What Stratford has been Doing.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 65, 17 November 1913, Page 5

What Stratford has been Doing.

MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE. PLENTY OF MEN OFFERING. STOPPED AT THE LAST MOMENT. THE “FIERY CROSS” STAYED. MR DINGLE AND MR PENN MAKE A JOURNEY. At the meeting held here on Friday under the auspices of the National Dairy Association, representing the whole of the industry in Taranaki, il was decided to respond to the urgent call for men to work on the Wellington wharves. A vigorous canvass was at once set going and as a result fully 200 men were ready to leavo various stations by this morning’s express. Late on Saturday evening, however, Mr R. Dingle, who, with Mr T. H. Penn, was appointed to keep in touch with Wellington in the matter, received a wire from All 1 Pryor, secretary of the Employers’ Federation, which was as follows: —“Sufficient labor now available here for -immediate requirements. Cease sending workers until further advice. Kindly advise all Taranaki districts.” As all country telephone offices were closed until Monday morning, the last part of the instruction constituted a rather tall order. Now Plymouth was communicated with, and it was found that as the coastal boats were to recommence running no local labor was to be sent away from the immediate district. There remained the rest of Taranaki to he advised. At 5 a.m, on Sunday Mr Penn was driving to the nearby factories, Cardiff and Ngaere, and at 9 Mr Dingle and Mr Penn left by motor for a trip round the mountain. At Midhirst factory the secretary and manager were met and warned of the change in the tion ; the factory managers at Tariki and Haketawa wore next interviewed. At Inglewood Mr W. E. Percival’s breakfast was interrupted, and a num-

ber of young fellows who were noticed under the verandahs and proved to he volunteers for the front, no-j tilled that they would not he required| for the present. Then on to the Moa factory and to Fgmont Village, where Mr Morton, president of the r.D.A., wits discovered in his garden and made an contain with affairs. A non-stop run in New Plymouth ojrnte next, and here it halt was called at the residence of Mr W. J. I’ciut, a welcome cup of tea partaken of, and promise received to communicate with Wait a ra. Then away down the eoast. Omata and Oakura were warned, and at the latter the veteran, Mr (1. Adlant, who had plueklly volunteet led for the cargo lumping, was called upon. Okato was reached just 'in time for an excellent dinner at the | hotel, and the meal, it is needless tc j say, was arcordcd full justice. I here ! was no time for a Sunday after-din-jner nap. It was away to Pungarehu. j Rahotn, Oaonui and Opnnake, the i latter place looking very desolate atj tor the big fire. A short spell and jaway. It ouglit to here he men^' ono( * t ' ia ‘ at Warea, Mr James Burgess was interviewed and the beauties of hi; unique garden admired, also his fim herd of Ayrshires. After le.rv Opnnake, the weather became threat ening and speed, was increased. Pi hama vv;is the next factory visited. Here Mr Callaghan, a Ngairo hoy, h manager, and has his factory in apple pie order. Then came the bigges cheese factory in Now Zealand, L not the world, the far-famed Kaupo konni. Tin* manager was away, hu Mr C. E. Barleyman, the secretary was found at home and kindly con sented to relieve the party of tin necessity of continuing on to Hawera Passing through Manaia, the' 1 Jol Company’s manager at Okaiawa wa. seen, and then the car was turner homewards, via Kaponga, where M. Binnie, the secretary and Mr Far ley, the manager, were called upon At Manga told, Mr/ Cooper the man .iger undertook to advise Eltham, thu: completing the circle. A run home via the Hastings and Opunake-Strat ford roads brought the journey of 13( miles to a close at 7 p.m.

Owing to contradictory news re revived in Eltham and Hawera, i seems that several men were sen away from these places. In conse queuce of this and of the suspicio that was optertained in some quart ers that Saturday evening’s wire 'wa; i fake, devised by the enemy, Mr Peni wired Mr Pryor this morning, am, has received the following: “Confirm wire to Dingle. Enough men working here at present. Pryor.” HELPING THE FARMERS. MORE MEN READY.! i -i ** Learning that several ‘uteri 1 of his big.staff wore .anxious..|.p„. go tf Wellington and asjpst in the work of maintaining order and getting away the country’s produce, Mr H. E. Abraham, manager of Mr Xewton King’s Stratford branch, called the hands to gether on Saturday aiternoon and addressed a few words to them on the strike question. He said he had heard that several of them wanted to go to Wellington, and it gave him pleasure to know that they were ready to do their duty and assist' their farmer friends in what was a serious crisis in the country’s history. Ho was quite willing to t allow as many of the staff who cared to volunteer as could posisbly be spared to go on Monday, as he understood the authorities were now asking for more men, and Ik was quite sure Mr Newton King would heartily approve this action. Farmers and their helpers were flocking to the ports, and it was only right that commerce should give the fullest support it could. Those left behind would have to take up some share of the work of those who went, hut he felt certain they would do so gladly. They could not all go down, hut each department could arrange in the way best suited, to its members who should have the honor of going, for it was certainly an honor to take one’s place in the ranks at such a time. Two members of the firm’s Stratford staff had been in Wellington since the beginning of the trouble, and from accounts received they had home themselves well and honorably. Later six names were handed tc Mr Abraham as the men selected to go down this (Monday) morning, making eight in all from Mr King’s Stratford office. A good deal of' disappointment was felt when late on Saturday evening a message arrived stating that no more men were at present. This morning, however, Mr Fnrhy was accepted and went clown to take his place as a special constable. The others remain in readiness in case their services are required.

AUSTRALIAN OPINION

A DEMAND FROM LABOUR.

r Ry Er.F.OTTiTO Teleoraph—Copyright!

[United Press Assort a tton.l (Received 11.50 a.m.) Sydney, Nvein her 17

The Now South Wales branch of the Laboui - Federation of Australasia lias forwarded a resolution to Mr Cookasking the Federal Government to prevent ships from Now Zealand coming to Australia, which might imperil the peaceful relations of industrial affairs in the Commonwealth, especially in view of the fact that the employers in New Zealand are attempting to load vessels with blacklegs. Mr Cook replied that he would be glad to learn what stops the Federation suggests to prevent upheaval. If the Federation’s letter mieans that the Government should take stops to stop or impede ordinary commercial intercourse between New Zealand and the Commonwealth the suggestion is one which, even if the Government possessed the requisite power, they could not entertain,