THE STRIKERS' ATTITUDE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 619, 15 November 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKERS' ATTITUDE.

SYMPATHETIC UNIONS. Auckland, Fridy. At the Trades Hall yesterday morning the scene was one of great enthusiasm. A continuous succession of mas 3 meetings was held by different unions actively concerned in the strike. Between 300 and 400 seamen attended the meeting called to consider their position and they unanimously determined to adhere to the attitude they had taken up. It is stated that those who have not already given notice to leave will do so immediately, and, when obligations with regard to voyages already signed for are met, it i? said that not one member of the Seamen'a Union in Auckland will be afloat. The Furniture Trades met yesterday morning, and the position was reviewed. The members were enthusiastic and determined, and to almost the full strength of the union mustered outside the Trades Hall, and gave three cheers for organised labour. At the meeting of Drivers the official count showed the presence of 671 members of the union. The chairman invited a free expression of opinion to any present, and promised the protection of the chair to every member. Only one member, who had been a master-driver, criticised the action that had been taken by the union, and he expressed the opinion that it would have been better to have maintained a sectional strike at Huntly, where, he declared, a real grievance undoubtedly existed. He was warmly cheared for having the courage to express his opinions, and stated thai; ha was content to abide by the will of the majority. It was decided that, no individual action should be taken, but that the drivers would set ahvr-ys as one body of worker?. The meeting vesolvnd to call out all the drivers in the City Council employ hitherto exempted. The' union decided also to take nteps to vancei its registration if some settlement had not been arrived at by the morning, this decision beins; a protest against the action of the employers in tvyr.P?: to ''oree uie Arbitration Act upon ihe Wnu.vside workers. An appeal will be made to ! nu--n to make common oe.r--.e wi;h the strikers, the resolution io thm affect to he forwarded !:; ;M _; he branches of the Drivers' i-'eoers'';;;;-. | Instructions were given thai. m::rusance be offered to special ccniii-ables in outlying districts. Painters declare that the only

| tradesmen in their industry who are | working, with the exception of apprentices, are small contractors who are not members nf the union. At a meeting of the Auckland Fellmongers and Tannery Employees' Union, it was decided not to strike unlesa free labour was introduced, and to recognise, the recently-formed Watersiders' Union aa a union when the carters now on strike who were connected with the various tanneries and fellmongeries reaumed work. A levy of 2s 6d per member for the relief of distress cases at Huntly was agreed upon, and a motion of sympathy with the Huntly miners was carried. At a meeting of the Boot Operatives' Union a levy of 10 per cent, on the week's wages for single men and 5 per c«.nt. for married men was proclaimed, the money to be handed to the Strike Committee. A motion in regard to ceasing work was proposed, but was not put to the meeting. At a meeting of the Sad.llers and Harness Makers' Union the following motions were carried: —"That this union is in whole-hearted sympathy with the strikers in their fight for the rights of the workers organising in their own way, and, furthermore, passes a vote of censure against the authorities for introducing free labour on the waterfront"; "that this union, being small, would not benefit the cause by calling out its members, but donates £l2 to the Auckland Strike Committee, tn be used a't their discretion." The Letterpress Machinists' Union —men engaged in job-printing work — decided not to actively participate in the strike, but to accord the strikers both moral and financial support. Wellington, Thursday. The Building Trades Labouers' Union decided to cease work after 5 pm. to-day. The union contains 275 members, many of whom are out of work through the strike already. The Operative Butcherß* Union last night adopted the following resolution :—" Whereas the members of this union are solely engaged in supplying the public with one of the principal articles of daily food, it is considered that they would be acting in the best interests of all cancarned if they remained at work. This meeting hereby resolves to act accordingly." The Wellington storemen have decided not to cease work.