AT AUCKLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10924, 13 November 1913, Page 7

AT AUCKLAND.

THE CITY QUIET. EIGHT THOUSAND IDLE. ANOTHER STRIKE MANIFESTO. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, November 12. Although six thousand men aro on strike and another couple of thousand aro idlo becauso of tho strike, there has been absolutely no oxeitement in Auckland to-day. The change worked during the past fortnight has been a really remarkable one. Fourteen days ago tho waterside workers came out on strike and took possession of the waterfront. They marched in squads each composed of a couple of hundred mon, from wharf to wharf; they prevented vehicle?) going up on the wharf, and prevented seamen from passing cargo from the ships into the wharf shecls. Tho strikers had absolute control of tho waterfront for just eight days. Then tho special police took a hand and a remarkable change was wrought. Shipping work goes on again, and the mounted police patrol the whole city and there is never as much as a " boo " hurled at them now.

Business people talk hopefully of tho. strike collapsing;, but those who ■Claim to be most "in tho know" assert that there can be no settlement this sido of Christmas. The exhibition is duo to .open in three weeks and if the strike is nob settled by then the result will indeed be serious. The. employers are confident of a victory, and tho Citizens' Committee this morning passed a resolution deprecating any attempt =to* introduce legislation for tho purpose of effecting a settlement, arguing that the strike is settling itself. Tho . Strike Committee on the other hand declares that it is content with tho wa t y things are shaping and says that it is just playing a waiting game. Tho Auckland "Star," in a leading article to-night,. declares that tho strikers are sacrificing themselves in a forlorn hope. STRIKERS' MANIFESTO.

A Strike Committee manifesto issued to-day says:-r-"\Ve have been perfectly willing to meet the other side with whom we are directly concerned. Wo have tried to obtain such a meeting but we have never been successful. _We have met others who were not directly concerned, influential citizens who have kindly acted as intermediaries, but we have not met the men directly opposed to us. Now they say tliey won't meet the representatives of tho Federation. The Federation officials, however, are riot anxious to get into the limelight. The Federation \was not responsible for the strike and is not responsible for tho continuance of it. You can't kill this movement by putting the leaders in prison. There are really no leaders. This is a revolt of the rank and file of the workers against the intention of the Coercion Bill. Hitherto arbitration has been voluntary but the decision of tho Employers' Federation has been to make it compulsory. That accounts for the revolt. So far from being successful in its attempt to crush the strike it has really fanned it. ■ Yftu can never succeed in killing the' spirit that actuates tho workers now on strike. Any success the Employers' Federation may gain will be only temporary. In place of a cheerful working class they will have a sullen one. The blame does not rest with us but with the farmers. Thr 1 strike is simply for the right to organise as' we think fit. The same people who oppose pur efforts at organisation have their own national Federation. They could not settle the trouble in Aucicland without consulting their national executive in Wellington, but they object to us having a national executive."

THE STANDING ARMY. COST OF THE SPECIAL POLICE. It will be interesting to know what the breaking of the strike is going to cost the State. It is understood that the 1800 mounted men now in camp in the Domain receive 18s per day and that the 1200 special foot constables receive 10s per day. Ixf addition they aro fed on a lavish scale. The.se men have been in camp for a week or more and it is safe to say that it is costing well over £2OOO per day to maintarn the small standing army uow in Auckland. At a meeting of the Citizens' Defence Committee this morning it was stated by the Farmers' Union representatives tiiut the defence force could be kept up to its present strength until the end of the year, and that if necessary another 750 men could be found to 6ervo as special constables in Auckland for a further period of three' months. SPECIALS FIND TIME TO WED. Two of the men in the mounted camp at the Domain are to be married tomorrow and receive leave of absence for the day for the purpose. They resume their duties on Friday. At a meeting of the Citizens'_ Defence' Committee held this morning this fact was mentioned, and it was decided to present each man with a silver tea and coffee service as a wedding gift. A member of the force of fcot "specials" now accommodated on the Queen Street wharf is also to be married tomorrow, and he is to receive a similar presentation, which will be made by the Mayor.

BACK TO WORK. WHAT EMPLOYERS SAY. [Per Peess Association.] AUCKLAND, November 12.Employers in all parts of the town to-day, when interviewed by a "Herald" reporter, stated definitely that largo numbers of their men who had gone on strike on Saturday and Monday, were asking permission to come back to work. The impression was general that the strike fever -which had spread so suddenly over the town was dying away as suddenly, and that within a week all the men except extremists would return to their duties. Tiie moral effe'et of tho opening up of the port and tho re-commencement of carting business had been very great. It was generally believed that so far as the carters and drivers were concerned the strike was at an end. Almost every employer reported that lie had received applications for reinstatement. Farmers and new workers from tho country wero driving many carts into the city, and many of them who aro thoroughly competent men have been taken on permanently. Some of tho employers aro hesitating to take on new men in place of some of their old and vaiuabio servants who have gone oil strike,' but it is generally understood that if the men aro not back at work within the next two days their places will be filled without compunction.

It is estimated that fully a quarter

of tho carts mul lorries put out of commission on Saturday were in operation again to-day. One linn, for instance, had fourteen carts out, six of them driven by old unionists who returned to work yesterday. These employers expect to have all their carts going again within a few days, the majority in charge of their own men. One of tho largest carrying (inns in the city, li"0 of whose men went, on striko, had twenty carts running yesterday, driven by farmors_ nnd others. Twelve of their men applied yesterday for reinstatement and were instructed to (start work to-morrow morning, and others aro expected to return. INCITING TACTICS. COMPLAINTS AGAINST SPECIAL POLICE. Complaints have been- made by strikers as to tho conduct of somo of tho special constables, and tho matter has been laid beioro [superintendent kiely, who has undertaken to givo it his attention. The following is a copy of a letter forwarded oil behalf ol the Central Strike Committoo at Auckland to Sir Joseph "Ward " Sir,—l have been directed by tho Auckland Strike Committee to writo to you drawing your attention to tho following facts regarding tho behaviour ol : tho ' special police' stationed in this city. It was understood when these ' specials' wore introduced horo that it was done for reasons set out hereunder, viz., for tho protection of life and property and freo labour. They have now, however, taken up a new role. They are to ba seen walking about in twos and threes, swinging largo batons arid adopting oilier inciting tactics, such as jostling pedestrians, whether connected with the striko or otherwise. Evidently this is done with a view of causing resentment, so that a breach of the peace may eventuate." Other allegations are then made, and tho letter concludes "Now, sir, what the committee asks is that the specials bo confined to their duties on 'tho respective wharves or else bo utilised as escorts for vehicles, but that they may not be allowed the freedom of this city and suburbs, to indulge in the behaviour they have already been guilty of. The committee trusts you will ventilate this matter from tho floor of the House.—(Signed), Curran, Secretary, Central Strike Committee."