THE STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 68, 20 November 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

Activity Among! the Rioters. MINOR ASSAULTS AND INJURIES. Famine Effect on the West Coast Auckland Hotels will remain Closed. AT WELLINGTON. HOTELS REMAIN CLOSED. EXCITEMENT OVER A LOAD OF FLOUR. [Per Press .Association.! Wellington, November 20. Last night another set of orders was sent out by the Mayor, ordering the hotels to close to-day. The Mayor stated that he would judge from day to day what should be done. Some excitement occurred in Frederick Street. A man who drove a load of flour to a bakery M'as considerably molested by strikers and rioters, who threatened to prevent him unloading. A squad of specials passing at the time quickly dispersed the crowd. Four or the specials unloaded the flour.

AT AUCKLAND. RIOTS IN AUCKLAND. MORE GELIGNITE. Auckland, November 19. When -the Makura was leaving for Sydney to-night a large number of specials congregated on the wharf and cheered the steamer 1 as she departed. On the forecastle of the steamer a number of people, believed to be third-class passengers, assembled, and when tire specials cheered these people threw missiles at them. Largo pieces of. wood, iron, bottles, and potatoes formed part of the ammunition used. One special was hit on the head by a flat piece of iron, but beyond receiving a severe shock was not seriously injured. Several other bystanders were also hit, but none were seriously hurt. Two plugs of gelignite with detonators and a piece of fuse, which had been lit and afterwards extinguished, were discovered at Green Lane station, in a convenience there, this morning. The convenience is a private one used by the staff only, and had not been visited since yesterday morning. This morning the gelignite was found lying on the floor, apparently having been thrown under the door. Special Constable Henry Alexander Burbush, aged 26, who has been employed by the Waikato Farmers Association, Hamilton, died at the hospital to-day. Burbush was injured in the Domain camp on Sunday when jumping his horse. A clash took place between the strikers and a small body of specials in Hobson Street, near the' Trades Hall, shortly after live o'cclock this evening. Stones were thrown by the strikers, and some of them brandished forks which they took from a neighboring second-hand shop. Specials had in a few instances to use their batons to protect themselves from the aggressive tactics of some of the strikers, The arrival of reinforcements and uniformed police, and further specials, effectually subdued the disturbance. THE AUCKLAND CLASH.

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS ORDERED BACK TO WORK. BUTCHERS TURN DOWN THE STRIKE. Auckland, November 20. There was a clash between a number of strikers and a small body and special constables near the Trades Hall, Hobson Street, last evening. Stones were thrown at the specials. Some of their assailants brandished spades and forks obtained from a second-hand shop. The specials had to use batons till the arrival of union police subdued the disturbance. The disturbance was caused by specials clearing the crowd of 200 people who wore blocking the traffic in the vicinity of the Trades Hall. One woman was knocked down in tin' melee, and a man was struck on the head with a baton. Neither were seriously injured. A meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, attended by '-'nil members, received a message from the Dominion Ivxecutive, declaring the strike illegal, and ordering the Auckland members to return to work at once, the penalty for rehr;al being forfeiture of the financial

benefits. About hall' of those present

were very hostile to the suggestion. The meeting ended in disorder. Many expressed intention of returning to work immediately.

A meeting of butchers defeated the motion favouring the strike THE AUCKLAND "PUBS." LICENSED VICTUALLERS IN PROTEST. Auckland, November 20. The local Magistrates considered an application by the Licensed Victuallers' Association that the order closing the hotels in consequence of the strike he suspended. Mr Cutten. S.M., said, that so far

th.xse in charge of the strikers were able to exercise excellent control, but if things went against them it was quite probable the men would get completely out of hand. As far as he could see, the necessity for keeping the hotels closed was now greater than at the beginning of the trouble. Counsel for the Licensed Victuallers referred to the orderly behaviour of a large force of specials which were protecting people and property, and the hotelkeepers felt that they were being harshly treated. If any riot occurred, two -Justices of the Peace could exercise the power and have the hotels closed.

Evidence was given that the strike committee decided that the hotels remains closed, and expressed the opinion that the re-opening 'of the hotels would result in bloodshed and civil war.

The opinion of the officer in command of the specials in camp was quoted that the hotels should remain closed. The Magistrates announced that that they would give their decision later.

Later. The Magistrates decided that the hotels must remain closed.

AT CHRISTCHURCH.

ARBITRATIONISTS ASSAULTED. STRIKERS AT DRILL. Christchurch, November 19. A member of the .new union was assaulted in Hereford street this afternoon. He received a blow on the face and sustained a nasty cut on the cheek. An eye-witness stated that the young man who, was slightly built, was being followed by strike pickets, and one of the latter, a sturdy thickset man, suddenly knocked him down with his list. The young fellow picked himself up and went for a policeman, but his assailant took to his heels and disappeared down a right-of-way. He stated that the man has been hanging about the street for some days on the look-out for Arbitrationist laborers. Two stewards from the Tateena who were venturesome enough to wander up the streets of Lyttelton this morning were set upon by a mob near the post office. One managed to get away unhurt, but the other received one or two more or less serious bruises on the face. The opportune arrival of the police saved him from further punishment.

The Christchurch Strike Committee last night resolved that all unions he asked to stand out if necessary for three months if the trouble is not terminated honorably in the meantime. Tt was reported that one of the Committee's pickets attended the meeting of the newly-formed Arbitration Union of Wharf Workers, and submitted a report that a large number of strikers were busily engaged in drilling this morning in one of the hack streets of Lvttelton.

At a meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury Centre of the Farmers' Union, held this morning, the following resolution ' was passed :—■

"The Farmers' Union, at the commencement of the strike, decided to give the strikers ample time to return to work before taking an active part. A direct, breach has been caused by the strikers attacking men who were loading the steamer Maori and other boats, and the precautions already, taken by the community are justified by this act. We feel now that the farming industry is being endangered, and though we do not wish to take action, yet we are reluctantly compelled to take all necessary steps to open the port and deal with our outward and inward cargo."

FAMINE ON THE WEST COAST. BUTCHERS AND BAKERS AT THE END OF THEIR TETHER. Westport, November 20. An attempt was made at 2.30 a.m. to burn down the new railway station building at Stockton. Shavings saturated with kerosene were found. No damage was done. There is no reason whatever to ascribe the crime to industrial conditions. The 'shortage of food throughout the district is reaching a serious staga. The Mangapapa is due this evening with cargo, and this will give some relief. The bakers are all out of flour, and the butchers notify that they are closing on Saturday. VIEWED FROM THE WATERFRONT. SAILING OF THE ATHENIC. THE RIOTING ELEMENT. END NOT IN SIGHT. Mr J. B. Richards, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who is at present "at the front" in Wellington with the Stratford continent of moun-

ted specials, writes as follows to a local resident: — Mount Cook Barracks, 18th November, 1913. The event of to-day was the sailing! of the Athenic and there was much cheering when she east off, laden down to her Plimsoll mark, and many smiling faces from Taranaki gave evidence of the satisfaction experienced. 1 suppose it is an event of much interest apart from the fact that the successful shipping oi' our produce will enable the necessary circulation through the veins of wealth. This is the immediate result, hut the attempt to forcibly prevent transport of our produce is a huge question oi' principle which should not he assailed without 'great consideration and discretion. The idesire to receive all the benefits which the laws confer and at the same time to deny allegiance to them appears to me to have no moral foundation. When we consider that every man and wo'aian has constitutionally and equally J.-.ontributed to the making of the laws '•: necessarily Follows that the results ito date are the most perfect we have Ibeeil able to obtain, and rule and obediurice must he insisted upon. The rioters must now surely realise that there is a virility in the "manhood" of this country to which they so often refer, which will endure much with complacency, hut which when

reused will enforce due obedience to the rules or laws which we have considered advisable to adopt. The worst aspect noticeable now is confined to the'black looks directed cowards the mounted specials. 01 course if any of our men are found at night in small numbers they run •! risk'. Only to-night three men went out and were chased home by a mob, but the latter were not discoverable by a small batch of 10 or a dozen specials who looked for them. The rioters are not game enough to tackle anything approaching even numbers and herein they show discretion. Some of the specials who saw the damaged comrades of about a week ago would hit with a purpose if they came in contact. It is very difficult to say how much longer mounted specials will be required here, but there appears, no "doubt, that some time will elapse hefore the rioting element will be subdued.

THE POSITION IN AUSTRALIA.

CARGO ON N.Z. STEAMERS NOT

TO BE WORKED.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright! (United Press association^ (Received 10.5 a.m.) Sydney, November 20. The. Willochra returns from Newcastle to-day. If the-owners desjrf, the wharf laborers to work the cargo, the attitude the wharf men intend to assume will then become apparent. After a meeting of the Wharf Lab orers' Cnion last night, the secretary stated that the members intend to adhere to their decision not to work the cargo on New Zealand steamers.

, n JOTTINGS. The "Truny (Arbitration) Waterside Workers? TTnion'"at Wellington has a ' membership of9BS/'of whom about 80 a-ore mdibera of tjie oid organisation. 3d manv men have been offering thai vosterday there, haV not been enough work to keep:them all employed, and ivor one hundred of them have been waiting about all day for some of the other vessel's in the stream to berth. Altogether 680 of the men are housed and fed on the Honiucra, Rimutaka. Mararoa, Corinthic, Marere and Dorset .

The atmosphere seems to be charged with an electricity which is contagious. A party of boys who act as veiling agents in Gisborne for a Wellington weekly newspaper have issued :he following ultimatum to the Gisborn'o distributor:—"We boys are on strike for ninenence a dozen, and ii

you do not give it to us you can get someone else." Six initials follow in bold letters. Owing to a lack of proper organisation, it is understood (says the Times) that the strike will be short-lived, and may resolve itself into a lock-out.

It was decided that the contingent of special constables to be sent to Christcliureh from Ashburton should be confined to a hundred. The calibre of those supporting'the movement can bo gauged from the fact that Mr .John Studholme accepted the post oi commander of the contingent, the four troops of 25 each being commanded by Messrs John Kindlay (Lowclilfe), John Grigg . (Longbeach), George S. Hardy (Rakaia), and Henry .1. C. Harper (Hackthorne).

Several of the leading Wellington firms arc paying their clerks 2s 0d an hour tor acting as night-watchmen during the strike.

A story was going the rounds in Wellington on Thursday which may

or may not be true (says the "New Zealand Times"), One of the men employed at a. certain establishment was asked if be were going on strike. '•Oh, yes," was the reply. "You see, it is this nay. Our union lias got a. lot of funds, and we might just as well blow them in on a holiday as give them to the other chaps. We will have to part it up anylimv." It is stated thai one member of a Wellington union lias gone back' to work, and at a meeting held on Thursday afternoon a motion regretting his "industrial decease" was carried in silence, those present standing.

The rforowhonua Chronicle hears that milk for the wives and children of the 'Wellington strikers is being railed daily from a station in the southern end of the county, and that it is the giff of the tanners there. A number of Australian shearers in Masterton looking tor hoards express their intention of shearing whether there ho a call-oul or not. One of theui b reported io have said that

he was not going to be stranded in New Zealand for all the Labor Federations in Christendom. He had paid his

passage to the Dominion, and was going to earn his passage back-, and a little- besides.

A ballot of the Wellington Typographical Society on a proposal to vote £IOO to the wives and children of the men on strike resulted in its being carlied by US votes to 07. A Wellington city business man, m no way concerned wilt the strike or strikers, a day or two ago had a sharp reminder of the times Wellington is passing through. The ladies of the house found a card on a table in one of the rooms with the initials "1.W.W.," and a print of a hand in red. The card stated that the house would be burned down, and the name of the householder was mentioned. It was evident that a mistake had been made in the address, but the name on the card was that of a Harbor Board official living close by. Sure enough, an atetmpt appears to have been made to burn down the house. A fire was discovered in one room, and was confined to it, although the damage was inconsiderable. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police. A few Stratford residents are still enrolling for service as special condegaad ins ao lile Tgallye lnl,ia stables, and will be available for duty in Wellington if required.