THE STRIKE.

Mataura Ensign, 26 December 1913, Page 6

THE STRIKE.

1 WORK IN WELLINGTON. > .■ CHRISTMAS EVE TRADE. PBB UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Dec. 25. g The Corinthic got away at 5.40 last «yening for-London. All the cargo lxolds ■.were full, but the passenger list was / scarcely up to the average. V H.Mls* Pyramus arrived yesterday * afternoon from the New Hebrides. The ressel saw the eruption which wrought f isuch iavoc at Ambrym Island, and f picked Op three injured natives from . 'Malecula taking them to Villa, . the principal settlement in the group. After the arrival of the Maunganui ■from Sydney yesterday practically all the seamen, firemen and trimmers, wtiothe ship in a body on November 26 j at the call of the "strike managers, were de-engaged. A noticeable feature the Christmas Ere waff the large crowds of people in * the streets, and the buoyancy of the skipping trade, which was - remarkably good considering how a short time has passed since the strike overshadowed everything in the city. POSITION AT WESTPORT.

WESTPORT, Dec. 25. The Union Steam Ship Company's passenger and cargo steamer Mapourika, the first red funnel boat to visit Wesfcp ort since October 31, worked the port ooth going south and north with no. difficulty whatever. A mass meeting, addressed by delegates, was held at Millerton yesterday, with a view to preventing the formation of an arbitration union, but while the meeting was in progress an arbitration union was formed down th"> hill at G-raniJj, the officers being elected and ail the papers being sent forward for registration. It is understood ihat the arpitrationists consider themselves strong enough now to outvote the opposition. Nothing definite has yet been done at >Denniston, beyond that the delegates have been given to Friday to rfeach some definite decision, failing which an arbitration union will be formed. It is understood that there will, be no difficulty in working the mine in the New Year. I* The Union Steam Ship Company's headquarters have advised thfe local manager that great difficulty will be experienced in finding hulk accommodation for the overseas coal due in January, so the miners are beginning to rea?¥e 'that every day they postpone a decision to Teturn to work means a serious matter for them.