THE RECEPTION IN LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 10

THE RECEPTION IN LYTTELTON.

When the forces of order arrived there were .very few people about except those concerned in their advent. }3ut quickly the news spread, and by 8 o'clock the crowd 'at the strikers' familiar gathering place, the Post Office corucr, had grown to fairly large dimensions. In it were many of the strikers, but the attitude of ail towards the "specials" was most-respectful. The braggadocio, the talk of what would happen'to the."scabs,? , which hod been so much in evidence in the last few days, was suddenly quenched. Not a hoot was heard, not a muttering of tho word "scab." .. The faces of the strikers were eloquent witness of their feelings. What they had just seen had evidently impressed them, fed as they were upon, the gabble of agitators that this thing would not happen,- that they were supreme, and above the law. Tne only hooting of the "specials" came from strike sympathisers travelling on two departing trains, and- who courageously held.their peace till they were safely under way. The workers' train from Christchurch brought. with it" "a crowd of waterside workers who live in the city and suburbs. Curiosity was felt as-to the attitude would 'adopt, but they gt>t off: the train and walked from the station without a word, but with a dazed expression; suggesting the inward query, "Can such things be. under the Red Federation's reign?". :--> ■-.'/'■■• .■'•.■ . ",.-'.' -.-:•■. • Presently the strikers hetook themselves! to- the"Oddfellows' Hall:to discuss: the latest situation. As the meetings there are of the Star . Chamber order; and in the nature-of a secret society, reporters are not admittedyand what happened'there is not available. After the arrival pf the "specials," no one was admitted on to the wharves a: pass... One :of the first to for-one was Mr H. R. Voyce, secretary of the old Lyttelton Waterside Workers'.Union.