WORK ON THE DORSET

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 12

WORK ON THE DORSET

INTIMIDATION OF RAILWAY UNIONISTS., ■ There /were signs of incipient trouble in connexion with-the discharging - of the big Federal Line steamer Dorset, which has a large quantity of general cargo.from Glasgow, ; Liverpool and other.West of England ports. It.was decided to start work with three gangs of men and having in mind the statement of the Lyttelton Railway Casual Wharf Labourers' Union that they were loyal to the Railway > Department, and were willing to. work cargo, and that many of their members were, feeling the pinch of unemployment, ■ the stationmaster and goods agent, Mr J.; P. Matheson, decided to., employ ;>one gang of men made up from their ranks, in addition to two gangs of permanent railway men. Accordingly the president, secretary and treasurer of the Railway .Union were told off for work at the Dprset. Then the strikers' pickets got to work, and the matter developed into one of pure intimidation. The three men were, it is stated, threatened by the strikers that if they werked, there would be serious trouble. ; They accordingly approached Mr Matheson and informed him of the position they were in and stated that they v ero afraid to go to work. When the Dorset was making ready to start j there . were a few strike pickets, the vicinity of the., wharf, and they evidently apprised the main body of strikers "of the position of affairs'. A little later two strikers approached Mr Matheeon and informed him that if work were carried on-with the assistance-of the three railway casual unionists, they feared there would be trouble, and stated that they could not guarantee that the main body of strikers would not take matters into their own hands -and go to the Dorset and stop all work. It was more than likely that the men would get beyond control and would rush the wharf. Mr Matheson then told Mr Garrard, manager for Kinsey and Co., agents for the Dorset," of the position. After a consultation, Mr Garrard saia he did not wish'to risk tho total stoppage'of the Dorset, and rather than that should occur, he would prefer to "work the steamer one gang short of the three that had been arranged for. Accordingly the'three railway casual unionists were not employed, an 3 the work of discharging commenced with two gangs of men, the crew of Dorset working in .tho holds and at the winches, and the permanent railway men. in the trucks on the wharf. - The two gangs were employed during the day in discharging cargo from the forward hold. It was noticeable that pickets ■ were stationed on tho road above the end of No.. 7 wharf, and that patrols passed arid repassed the wharf during the day. keeping a watchful eye on • the steamer. -