THE STRIKE POSITION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 71, 24 November 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE POSITION

Strikers Looking to Australia for Support. M tration ists Steadily Browing, Matters Quiet in the Oominion AT WELLINGTON. HUNTING UP THE RIOTERS. SATURDAY AFTERNOON RUSH TO PETONE PUBS. ALLEGED ILLICIT TRADING. THE STRIKERS' BOAST. [Per Press Association.! Wellington, November 2-1. Arrests still continue to be made of men alleged to be implicated in some of the rowdiness in the early days of the strike. Edward Harrington, who was accused of taking part in an assault on special constables on October. 30, when a small band of them were caught unprepared and were chased off the Reclaimed Land, was committed for trial. Bail to the amount of £2OO was allowed.

One. effect of the embargo on the city hotels was the great influx of visitors to Petone on Saturday afternoon. It is freely stated that prosecutions will take place in the city for non-ob-servance of the closing of the hotels. Meetings of strkers were held yesterday, the principal feature of which was the boast that the strike would soon extend to Australia and traffic with it would be stopped.

ACTIVITY ON THE WHARVES.

PLENTY OF CARTERS.

Wellington, November 24. /The appearance of the wharves this morning did not bear out the reported shortage of drivers. For one steamer alone thirty vehicles were lined up. With, transhipments, the scene was one of exceptional activity. The new Union's membership is 1130, including 100 strikers.

AT AUCKLAND. STRIKE COMMITTEE STATEMENT. GENERAL STRIKE OFF. Auckland, November 24. An official statement has been issued by the Strike Committee to the effect that it incorrectly reported it had been decided to call the strike off. Except for the transport workers, it is admitted that an agreement was arrived that it would be good strategy to allow all the other unions to resume work and contribute to keep the sectional strike alive.. Certain unions, however, refused to resume even on the advice of the central strike committee. These unions are the brewery employees, general laborers, harbor board employees, hotel and restaurant workers, and the bricklayers".

It may be taken that the general strike is off except for the transport unions and those enumerated.

LOSS IN WACES. A SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT. Auckland, November 23. It is estimated that the loss in wages so far has been about as follows: £. Waterside workers 10,500 Huntly miners 8,000 Carpenters ... ... ... 3,500 Seamen and firemen' 3,000 General laborers 3,000 Gartens ... 2,800 Hotel and Restaurant workers 2,500 Timber workers 2,400 Tramwaymen 2,000 Furniture workers ... ... 1,500 Northern coal miners 1,200 Painters 1,200 Harbor Be«»rd employees ...' 1,600 City Comic 1 ' employees ... 1,000 Bricklayers ... ' ... ... 950 Engine-drivers ... ... ... 000 Hikurangi miners ... ... 000 Total £46,650 SPECIALS THANKED. BY WARSHIP COMMANDER.

Auckland, November 21

Captain Stopford, commander of H.M.S. Pyramus, in a letter to the officer in command of the special constables, says: "I wish it were possible to express in an adequate manner my thanks to those volunteers who assisted to coal the Pyramus. it was an incident, 1 think, without parallel in the history of the navy. There can he little fear for the future of a country which produces men of such spirit. Deeds like this help one to realise the cause of the greatness of the British Empire. Do me the favour of conveying to those thorough sportsmen a message of appreciation from every soul on hoard the ship, by allowing this letter, to be read on parade. Believe mo, the incident will never be forgotten. This is but a poor

way of expressing my feelings. I beg to remain, yours very gratefully, P. T. Stopford, Comamnder.” WATERSIDERS’ NEW UNION. MAKING MEMBERS. Auckland, November 24. About one hundred more men joined the new waterside union this morning, making the member-ship nearly 900.

ALL QUIET AT DUNEDIN

Dunedin, November 24

The Seamen's Union meeting on Saturday does not alter the position of affairs. The Union will not control che men's opinion as to the shipping; hut the men individually are adverse to the risk of wordy abuse and pinpricks from strikers. The steamer Northern berthed quietly at the Cross Wharf and is discharging two hatches, one with arbitration ist gangs and the other with her own crew. The Taviuni is discharging coal into railway trucks unmolested. It is the most peaceful morning ot three weeks so far. The fulfilment of Mr Belcher's promise to the Seamen's Union in sending a representative to Lytetlton is being watched with interest by the seamen. APPEAL TO AUSTRALIANS. [By Electric Telegraph— Copyrightl [United Press Association.] (Received 10.5 a.m.) Sydney, November 24. The Labor Council has issued an appeal to the unions on behalf of the New Zealand strikers. SHIPPING MOVEMENTS. Sydney, .November 21. The Manuka was advertised this morning to sail at an early date. It is understood that an effort will be made to get the Willochra away on Wednesdav.

''l WON'T WORK!"

THEIR WEAPON, THE STRIKE.

(Received 9.10 a.m.) Sydnev, November 2-1

The Herald deprecated the spread of the New Zealand strike to Australia, and says: The fact of the matter is thel.W.W. admittedly have no time for arbitration of any kind. Their weapon is the strike—-the bigger the better. The understanding between New Zealand and Sydney is only a pale reflection of what they like had they the power.