ENTHUSIASTIC "SPECIALS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 8

ENTHUSIASTIC "SPECIALS."

THANKED BY MAYOR. IMPOSING PARADE. FINAL MUSTER IN DRILL HALL. The final parade of the foot " specials" took place in the Drill Hall yesterday afternoon. There was a muster of 1100, and as the men lined up in the large hall they presented an imposing array. The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) and members of the Citizens' Committee were present, and were greeted with cheers by the "specials." The Mayor briefly addressed the men. In the courso of his remarks he explained that this was the final parade of the foot "specials.". Ho felt that he would not be doing his duty to the men of the city who had como forward to render assistance in tho most critical occasion in tho history of tho community, if he did not give thanks on behalf of the citizens for the splendid sen-ices rendered. There was, ho went on, no organisation of foot " specials" in any part of the Dominion so good as in Auckland. He trusted that they would not be wanted again, but he was sure that if another call was made by the chief magistrate it would again be responded to with hearty spontaniety. (Cheers.) Mr. Parr announced that the Citizens' Defence Committee proposed to give the foot " specials," and, if possible, as many of the mounted specials" as could be spared from duty, a smoke concert in the Town Hall next Friday evening, when the opportunity would be taken to wish them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Cheers.) Proceeding, the Mayor said that the men who had done such good work should not go unpaid for their services, and it would be left to themselves to decide as to what was a fair remuneration. Of course it was open for tho magistrates to fix tho scale of pay, but he had little doubt but that the Police Department was prepared to pay a reasonable sum for the services rendered. It was then moved and seconded, and carried unanimously by the big assembly that the " specials" would bo content to receive 8s a day while on duty. • The parade concluded amid a storm of cheers, and tho "specials" were then dismissed.

> HUNTLY'S INACTIVITY. > ; COMMUNITY FEELS UNEASY. r FEAR OF LOSING THE FIGHT. . [bt telegraph.— correspondent.] Hum*, Friday. > Tho eighth week of the strike Jinis'ned • night. During this period there lias , Deeu a Joss of some £i_J,Uul) in wages ; alone, a similar amount having been lost ; to the Railway Department ior freight . on coal leaving Hunuy. .'lo business men, i the position becomes more and more sen- ) ous. and the decreased spending power of i the mining population will have a very I serious ehect on tho Christmas trade, and • especially on that of those storekeepers , whoso anticipations of good times prompted them to stock somewhat heavily. The households of the miners out of work must naturally have felt the pinch, and > though strike pay and rations in the form of tho necessaries of life are being pro- ; vided regularly, the difference between the • good wages of working times and the comparatively small amount* paid through ; the union must be felt seriously. Many ' unconnected with the mines have contri- | buted to the union funds, while farmers ar o sending cows, sheep, and farm produce, in order to ease matters. — Thoughjtho calls. for cheers for the "solidarity" of labour are responded to heartily at the close of all meetings, the uneasy feeling is beginning to pervade the community that the strike is broken and the, beginning of the end in sight. It is reported that in a telegram from Mr." W. Wood, president of tho union, who is at present in Wellington attending the meeting of delegates called for to-day hope for an early settlement is expressed' the position of the directors is strengthened by th fact that they have received applications from engineers, winders and mechanics in sufficient numbers to replace bv two every individual emploved in any of the abovo capacities. There may be a shortage in experienced miners, but no difficulty in working one of the mines with a full staff is anticipated, though it is not expected that tho wheels will begin to revolvo until after the Christmas and JSew Year holidays. , The preparations being made by the company in the way of the erection of the barbed-wire and galvanised iron fences, built to protect their property and afford protection to the workers, indicate a de--termination on the part of the directors to start work as soon as adequate preparations have beer, competed. The town is dull and orderly, the present weather milium? against outdoor perambulations and inducing people to remain Wde their > own homes. .

USE OP UNION FUNDS. ' l NO VOTES FOR STRIKERS. SUPREME COURT DECISION. flit TELEGBATCt.— HIKSS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. An important question as to whether a union registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and ' not under the Trades Union Act, can give part of its funds for the aid of families of men who are on strike, the latter men not being co-wovkets in any sense in the game' industry as that of the union that is registered, was decided by the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) to-day. The union concerned was the Wellington Typographical Union, which some time ago made a vote of £100 to the waterside workers' strike fund. The question at issue was answered by the Chief .Justice is follows;—(a.) It is not hwlu) ior the lefendant union to apply any of its funds, 'or the purpose of assisting the unions mentioned in the proceedings, or their delendonts, while the members of those minus we cussed to a, jtvte-, {\>) the mion cannot make levies on its members or that purpose. In course of the judgment His Honor liter citing the rales of the union, said the anion must be one for the purpose of pro •ecting or furthering the interests o vorkers in connection with the special in lustry of printing. It was not a genera lenevotent society, and it was not format or the purpose of aiding workers in otlw ndustries. It might he that it conk issist even those on strike ii they wor printers, or engaged in the same 'brand Df the printing industry, as rule 15 pro rides, but in His Honor's opinion, then oeiug nothing in the statute enabling ; union to assist workers on strike, at ai events outside the industry to which men hers of the union belong, it could not b implied that it had that power. Mx, JusticeiCh&nm&jj, cae.c«K W^ answers given. No order was made as I «a&t&.

LOYALTY RECOGNISED. COLLECTION FOR SEAMEN. 'it telegraph:— coiuiesposdent.] Gisbosine, Friday. A largely-attended meeting of busiiv :ss people this afternoon decided to re.gnise publicly the services rendered this iwn and district during the oast tew \uv ■•eeks by the captain and crew of the mall steamer Tangaroa in keeping comnunieation open between Napjer and. Gi&tone. Tlic sura of £40 was subscribed is I pressed at the work of the amateur cretfs I manning the steamer Rosamond, which has enabled the blockade of cargo from tVa N«tU\ to ts, TOtaw«4. Tab \oca\ b watersidera who havo remained'loyal to tb.o port will also, bo rewarded.