POSITION IN OTAGO.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 15 November 1913, Page 5

POSITION IN OTAGO.

WORK TO BE RESUMED NEXT WEEK.

DUNEDIN, Nof. 14. The number of strikers who congregate on the wharves daily to discuss the situation was very much swelled tKIs morning. It being the usual pay day for the waterside workers, strike pay was dispensed by the committee at the rate (so it is said) of 10s a man. The committee is in receipt of the following telegram from an official of the strike committees in the north from Mr Hickey, at. Wellington: "Auckland wires—Position here getting stronger day by day. Keep up the fight. Position in Wellington O.K. Christchurch wires: All unions north delighted at the present position. A monster procession and meeting will be held on Saturday."

The Union Company announce that the Maori is to be despatched from Lyttelton for Wellington to-morrow night. It is understood that a start will be made to unload the Moeraki, now lying at the Birch street wharf, early next Week. Members of the recently-formed Arbitration Union will be engaged on the work, and every assistance is to be given by the officers arid engineers of tEe1 Union Company's boats now held up in Dunedin., These officers and engineers are stated to be getting tired of their enforced inaction.

It is not anticipated that the local waterfront employees will take any active steps to.obstruct the work of unloading, but if it should be necessary to afford protection to Arbitrationists a number of special horse and foot constables will be provided for that purpose. The special constables, if required, will be selected from Dunedin residents in the meantime, circumstances not warranting outside assistance being called in. It is stated, however, that there are 350 men at Middlemarch awaiting a call to town and a further 250 at Shag Valley are also willing to act as special constables. '