POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 November 1913, Page 5

POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

EFFORTS AT SETTLEMENT. MOUNTED SPECIALS STONEI). A NEW UNION REGISTERING. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The position in regard to the strike daily becomes more (serious. A truce was observed in Auckland to-day, in order "that final negotiations "be undertaken with a view to a ■settlement. These negotiations indicate that very strong representations

were made to the Employers' Association that that organisation should move in the directlo.il> of a settlement, and prevail on the Wellington employers to abandon the position taken up that any agreement must be registered under flie Arbitration Act.

The terms of to-day's truce were that no free labour should be employed on the waterfront, and no special constables be brought into Queen street. The authorities, however, did not consider that their movements in other directions should be trammelled and arrangements for the protection of life and property have been brought to a further stage of perfection.

One thousand mounted special police are now within call of the city. Otahuhu is the mobilisation centre, and strong detachments, after being sworn in, are today being drafted from the main base to quarters nearer town.

This several hundred mounted men went under canvas at the outer domain, in the city. The enrolment of special constables is proceeding, and lias now reached the thousand mark.

A detachment of mounted men, marching through Epsom this morning, was stoned.

To-day's negotiations for peace were based on a, suggestion that the discussion with a view to a settlement should be opened outside the Arbitration Act.

A counter movement came from the Farmers' Union Executive, which sent a deputation to wait on the Mayor, with a protest that any agreement must be in the direction of permanency, and that the Farmers' Union have a right to be consulted in regard to any arrangement made with the waterside workers. There was some trouble at the exhibition grounds this morning, when the workmen issued an ultimatum to cease work unless the authorities removed the camp of the special mounted police from the exhibition buildings. On the waterfront everything ig quiet. The wharves are absolutely deserted, and the sight is an unique one in the history of Auckland's port. All the boats remain at anchor in the stream.

A. rather sensational "find" was made on one of the wharves by a member of the detective force, who discovered a quantity of gelignite hidden in a place used as a public convenience.

Two of the principal developments in Auckland to-day are contained in an announcement that the trains will cease running to-morrow night in consequence of *tlie coal supply having run out, and that a new union of waterside workers has been formed in Auckland, which will register under the Arbitration Act, and which it is claimed already has a membership of 100. . At Huntly there is no change . Yesterday Mr Giles (Conciliation Commissioner) went to the township, and he wired during the day that he had hopes of a settlement of the trouble there. -The • efforts, however, it is feared were nullified by the receipt, of a telegram from the Federation of Labour Executive in Wellington, which indicated ttiat there could be no settlement in Huntly until the strikes were over in Wellington, Auckland, and other centres. A CORRECTION. NO ARBITRATION UNION FORMED. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The report concerning the formation of au Arbitration Union is said to be incorrect.