WELLINGTON AT WORK.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14831, 24 November 1913, Page 8

WELLINGTON AT WORK.

NINE HUNDRED MEN ENGAGED. ROOM FOR MANY MORE. (special to "the fkkss.") WELLINGTON, November 22. The wharves are getting busier every day. Although the membership of the new Wellington Wharf Laßonrers' Union now stands at 1050 men, of whom 900 put in an appearance and were told off to tho various ships this morniilg, the supply of labour was not enough to carry out aO the work offerjng. Yesterday the services of another eighty men would have been aocepfr-

able, and to-day work could have found for 100 more. Tho position, will be the same on Monday. Good money continues to be made by a large number of the men. In some cases as much as 24s 6d a day has been earned, and the high wages have had the efiect of making many country dwellers turn their eyes townwards. •

Twentj-nine vessels were alongside the wharves to-day, and all but three or tour worked. The Tyser steamer Nerehana, at present loading meat and general cargo at the Glasgow wharf, will probably get away for coastal ports on Tuesday or Wednesday. The Marere, now discharging London cargo at Jervois quay, is to sail for Lyttelton about the same time. The expected arrivals early next week are Opawa (to complete, homeward loading), Canada Cape, from San Francisco, and Arawa, from London via Hobart.

According to present arrangements, the Maunganui will not remain in the ferry service after Friday next, when she returns from Lyttelton. Either the Maori or the Wahine will go south next Friday. The Pateena, which left Wellington for Lyttelton to-night, took away 370 tons of transhipments, ex Home steamers and other vessels.

Monday promises to be another busy day, and twenty-eight steamers will be berthed. Transhipments will be sent forward to Napier, Gisborne, Auckland, .Patea. Wanganui, and southern ports. The Union Company's Kaiapoi goes south to Timaru, Dunediu, and Bluff to-morrow.

It is probable that an offer by a prominent farmer to find 200 workers to sign on the new Watersiders' Uifion, will be arcepted. This step will have to be taken if more town men do not come forward this week.

The rules of the new Waterside Workers' Union are now in the hands of the printer, and they will be distributed shortly. The objects of the Union are set forth as follow:—'/To secure to the union all tho advantages of unanimity of action, and to help the members of the union in maintaining fair conditions of employment; to establish good feeling between employers and employed; to reform abuses connected with the shipping trade generally; to help in any movement having "for its object tho betterment of the workers." Another clause reads: — "Any member who is deemed by the executive of the union to be opposed to the principles of the Act may be expelled from the union by ballot of the members present at a meeting specially called for the purpose." November 23. All was quiet about the city last night and to-day. Strikers' pickets were about at various points, but the police had no trouble in keeping people from congregating in the streets near the waterfront.