STRIKE RUMOURS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16888, 28 December 1916, Page 4

STRIKE RUMOURS

EFFICACY OF WAR REGULATIONS.

(Fbov Oun Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 27.

All through the holiday season the town has been full of rumours of immediately impending strikes. All of them are quite groundless. The truth is that for the first time in'several weeks it now appears possible that we may escape a general serious str:ke, though the war regulations are certainly causing union officials a little uneasiness. Discussing strike prospects the other day with a friend, an official of_ a union that was represented at the Conscription Conference made this remark:'^"l don't seo how wo can arrange for a strike while they won't let us hold meetings." The decree about unlawful meetings is likely to havo a most important effect. The most recent labour trouble here was the drivers' dispute. Owing to the holding of meetings which quickly developed into anti-conscrip-tion meetings, the dispute was taken right out of the unions' hands and the men were very nearly forced out on strike against their will. But for the intervention of the professional talkers, the drivers and their employers would have been abe to come to terms without the aid of the Government. Every Sunday night Mr Holland and a few others addressed meetings in a small hall in Wellington. Bt fore the issue of the regulations it wa £ the habit of Mr Efolland and others to fulminate with much fervour against the wicked Government and the conscription law. They did not talk about a "general stri'e " to resist conscription. Instead. the workers would be advised to "get tog-other in the industrial field" or there would be talk of " united industrial action." There has been only one meeting sincc> the last most stringent regulations were issued, and it was a very mild, well-conducted affair by comparison with some of the old-time Socialist meetings here. Early in the year demands aye to be made by the miners and the watersiders for more pay. The miners want an increase in hewing rates of 17£ per cent, and other concessions. Both unions have asked for conferences with their employers, and these conferences will probably meet in Wellington on the week after next. Until then there is not likely to be a strike! and after they meet we shall knew exactly what there is in the general strike threat. The Government has made its plans to deal with _ rioting if outbreaks should occur in Wellington.