Second Edition. WATERSIDERS' STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 58, 8 November 1913, Page 6

Second Edition. WATERSIDERS' STRIKE.

JHE.STRIKE IN AUCKLAND. AN ANCRY MOB. Jos JWLEN DN STRIKE. .. - RIOTERS IN POSSESSION v OF GELIGNITE. It appears, according to news whic came to hand just as we go to press that matters have taken a very ser cms turn in connection with the strike Among other incidents, a carter wh refused to join the strike was set up on by the mob. One of his horses" wa unharnessed, and he was with difficulty rescued by the police, who threa tened to draw their revolvers. Then was a lot of hooting and vile languag. from the crowd. Most of the busines: premises within the area held by tin special police have been closed. It i) .estimated that altogethr about sh thousand are out on strike. A man who was arrested by tlie po lice, had six gelignite cartridges pre pared for use in his possession. AUCKLAND UNDER ARMS. Auckland, November 8. Watersiders concentrated at ,th« Trades Hall, but no meeting was held They are-at present apparently taking "no active part in the affairs on the .waterfront.. • . The*. Mayor .states that the magistrates acted on, his suggestion in closing tWcity hotels. Tt was best for all parties that no liquor should be sold ,'while, the present trouble continues. Adequate provision is being made .for^the protection of the city. Seven hundred special' constables will camp to-night-in-the .Drill Hall, und twe ,-other, places in the centre of the city. 'Four Jrundred specials will camp in -the shed;, on the Queen's Wharf. Five •hundred specials will be on duty day ■ and night eall. of < Queen Street and the .waterfront*. ■Np.crowds are ; ailqwed to assemble in ithe .streets, all street gatherings being stopped and any hoodlumism ■ will be put down with a strong hand. CneTimber.mill has closed, but the others continue work, though theii carters 'have joined the strike. RESOLUTIONS BY THE FEDERATION. •CONTINUATION OF STRIKE , ..ADVISED. tPES t Association.! ."Wellington, November 8. In connection with the meeting at the Trades. Hall to hear the statement 'of the executive of;the Federation anc the'resolutions passed, the-.following .Authoritative review and fair indication of >the'spirit of the meeting- hat been obtained. It .explained that u the resolutions be accepted literally.

it would seem .that-the; strike'is certain "to be,extended to a senous decree. The, resolutions in effect were - -""That the meeting-assist.those now involved, and instruct the various members represented to 'down tools when asked to handle material liandl ed by 'scab' labor." "That confidence be expressed in th< federation of Labor, and that a prqtes be entered against the registration o a 'scab' union under the Arbitratioi Act, and the public ought to knov

just what force was behind the terms of the decisions." In connection with the first resolution (and this applies in part to all of them), iit should be stated that the meeting was composed of delegates who could only express an individual npinion, and in no sense could they pledge the unions. A close analysis of the first resolution shows that the meeting of Unionists— according to ■ ihe rules—represented only individual opinion, and it instructed the various members represented to "down tools;" It is pointed out that the

terms can only apply to the members present, which is an absurd position. -In other words, the delegates Had no .power to instruct anybody to "down 1ools." The question of striking must be considered and decided by the union concerned, not by Irresponsible individuals, of whom a large -number T.ve already involved in the (strike. 'J-hfl meeting .contained ?. large representation of Federationists who cannot be blamed for trying to save their f'.ce, even at the expense of innocent 7>'ople. Representatives of moderate l:bor were in the minority. Tt is fair to state these facts in view oT'the extcngivO misrepresentation that generally has been practised in connection - th the strike. The tone of the meeting was impetuous, little consideration 1 bring given to established facts of the position. Rightly or wrongly, i':e majority at the meeting believed that the employers federation had been flashing trades unionism, despite the f r t. abundantly established, that the r—plovers simply want to insure a standard of common honesty in the

observance of agreements. However, that was the;feeling of the majority, and dominated by that feeling tiie resolutions' were "carried.

Men with unquestionable knowledge of the inner affairs are not surprised at the resolutions carried. Various opinions are expressed as to the j probable strike majority. It is bcliev- ' ed that the strike will yet be won if tho minority can be held to the first duty of the meeting, viz, to endeavor to get others to strike. No means were devised-to give effect to the desire of the minority. It was urged that there were still means of settlement and that policy of settlement would be more in the interests of workers than a continuance and extension of the strike. As to the resolution protesting against the registration of quasi-arbi-trationists, it was felt that the protest was justifiable, especially in cases similar to the registration of those workers loading the Athenic The methods of avoiding the charge of employing what has been designated "free" labor are thought—although quite in keeping with the industrial laws—to be in the nature of trickery. It is interpreted as a strategical move, which holds enough cunning to annoy the \vorkers, and is unlikely to accomplish the object. That, at any rate, was the genuine feeling of. the strikers, and it was made manifest at the meeting.

WELLINGTON RIOTERS BEFORE THE COURT.

Wellington, November 8

Before..Mr Rjddell, S.M., to-day, John Harrison, charged with being idlo and disorderly and with threatening behaviour, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on one charge and fined 40s or 7 days on the second. He had previous convictions for assault and robbery and other offences. Accused was found in Lambton Quay on Thursday with concrete in his possession and shouting that he would knock someboay's brains out. Peter Quin, charged with using indecent language with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, was fined £o or 21 days. He was calling out "scab" when arrested. William Parker, for threatening behaviour on King's Wharf, was fined £5 or a month. Special constables stated that Parker declared that ho would not move while there was a "scab" about and resist arrest. Accused declared that the story was an absolute lie.

Qn a - charge of using obscene language while in the centre of a. crowd (including children) Walter Wilson was fined £3 in default 21 days.

Two tramwaymen were charged. One Albert Newson, was charged with unlawful assault and John Patton with driving a tram-car into a person on horseback. Both were remanded on bail. —'• " '■■"' ' •'' ; .

THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE UNION COMPANY. REPORTED ALL SEAMEN TO GIVE 24 HOURS' NOTICE. Wellington, November- ; 8.. , Sir James : Mills, ; in fhe interview referred to the statements of the Federation of Labor and the harbor officials, and reviewed the events leading up to the strike. He said it was clear that the trouble did not arise from a lock-out, but from the deliberate withdrawal of labor by union executive in breach of,a clause of'the agrement, which clause was an inducement offered to shipping companies to. enter into an. agreement under ; the auspices of the "Federation of .Labor. The Federation, instead of persuading local workers to return to work, or, as an -alternative, confining the. strike to Wellington, had extended the,.area of fe he trouble, and had done its best to paralyse trade and injure large bodies of workers. X T nder the circumstances, it was not surprising that the employers wore not prepared to accept the guarantee, of the Federation against the statement that an attempt was being made to crush unionism. That was absurd and merely a revival of an old cry. Employers preferred to deal wjth organised workers, and added: "It ishoped it will be possible to resume many of the services at a very early date, and that is the reason why I believe a number of the company's seamen and firemen will abide by the current agreement."