POSITION IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8611, 23 December 1913, Page 6

POSITION IN AUCKLAND

NO ROOAI FOR ALL APPLICANTS. Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 22This morning a largo number of “old hands,” including Messrs Canharn and Hillier, president and secretary respectively of the former union, went down in a body to the wharf-shed where the union office is situated to apply for membership and seek employment. The crowd is variously estimated at between 400 and 700 workers, and it is stated that they arrived shortly before 8 o'clock, equipped with kits and wearing working clothes, ready to resume work.

The secretary of the ration (Mr Stan

Rickards), who met the men, describes tho altitude of some of them as “ threatening,” and declares that they demanded work, and claimed tho right to remain in the shod. A few words were exchanged, and Rickards informed tho men that further applications for membership could not be considered till Wednesday, and asked them to leave tho waiting-room. This they did, more or less reluctantly.

It is stated that tho labour available is more than ample to meet the existing needs. The union has a membership roll of 1234. At present there is practically very little work offering. It is officially stated that a batch of IS‘J members was enrolled on Saturday, a few applicants being re-elected. Names of applicants are not only submitted to tho police, but applications must bo accompanied by two references, and the individual must renounce the Federation of Labour, and sign allegiance to the Arbitration Act.

Tho seamen who have been on strike in Auckland are signing on tho boats available. It is stated that in view of flio mixed reception the announcement of tho settlement received there was not a general rush for re-employment on Saturday, the men preferring to wait. In addition, to the meeting on Saturday morning another gathering was held in tho afternoon, when the main matter for consideration was the manning of tho Manuka and Rosamond, and it was agreed that the crows should return and not adhere, so far as thoso men were concerned, to tho previous decision to hold off till the' delegates return from Wellington. Crews will he signed on to-morrow for tho Wcstralia, Kaitoa, Kura, and Waitomo. Seamen are getting positions on tho Northern Company’s boats to replace tho unqualified men, and it will not tako long to complete arrangements for tho restoration of regular steamer services. Already definite sailing dates have been fixed for many of the vessels that have been tied up. Tho seamen arc quietly going back, and it is not expected that many will be without berths when things aro back to normal-