THE DEFENDER'S FLOUR.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14837, 1 December 1913, Page 8

THE DEFENDER'S FLOUR.

WHAT THE STRIKE COMMITTEE SAYS.

On behalf of the Strike Committee, Mr W. E. Agar makes the following statement with regard to the loading of the s.s. Defender:—"The Strike Committee had stated in their bulletin that flour.was refused the Defender, and that at the time of going to press with the bulletin it was impossible to ascertain whether or not the flour had been got on board, information being blocked by a posse of constabulary. The fact is," said Mr Agar, "that we could have got the vessel away on Monday evening, but for the lack of flour. The captain and the chief mate both informed mc .that flour was refused by Wood Bros., and that they were endeavouring to get it elsewhere. Mr Wood (? Corson) refers to the difficulty in csaling, showing that he knew all about the attempt to block the -Defender by refusing coal. If the produce and coal had been available in the ordinary way,'the boat could have left on Saturday night, so far as the Strike Committee were concerned. The Strike Committee, had nothing to' do with the giving of the orders, merely with the loading of the boat; but-the direct statements of the captain and chief mate to the Striker Committee were that the flour was refused, and we are itill quite positive that concerted action was taken on the part of various interested parties to -block', the supplies of flour, in.- exactly the same way as the supplies of-"coal were blocked. -"As to the, Strike. Committee not; being able to get information as to whether or hot the flour was got on board, at the time of going to press, local V newspapers wero in exactly the same position. The Strike Committee'did send a messenger to get into touch with, mc, but, owing to the control of the .wharves by, tho constabulary, and the.fact thai passes were' refused to ; strikers, it was impossible for this messenger; to get into touch with mc for some hours. The Strike Committee's statement is practically that flour was refused, and obstructions offered , .to obtainment, of flour, and therefore the vessel was delayed. That is a fact, and -a . fact which the manager of Wood Bros, has not shaken at all. - As to what cargo tho. Defender did take, we. have exact figures, and also times of .loading, . but there is no necessity.to enter into detail l - now. *'. We are content' to know thai -we.; the Strike Committee, got the..food-ship away".- to Westport in spito of,all obstruction." ; •"-• ■-.

MR CORSON'S REPLY. The above was submitted to Mr Cor.son, and he stated:—. ":■;. :.*• * "Had "the Strike Committeo not shown -.such indecent haste to'publish an absolutely . false . statement, no V. contro-. versy. need have arisen. The explanation of posse of constabulary'; no doubt will help to serve their purpose, but there.. were ho in Port on tiio 22nd inst., when tho first lot of flour was-put on board, or again on.the 24th, when the second lot was shipped. >."■'.'-■.■ ■■■/;./■ '-.".';'■ "So far from refusing to make ship*, ment, orders actually, in hand more than twice the space allotted us, I was- anxious to increase the. shipment, and I have no doubt the agents will confirm this on application. I can accept no responsibility for statements made by the' captain or chief - officer; the latter, like the Strike Committee, can only speak from hearsay. The only conversation I have had with the captain was indirect, through our Port agents, when I told him if he could assure mc the ship would load and-sail toe floor should_l_* loaded out immediately, and if tho Strike; Committee will call upon mc I shall be pleased to show tt f™.n*y telegram to that effect. ... Of .course, they look upon everyone now with_suspicion v so their suggestion of concerted action' is hardly worth notice. Certainly there was ho concerted action between the millers or between any_ of the millers and the coal corns' 5 ;,,- Ti k. f - &C t *. at tho ' fo-j'onot obtain bunker coal when she ... left Westport and had to get coal from ■ another ship m Nydia Bay to enable .her to reach Lyttelton, was sufficient to ; show she needed coal to get away, and that was all I knew about it or their 'concerted action.' "The ship's manifest will show wo shipped away half the flour which was . on board, so further. comment is needless.".