TIME FOR ACTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3829, 12 May 1913, Page 2

TIME FOR ACTION.

TIMARU PROTEST AGAINST STRIKE.

FIRM MEASURES ADVOCATED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM! TIMARU, May 11. Work proceeded expeditiously yesterday on the Zealandic with free labor, from tho farms chiefly, and the ship got away, sooner than was anticipated. The small steamer Storm arrived and was promptly loaded by free labor. The largest meeting ever held here assembled at Tatt-ersall’s Horse Mart this afternoon. ft was convened by tho president (Mr Talbot) of the Farmers’ Union. Mr Talbot sjioke stronglv against the strike of the watersiders as without a scintilla of justification. A majority of the people, he said, sympathised with the just aims of unionism. but a strike of this kind was caleuiated to destroy that sympathy. The unionists hail wantonly stopped the work of tho port and tho farmers ind been forced to put an end to an intolerable position. The time had dome to put a filial stop to that sort of thing. Tho place was getting a bad name through continual strikes, and some remedy must be sought. He urged the farmers and business people to combine to provide it as all interests suffered inconvenience and loss.

A motion that a committee representing the Farmers’ Union. A. and f\ Association. Chamber of Commerce and shipping firms be set up to take such steps as are deemed desirable to prevent the trade of the port being set back was carried with great applause. Mr W. Evans (chairman of the Atlas Flour Coy.) spoke on the same lines as Mr Talbot, and characterised the action of the Unionists as tyrannical. He regretted that the Union S.S. Company had not taken a firmer stand over the previous watersiders’ strike. There was nothing for it- now but for everyone to he firm and deal with tho Union, a. remark which was greatly applauded. Mr R. Gould (secretary of the Waterside Union) endeavored several times to speak, but could not get a hearing after his first essay when he was proceeding to ask that a conference he agreed to. The meeting made reply that the time for a conference had gone by and there was nothing to confer about. A member of the Union blamed ine stationmaster for the men’s refusal to work the Pukaki because be sent to work with them men who had been working with free labor at the Zvain tidie. The meeting pooh-poohed this and said the men themselves were wholly to blame.

A largo committee was appointed in pursuance of the resolution, and all present who were agreeable wore asked to sign an agreement stating their willingness to assist in the work of tho port whenever called upon-to do so. and many signatures were obtained after the meeting, especially of fanners and fanners’ sons. The committee will circularise the branches of the Farmers’ Union and others to get lists of the men available, and to arrange them in groups to act. in turn as may ’be required. THE SMITHFIELD STRIKE. NO SYMPATHY AT FAIRFIELD. ASHBURTON, May 11. Two members of the Smithfield Freezing Works Strike Committee visited the Fairfield works yesterday with the object of enlisting the support of the. local men. A meeting was called for 12 noon, but only two unionist butchers put in an appearance. These reported that the freezers were sympathetic, but that, apart from the freezers and unionist butchers,' there was no sympathy with the Smithfield men. The reception given the delegates was cold and discouraging.