached locally that the employers are I now resolute in their determination to disregard the efforts of would-be. modi tars who are not in a. position to euarante-" ! binding agreements between ihe'eontractnig parties. COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT. [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON. November 16. A meeting of the old Drivers' Union wa.s held on Saturday. The Mjcretarv of the union (Mr Parlane). referring to "ths ecv union. pointed out that certain members of the new union had not yet resigned from the old one. He, inferred fronr'this that if was evident that, thrse drivers could "conveniently belong" (to quote the Act) to the original union : in fact, he ureed it a.j a. proof that the original Drivers' Union was the cue to which these men might conveniently be.loniv. ]h also gave it as his opinicn that coercion had been u?ed in the formation of the. new union, and complained that, despite lhc ■;>rr.'m<:eiueiits made to the contrary, the Labor Department had delayed the notification to him of the application of the new bedv for registration. It appeared to him'that thVe had been undue haste in forming the new union. THE NEW UNION. WELLINGTON. November 16. At 3 p.m. on Saturday there were r.earlv 700 members of the new Waterside, Workers' Union. The response of worker, came from both town and country, and the number who intend to re in aim at waterside work is reported to be ho groat that Iho list wii! have to be ciofed within the nexttwo days. WELLINGTON TRAMWAY MENLOYAL TO THE ARBITRATION ACT. A CREW OF MASTERS. HOLLAND'S SUCCESSOR ARRESTED. [Per Unit::d Press Association.] WELLINGTON. November 17. Ihe Tramway Union have decided not to cancel their registration under the Arbitration Act. the voting being 81 to 30. The feeling expressed was that other unions more intimately connected with the watersiders than the tramway men should go out before the tramway men were called on to strike. It was agreed to make a levy of s.per cent, on unmarried men and 2| per cent, on married men in support of r the (strikers. The Maori's crew are composed entirely of members of the Merchant Service Guild. Tn the stokehold there were seven extra ticket masters. Among the deck hands nine of the A.B.s were masters; in fact, they were everywhere. There are enough offering to man both the Maori and Wahinc. Tt is stated that tho companv offered extra money for service- in tho inferior positions, but the men declined to accept it. lesterday several mass meetings were held at which speeches more guarded than usual were made. The general burden was a reiteration of the belief that the strikers would win in the end. Among the speakers was Coalcloiigh, the new editor of the ' Maoriland Worker.' Ho was arrested on a charge of using a revolver m Post Office square on October <;0. An Austrian named Antonio Stupaneh was arrested on a charge of rioting on the same day. Owing to the strike the steamer which if! t 1i y 3Uva on Friday brings no fruit for Wellington and little for Auckland. No bananas will reach here till the Tahiti arrives on December 4 from Rarotonga. GOOD PAY ON THE WATERFRONT. WELLINGTON, November 16. It has been ascertained that quite 400 men are intending to keep at the waterside work whether the strike is on or not. lesferday was pay day for members of the Arbitration Watersiders' Union, and rnas.v of the men received hkrh waoea for the

work, one man earning as much as £7 5s and another £7 4s. Amounts of trom £5 to £6 were handed to several men. BREAKING THE STRIKE. MAORI MANNED" BY OFFICERS. [l' Rom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] . WELLINGTON. November 17. it is clear that the Merchant Service Guild are. not in sympathy with the Federation of Labor and supporters of the strike. The ferry steamer Maori resumed running on Saturday night from Lvttelton, manned entirely in the stokehold and on deck. Events during the past few davs have shown that the Merchant Service Guild are loyal to their agreement with the company. There are enough officers offering to wholly man the Maori and the \\alune, and it is expected that both .steamers will be in service in a few clays. Llie officers themselves are anxious that that should bo done. 011 Friday last word was received in Dunedm from masters in Lyttelton whose ships were, out of commission, asking what position the Dunedin members of the guild were prepared to adopt. A meet-' ln S of officers whose ships are tied up at Dunedin was convened and attended, by o2 men. Each was given paper and pencil arid asked to state '"' Y<w " or " No '' to a direct, question. The Tesult was that, as an omcer put it, there were 32 " Ycsscs." It is stated that the company offered to pay the officers extra money* for service in lower than their ordinary positions, but the men preferred to accept the usual rates as officers. They are anxious to be at work. The Maori brought seven tons ot mails.

—The Future, of the Ferry.— *u Tll f re is one P hase of t!le dislocation of the terry service that is causing much comment in this city, and that is the inconvenience it has caused to the travelling public and also to the postal authorities, who are not excelled anvwhere or by any other service in tho matter of keeping faith with the people of a scribbling age. Hitherto ono posted a, letter in all confidence that it would unerringly go in tho shortest possible space of time to the uttermost ends of tho earth, but smoo the Federation of Labor have exercised a destructive activity tho "popular penny post" has become as fickle and uncertain as luck at a race meeting. While it is admitted freely that the Union Comply nav « made the ferry service between \\ elhngton and Lyttolton one of the finest in the world, they have not been able to attain to infallibility as regards reliability. They are a prey to more than tho vagaries of wind and tide. In order to avoid hostile criticism, tho company, indeed, may navo to consider seriously the advisability of including in the printed contract with a passenger "acts of God and tho Federation of Labor." Joking apart, many commercial men and politicians ore discussing the need of establishing a connecting link between the North and South Islands that shall not be broken periodically bv capricious representatives of Labor, who believe that the dislocation of means of travel is one of the effective proofs of industrial unity. Opinions as to the ferry service of the future are radically divergent. Some favor the establishment of a S.-ate service, manned and maintained by bml servants, who would have much to Jose j 1 they joined forces with Syndicalists Others, again, argue that it would be foolish on the part of tho State to compete against a shipping company who have notnmg to bo taught in respect to the control and maintenance of shipping. They suggest that the Government should acquire an interest in the service, and contribute with the company to a scheme that, would go as near as possible to establishing a permanent dependable service; in other words, the State should be prepared to subsidise tho company to an extent that would cnablo them to make tne terms of employment such aswould ensure a dependable service, which is -i necessity and not a luxury. It has to be admitted, however, that the suggestion? are as yet very vague; but the fact that they arc being made shows that the present service is, despite the company's untiring efforts to keep it the best in tho .■world, a far pitch from perfection. MOUNTED SPECIALS' GRIEVANCE GELIGNITE OX THE RAILWAY. PROBABLY A HOAX. MEN AS DETERMINED Ay EVER [Special to the Stae.J . AUCKLAND, November 17. An incident from which tho .Strike Committee are making p. good deal of capital is a statement made by one of the mounted specials from the country. It, j R <]„]_,- signed by tho fanner concerned, and attested by a justice of (he peace, in whose presence, it was written. The statement is as follows ■- "I am a farmer residing four miles from lo Awamntii, Waikato. 1 h aVc been two years it januing. BV-foie that I was employed at various callings, mostly as an unskilled laborer, ami took a prominent part in union matters. I therefore know thc injustice shown by the Arbitration Court Jn its decisions. ' 1 have, also been victimised as a. unionist for taking a part on committees in the- Waihi "district. When I started as a farmer in the. Waikato (hero was already a branch of the 1 aimers' Union in operation, and knowing that I was also solid for unionism 1 was asked to join. I considered that I was justified in becoming a. member from unionist principles. Jt "was to look after our own interests as union farmers, and there was also another inducement for me to join, as there- was in opeiation a Fanners' hading Association in connection with the union, by which we could indent the supplies necessary on a farm, thereby cutting oct tho middleman. When the'gencuil strike was declared in Auckland the J.anneis' Union Executive sent representatives to our district, and told us that the waterside workers had decided to hold up Ml farm produce, including butter, ami that the executive had decided to organic* the fanners to go to Auckland to load butter oniy. Put- ordinary cargo was never mentioned to us. 1 ;isi;ed the representatives about ordinary cargo, and 1 was told : -Let the merchants look after their own stud.' We did not want our butter to rot on tho wharves or on tho ships, as it, is our livelihood. Wo came to Auckland. We found that we had to do ordinary police duty, and be prepared to handle all goods, which was contrary to our agreement altogether. Wo did not come hero to he armed with ' waddies' or clubs to beat any section of a community into subjection. Wo were here- a. week before we were put to any course of action whatever, and during this time our wives and families had our" work to do, in addition to then own, and during this limo we were put to drills in order to protect other people's interests. This we had not bargained for. What we expected was to be put to our own work—viz., handling our butter, etc. When wo arrived in tiw city we were isolated in the camp at the Domain, and not allowed to hold any communication with the outside public without a pass, and there was no fraternising over the fence with the pickets or other persons. In my opinion, this was to prevent us from knowing the. true state of affairs. 1 have had my eyes opened now, and realise that we have been made use of by the merchants of the oity to crash the workers in then - efforts to obtain fair treatment. We have been used as a weapon in a direction that was never anticipated by us when we left our homes. My presence is needed at home, and the work that wo came down to do_ has not been done. I have obtained my discharge, and will get home as sooii as possible. I am satisfied that at least 75 per cent, of the farmers wish they were homo now. I make this statement voluntarily and unsolicited, believing it to be true. I wish to set myself right as a unionist with the unionist's of the city and also of the district. I would like to see a conference between the strikers and the farmers now in tho city, independent of the merchant class, and I believe, that a satisfactory understanding could be soon arrived at between tho producer and the consumer."

It is not seriously believed that the, above statement reflects the sentiments of

any but a very small percentage of fanners and others from the country districts acting as special constables in Auckland. There is a. very general feeling that the. veported sensational discovery of gelignite on the. line near Ellcrslie, with the suggestion that an attempt was to be made to wreck the South-bound train is a. hoax. Tho detectives, who are making inquiries, have as yet nothing to say about their feeling as to the genuineness or otherwise of the story of the find, but it has been pointed out that detonators were* unnecessary for the explosion of gelignite that is ground by the weight of a passing train. It. is also remarked by people who know something of these tilings ttiat the man who kicked a properly-capped gelignite charge and mentioned it tho next day after sleeping overnight on it. possesses a great deal more luck than falls to the lot of tho ordinary mortal. ' The Central Strike Committee, in an official report, to-day, review the avowed attitude of ail unions now on strike, and affirm that tho men are as determined as ever. There- were a few instances of dropping off from the ranks of the strikers, hut it is confidently stated that so far as the unionists proper are concerned, the position with regard to available labor is unchanged. The unions have no control over the unattached workers -whoso services have been secured by some employers. It J6 estimated, however, that about 1,000 men have returned to work during the week, including 400 City Council employees, 150 Exhibition workers, SCO restaurant employees, and sundry carpenters, drivers, and general laborers. Tho Arbitration union on tho waterfront is about 400 strong. Yesterday a big Labor demonstration was held at Victoria Park, 18 unions being strongly represented in the procession. The crowd, numbering about 12,000, was notably orderly, and no police were on the ground. Two mounted men remained outside the fence, but had no profesional duties to perform other than to be present. GOOD WORK AT AUCKLAND. [Pre. United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 16. The chairman of the Harbor Board reports that splendid work has been accomplished on the waterfront during the past week, and that the programme originally mapped out for handling tho vessels in port and their cargoes has been more than fulfilled. An extension of the activities is under consideration, but even if this is noc decided upon he considers that the authorities arc in a position now to cope with all the shipping. The vessels carrying the most urgently needed cargoes have now been dealt with.

The 450 Arbitration workers on the wharves have- not been increased, but hundreds of applications for admission have been received, and it will be decided on Monday whether a further batch of men will bo put on. SPECIAL CONSTABLE INJURED. AUCKLAND, November 17. Harry Bnrbush. a. special mounted constable, who resides at Hamilton, when negotiating a hurdle in the Domain camp, was thrown and rolled upon by his horse He was removed to the hospital, suffering from slight concussion. FURNITURE TRADES AND THE SECRET BALLOT. AUCKLAND, November 16. A letter which has been received hv the Mayor contains the following :—" The position in regard to the Furniture Trades Union and tho strike is interesting. A special meeting w a ,s called to see what steps should be taken. First, things were put on a very firm footing a.s to how they wanted things to go. The air was full of strike fever, and it was very catching. It was not long before the strike leaders were holding the floor, receiving cheers for everything said, but when nnvone opposed toa strike, roso to speak he" was quickly cried down, and collapsed into his seat stricken with nervousness. It was proposed that a secret ballot should be taken, lhis can be demanded by two members, and the proposal was supported by 50 members. This was cried down, however, and a show of hands was called for which was a hard thing to decide on! rinally a. division was called for, which resulted in a strike being declared hv 06 votes to 45. The total number of members at the meeting was 141. The union have a membership of 400. This is how the Furniture Trades Union secure a majority m favor of a strike A total of \J/ have called 303 men out on strike I am quite satisfied that most of the men are anxious to return to work; some have resumed already, and others are going hnck to-morrow." THE USE OF PICKETS. A LEGAL OPINION. __ AUCKLAND, November 16. lhc Strike Committee, have obtained a legal opinion on what constitutes legitimate picketing. The. position wa.s thus staled : It is clear thai unions have a right to use pickets during the course of anv trade dispute, but such pickets must act lawfully, and in so doing (hev will be .•ictiiirr peaceably. T { seems" ihat all pickets may do is merely to obtain or communicate nvmnnal ion in reaped of the strike to those workers who are or may be presumed to be affected bv the strike, there must be no pcrsuadiii" or otherwise, preventing person? who so desire from working. RAIN SPOILS DEMONSTRATION. GREY-MOUTH. November 16. On Saturday the Federation intended to have a huge demonstration of workers organised and unorganised, as a protesi against the arrest of the strike leaders m Wellington. Hcav- ra j n commenced to tall at the hour of starting, and proceedings went very flat. Very few came from the haekblocks, and Ihe bands did not put in an appearance. MASS MEETINGS AT THE TRIANGLE. Two ma.'t-- meetings were held at the Triangle yeslcrday-at 3 p.m. and 7 p m. 1 hey ire.'e most orderly. Mr .1 \Y Mrnro presided at both meetin-'s In the afternoon the speakers were the chairman' Mr J. E. MacManus. and Mr it. May Mr Steve, Boreham brought forward a motion thanking Fuller and Sons for civiii" the ■Wellington strikers a place of meeting. At the evening' meeting, which "was largely attended, the Govemnuml. the Employers' Federation, amd what was called the. capitalistic Prco- m- c yc- condemned, though the Government, received the greater part of the criticism, their action m causing thy arrest of the strike leaders being keenly resented. The speakers decried action of the United Labor partv m Wellington in issuing their manifesto whilst tho leaders of the Federation were in gaol, and ail urited in characterising it as a cowardly and dastardly proceeding Among tho spc-akois in the evening we"e Messrs Mi-nro. M. Silverstone. Ma v. Boreham, and MacMnnus. and the following motion, propee?d by Mr Maguire, and seconded bv Mr I. Silvcrstone. was curicd unanimously :

That this mass meeting of Punedin citizens deeply deplore the unnccessarv c-nrolmoni. of facial constables, whose politics are in contradistinction to Labor and trade unionism, an<l who are liable, 1o <;how n class bias. We, then, vieu this exhibition of uncalled for authority as a dantrermis precedent to establish iii a. democratic country, inasmuch as it strikes at the very root ami foundation of good citizenship, which"permits people of all ehades of political color to Hve'in harmony with each other. "Wo are abo of opinion that puch drastic action is unwarranted in view of the fact that to date no valid reason or evidence can be fhown that otir present police force 's inadequate to maintain law and order. Furthermore, the Dunedin public naturally have more confidence in ths tact, discipline, and impartiality of the regular police force than they can be expected to have tor special constables, and the presence on duty of the regulars alone, we feel'cure, would be mere calculated to pave the way for an honorable settlement of the poinla in dispute. A collection taken up in the. afternoon brought m £lO 8s 6d, while £7 0s 6d was collected in iho evening.

DUXEDIN BAKERS AND PASTRYCOOKS' UNION. At a meeting of tho 'above union, hold on Saturday, tho following resolutions were passed":—■ That this union protest .1 gainst tho .'idion of the Government in gaoling the strike- leaders, and also against the introduction of special constables into theCiiy of Dunediii. That, in the opinion of this union, the time has arrived for the Government to tako immediate steps to terminate the present strike on the, terms originally offered by tho Emplovors Federation, and afterwards refused by them, and thus end tho present, national disaster, which is Vicing prolonged merely through the stubbornness of the Employers' Federation. That we commend the. action and uphold the- attitude taken up by Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Representatives when the 6triko question was under discussion. It was also decided to grant the «nn of £3O for the relief of any distress caused through the strike.