HOOTS AND DISORDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10926, 15 November 1913, Page 7

HOOTS AND DISORDER.

MEETING OUT OF HAND. FED. LEADERS JEERED AT. AND CHAIRMAN HUSTLED. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 15. A meeting of the General Labourers Union was held last night, 200 present, to consider the strike matters. Messrs Hickey and Parry were heard. Tho former said that M. J. Reardon, secretary of tho Union, had made an attack upon the rights of workers. He also condemned the executive of the Union. . Messrs Parry and Hickey ultimately left the room amidst considerable noise and hooting and jeering from the majority. . .. When the meeting resumed a motion was proposed that the action of the executive in taking a secret .'allot was unconstitutional. The mover spoko heatedly for nearly twenty minutes and then 160 members left the building. The president, Mr Stott, declared the meeting closed and instructed the secretary to close the office. About forty members then caused a scene of wild confusion. The officers vrere threatened and an endeavour was made to force Mr Reardon to take the chair. Some others jostled tho president and forced him again to take the chair. Ho appealed for fair play, but the offensive tactics were continued and the forty remaining members decided to hold a meeting of their own, and the president and secretary were not allowed to leave. This meeting passed a resolution call-

ing a special meeting for Monday night with the object of relieving the secretary from office. Tho meeting then broke up in disorder. The secretary of tho Union says that the executive will stand to its guns and refuse to allow the majority to be browbeaten. The majority will, he declares, stand by the result of a ballot. The new Union's membership now totals 650. RED HANDED. RIOTER STEALS COALS. Henry Groll, who has been prominent in riots and has previous convicJ tions for various offences, was caught I redhanded this morning stealing coal ■ from the corporation yards. He was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. Donald Clark, who called specials "scabs," was fined £4. ATHENIC LEAVES SOON. The Athenic has nearly completed loading, and will leave on Tuesday for London. | RUMOUR OF POISON. It is freely rumoured that the water troughs in the city have been poisoned, and a number of horses other than those of specials havo suffered. TO OPEN OAMARU. APPLICATIONS ASKED. ARBITRATIONS ONLY. [Per Pebss Association.] OAMARU, November 15. An attempt will be made to open this port shortly. A meeting of men interested in shipping held this afternoon decided to invito applications to those willing to work as a Union registered under the Arbitration Actj which will not unlikely be joined by the watersiders not in sympathy with the strike. The attitude of the local men is that of passive resistance, and they say they will do nothing to counteract any move made by the other side. A rumour that the Union Company will pass the. port with boats unless worked by arbitrationists is not without justification. NO NEW UNION. [Pra Passs Association.] I OAMARU, November 15. The watersiders, at a meeting last night, decided by a three to one majority not to fqi'm a new union under the Arbitration : Act. Some claim that they will lose 3d an hour if they go back to arbitration, but this lacks confirmation. SPECIALS HANDY. FOR DUNEDIN COUP. MONDAY SEES OPEN PORT. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, November 15. The officers and engineers of the Union Company's fleet now in Dunedin, getting tired of their enforced idleness, have appealed to the company to be allowed to remove the impasse with the waterside workers. As a consequence, the Arbitrationists will on Monday begin unloading. There will be special horse anu foot constables to furnish protection if their services are required. , It is reported that there are 350 men in Middleinarcb and at Shag Valley prepared to come into town if wanted as specials. The Dunedin Iron and Brass Moulders' Union has protested against the Government's action in dealing with the strike leaders. SWEARING IN. WORK NEXT WEEK. [Pes Pbess Association.] DUNEDIN, November 15. One hundred and thirty special constables, city men, were sworn in up to noon to-day. It is expected,that there will be 500 by the evening. The membership of the new Union is said to be now between seventy and eighty. It is officially announced that work starts early next week. Sir James Mills left for Wellington this morning.