THE END OF STRIKE RULE.

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

THE END OF STRIKE RULE.

WHY THE "SPECIALS" WERE ENROLLED.

For nearly four weeks the strikers and their associates had been" masters of the situation at the Port. Work on the wharves had only been possible when the strikers pleased to allow it. One. steamer "had discharged her cargo and had left the port during the past week, and others had been working in a more or less "hand-to-mouth" fashion. The strikers had rushed the steamer John the morning after the strike started and had stopped her loading, and they had made demonstrations at the departure of the terry steamers on several occasions; they had called "scab" to the permanent employees of the. Union Company,, who, not being members of any'union, had remained loyal and. had coaled the ferry steamers. One of these men had been frequently threatened with personal violence, and a miscreant marauder had- raided" and ruined his garden. Last Tuesday a mob ,of some 200 strikers arid others had rushed '-the wharf* and > prevented the .loading of cargo , on the : Maori,, which was' "unprotected, and then, flushed with excitement had swarmed on to the wharv«s and had completely stopped all. work, even at ships" which they had allowed , to start. The repeated 1 public promises that the strikers would confine themselves'to a policy of "passive resistance," .and that no violence would =be offered, were broken,' yet their leaders,, probably' because they were powerless, had not interfered- There had been cases of assault in the streets, and numerous people had been subjected to continued insults and'threate by strikers in the public thoroughfares. The position had become almost intolerable, and with the continued delay in affording adequate, protection'to people having business in the Port, the strikers had: come to regard the ■ situation, as, being -entirely in their hands. They had practically dared the authorities to open the port and to provide the necessary protection, and many had openly boasted of the warm reception they would accord to special constables and members of the new Watersiders' Union. ■ > .' But plans had-been carefully laid to deal with the critical situation, and yesterday morning ;eaw the end of the strikers' despotic rule. ..