NEARLY 300 MEN WORKING.

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

NEARLY 300 MEN WORKING.

MORE EXPECTED TO-DAY.

RAILWAY CASUALS , ATTITUDE.

The total number of men engaged in cargo working oa the Lyttelton waterfront yesterday, including now unionists, ships' crews, permanent railway men, and railway casual wharf labourers, was 274. Every available member of the- new union, of whom seventy were taken to Lyttelton yesterday morning, was at work, and more will ba available to-day. The Union Company's steamer Te Anau has been fitted up to house the now workers, who will b<3 conveyed to and from their floating home by the Harbour Board tug Lyttelton. Considerable interest has been manifested in Lyttelton as to the attitude which would be adopted by the members of the Lytteltori Railway Casual Wharf Labourers' onion. It has been stated, since the strike started, that most of tho members were in favour of starting work as soon as tho port was re-opened, but it would Appear that many of them are afraid of being accused of "scabbing" if they go back to work in tho trucks. The membership of the union numbers 120. A reporter of "The Press" was authoritatively informed last night that 64 were at work yesterday. These men had signed a declaration expressing their intention to stand loyally by the Railway Department and to start work when called upon. About half of the members of this union who had been participating in the gifts of flour, potatoes, etc., presented in response to * recent appeal, apparently had no intention of resuming work when the port was re-opened. It is stated that the Railway Department intends to close the union register at 9 o'clock this morning, when any member, of the union who has not signed the declaration already referred to will not be considered for further employment on the waterfront. A meeting of the union has been called for at 8.30 this morning. An official informed a reporter of "The Press" that ,a full statement of the position woukl be supplied after the meeting. THE DEFENDER COALED.