THE HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 11

THE HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.

The synopsis of the nistory of the Wellington Waterside Workers' strike, and the events leading up to it from the genesis of the trouble till the present time, is as follow : — . Friday, October 17. —Shipwrights asked for increase in wages. Saturday, October 18.—Shipwrights ceased work.

Monday, October tlu. —First mass meeting Waterside Workers' Union, at which it was decided to call a "stopwork" meeting, to be held at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2*2. Wednesday, October 22.—"Stopwork" meeting of Waterside Workers' Union held on wharf, \\nilo men were attending meeting, whicfi, being held in working hours, was , a breach ot agreement, other union men were put on to work in their places. Union decided that "stop-work" men be reinstated in their positions. Employers decided that men's action in knocking off work in breach of agreement terminated the agreement with the union, which had been entered into m 1912. Waterside Workers' Union hand control of strike over to the Federation of Labour. Waterside Workers' Union 6trikes.

Thursday, October 23.—Big mass meeting strikers. Wharves picketed. Union S.S. Company pays crews off colliers. Free labourers commence work. Negotiations between strike delegates and employers fail. Report of intention of Waterside Workers' Union to rogjster a second union under the Arbitration Act. Speeches in the Post Office square. Friday, October 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference of Federation of Labour delegates proves abortive. Employers decide . to cease work as far as handling cargo is concerned. Fifty police guard the

wharves." Warehouse clerks work cargo ixi small steamers.

Saturday, October 25.—Further scenes of violence on wharves. Steamers Defender and Nikau rushed —crows intimidated. Police from country arrive. Employers issue v statement to tho effect that no watersiders will bo employed until a, fresh organisation bo formed and registered under Arbitration Act. Watersidera decide to continue strike.- Harbour Board pickets tho wharves. ■ .

Sunday, October '2*5. —Mass meeting at 2.15 p.m. In Post Office square. Procosoiou to Hasin Reserve. Gate broken down by crowd. -Inflammatory speeches by strike leaders. Monday, October 2". —Labour Day and a holiday. Observed by'strikers as ■well as the public. No change in the situation. ■ .

Tuesday, October 'J8. —Conference between employers and employees, with Hon. W. F. -Massey, Prime Minister, as chairman. More * police arrive, s.e. Nikau rushed. All .earners move to an anchorage in the .stream. Racehorses allowed to leave for south.

Wednesday, October 29.—Employers' proposals from previous evening's conference submitted to the watersiders. and rejected. JRaid made on flour and other provisions being sent to Day's Bay by Cobar. Goods subsequently allowed to be shipped. Further violent speeches by agitators in tho Post Olhco tquaro. Encounter at night between suspected free labourers and strikors at Waterloo Quay. Auckland and Westport watereiders strike. • Thursday, October 30.—Strikers assault special constables, Waterloo Quay fence broken down and horses liberated. Men of H.M.tS. Paj'che on parade. Psyche's stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. Mounted constables parade streets and charge strikers in Post Office square. Three hundred special constables sworn in. Onset on Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs' shop; constable severely wounded. Prime Minister states the- Government's position. Lyttelton watersiders strike. Friday, October 33. —Striko widens. Strong reinforcements of special constables ride into Wellington. Fresh efforts at settlement; men reject shipowners' proposals. Prices of commodities rising. Victim of strikers' brutality sent to Mental Hospital. Government buildings in Wellington guarded. Intimidation by strikers in Auckland. State coal miners go out. Dunedin watersiders join strike. Shipping paralysed in Lyttelton. ' Saturday, November I.—Further contingonte of special constable arrive in Wellington. Strikers .attack train' at Tokomaru. Violent element in Wellington less active. Public resentment grows. Greymouth wharf labourers strike.' Wahine men give notice. Excitement on her departure to Wellington. •Permanent force.parades in capital. Sunday, November 2. —Deputation from. Federation of Labour, accompanied by Leader of Opposition waits on Primo Minister. Offer to renew agreement with penalty for stoppage of work. Inflammatory (speeches in Newtown Park. Federation leader announces that a. settlement is possible. Monday, November 3rd.—Serious affray in Wellington. Strikers fire, on polico and Permanent Force. Conference, presided oyer by Mr Massey, between representatives of strikers and employers, sits and adjourns until next day. Threat by secretary of Merchant Service Guild that masters and mates will not servo if free labour is employed: threat repudiated by Dunedin and Lvttclton branches. Split in Seamen's Union continues. Wellington Seamen's Union support strikers. Wahino men leave ship; more boats laid up. Further enrolment of special constables.

Tuesday, November 4th.—Strike conference proves abortive; employers insist on arbitration under Act. Another riot in Buckle street; crowd again uses revolvers and dangerous missiles. Blackball and Brunncr coalminers out. Tramway mon in Auckland threaten striko; Christchurch tFamway men may striko if free labour is used. Wellington shipowners demand protection for free labour. Maori's men stick to their ship. Manourika's men to go out to-day. Wednesday, November sth—Violent ecencs in Wellington. Ono thousand mounted specials riding to protect the shipping of racehorses, assailed by violent multitude of strikers and strike sympathisers. Serious street fighting: ri.any casualties and several arrests. Racehorses . successfully shipped by Maunganui. Prime Minister says Cabinet is considering special legislation. Special constables concentrating in, Auckland, and Maori held up by defection of firemen and does not sail for Wellington.

Thursday, November 6th —Mounted epecial constables occupy and guard Wellington wharves. New union of waterside workers . registers under Arbitration. Act and under guard successfully" loads cheese on the Athenic. Order generally maintained in Wellington. Humour that strikers are growing weary. Prime Minister announces Conciliation Commissioner, negotiating for settlement on a basis that will necessitate legislation. ltacehorses peacefully landed in Lyttelton. Maun- , ganui sails for Wellington with passengers and mails. Decided to hold Carnival Week fixtures as usual. Announced that Auckland trams will ceaso running in 2-1 hours for lack of fuel. Citizens Defence Committee formed in Wellington. Friday, November 7th—A quieter day. Maunganui sails from Wellington, with passengers, mails, and racehorses. Seamen of Moana leave chip in Wellington. Willoehra unloaded by members of new Watersiders , Union; rumour that her cro.w will join strikers. New union in Wellington increasing in strength; members of old union joining. New union formed in Dunedin ; mooted in Lyttelton. • _ Increasing unrest in Auckland. Minister of Justice to enquire into charges of neglect of duty by number of police constables. General strike ordered by Federation. Employers stand firm." Maori again held up at Lvttclton.

Saturday, November Bth.—Federation clecides to call general strike. Maori still unable to sail for Wellington. Mc-'iiganui arrives from Lyttelton with passengers, mails, and racehorses, returns to Wellington and sails from Wellington for Sydney. Work proceeding on various steamers at Wellington. Auckland wharves occupied by police and "specials" in early morning,, and work proceeding. Union's room raided and dangerous weapons found. In Wellington Federation makes offer, which omployers, pledged to support arbitrationist union, reject. Jaot'els close in Auckland. Trams cease running. Various unions go out. Eioters fined and imprisoned in Wellington. Attempt by Federation to call out all seamen opposed by Auckland and Dunedin delegates.

Sunday, November 9th.—A generally quiet day. Federation secretary states all unions to bo called out Monday. Monday, November JOth—Work proceeding on Auckland and Wellington wharves. Willochra's fruit unloaded in Wellington and safely conveyed to fruit mart. Disorder in Auckland;, rowdy crowd dispersed by special constables. _ Pateena leaves Wellington on ferry trip. Wellington drivers decide to strike. Seamen in favour of strike. General strike ordered by Federation. Wellington .Citizens' Defence Committee issues statement declaring no surrender and no dealing with Federation. New Zealand Farmers , Union announces farmers will &cc strike through at any cost. Moderate Labour men denounce strike. Impressive statements by the Hon. J. Barr and Mr M. J. Reardon. Quiet day in Wellington and Lyttelton.

Tuesday, November 11th.—Semple. Fraser, Holland, and Bailey in Wellington. A generally orderli' day. Unions m:ike little restxmoo to general striltte call. Increased activity oji Auckland wharves. Steamers loaded and others unloaded in Wel-

lington without trouble. Ferry service resumed. Pateona arrives with stokehold manned by officers and engineers. Dunedin seamen refuse to go out. Warm debate in Parliament. Wednesday, November 1-th —Another striko orator arrested in Auckland, charged with sedition. Young, President of Federation of Labour, arrested in Wellington. Work oa wharves proceeding at Auckland, Wellington, and other ports. Nelson fanners break strike locally. Ferry service maintained. .New Waterside Union registered in Dunedin. Announcement that work will prohably begin in Lyttelton on Monday. A quietday generally. Some Wellington unions unsympathetic towards etrike.

Thursday, November 13th.—Work continues on Wellington and Auckland wharves. Conditions in Wellington rapidly returning to normal. Moana sails for San Francisco. Goods carted from wharves through city; no disorder. Drivers returning to work. Auckland labourers abandon strike. Shearers not to go out. Signs of collapsing of striko increasing everywhere.

Friday, November 14th —Strike continues to weaken. Meznborship of new Wellington Watersiders' Union ntsirs GOO. - Twenty-two ships being worked in Wellington. Only tour out oi fiftythree unions respond to . Federation's striko appeal. Preparations to open Dunedin wharves: no trouble expected. United Labour Party issues a manifesto calling on affiliated unions not to strike. Maori to sail for Wellington to-night. Christchureh Citizens' Committee informs Lyttelton watersiders that work will begin next week, and suggests registration under the Act.

Saturday. November loth.—Lyttelton waterside work ere reject proposal of Citizens' Committtoe. Arrangements made to worik Lyttolton and Dunedin with other labour.

Monday, November _1 7t.1t.—Three steamers beinp; worked in Lyttclton. Work proceeding busily at Auckland and Wellington. Tuesday, November iSth.—Wharves busy in Auckland, where the cud is thought near, and in Wellington. Tho Athenic, fully loaded, sails for I-ondon amidst great enthusiasm. Work proceeds peacefully with a'rbitratiomsts' labour in Dunedin. Scenes of violence and disorder in Lyttelton. Riotous mob ot strikers forcibly prevent tho loading of cargo ou tho Maori and stop the working of tho Canopns, Northern, and Melbourne. Camp for special constables formed at Addington. Maori and Patcena maintain ferry service. JO.olmdo.lo unloads at Hokitika.

Wednesday, November 19th —Strong camp of mounted "specials* , established at Addington. Cases of intimidation in Lyttelton. Minor disorders in AVellington and Auckland promptly suppressed I>V ''specials," and arrests rnado. Hotels closed in Wellington. Arrested Federation leaders further remanded. New Watersiders' Union in "Urllington neare membership of 1000. Wharves busily working in Auckland, ihinedin, and Wellington—2-i steamers being worked at the last-named port. Ferry service maintained each way. Te Anau leaves Wellington to servo as house-boat for Lyttolton Arbitrationists.

Thursday, November 20th— Furthei detachment of mounted "specials" go into Addington camp. Men in all trade* returning to work in Auckland—l4oo rnoro working than on Monday . Wharves busy in Wellington, and Auckland., Coal difficulty lightened in Wellington. Strike meothig in the capital results in brilliant mobilisation of "specials," and prevention of disorder. Ferry service maintained.