THE HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14838, 2 December 1913, Page 8

THE HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.

The synopsis of th© nistory of the Wellington Watersido Workers' strike, and the events leading up to it from the genesis of the trouble till the present time, is as follow: — Friday, October 17.—Shipwrights asked for increase in wages. Saturday, October 18. —Shipwrights ceased work. Monday, October 2u. —First mass meeting Waterside Workers' Union, at which it was decided to call a "stopwork" meeting, to be held at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22. Wednesday, October 22. —"Stopwork" meeting of Waterside Workers' Union held on wharf. Wnile men were attending meeting, which, being held in working hours, was a breach of agreement, other union men were put on to work in their places. Union decided that "stop-work" men bo reinstated in their positions. Employers decided that men's action in knocking off work in breach of agreement terminated the agreement with the union, which had been entered into in 1912. Waterside Workers' Union hand control of strike over to the Federation of Labour. Waterside j Workers' Union strikes. .

Thursday, October 23. —Big mass meeting of strikers. Wharves picketed. Union S.S. Company pays crews off colliers. Free labourers commence work. Negotiations between strike delegates and employers fail. Report of intention of Watersido Workers' Union to register a second union under tho Arbitration Act. Speeches in the Post Office square. Friday, October 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference of Federation of Labour delegates proves abortive. Employers decide to cease work as far as handling cargo is concerned. Fifty police guard the wharves. Warehouse clerks work cargo in small steamers.

Saturday, October 25. —Further scenes of violence on wharves. Steamers Defender and Nikau rushed —crews intimidated. Police from country arrive. Employers issue a statement to the effect that no watersiders will be employed until a fresh organisation be formed and registered under Arbitration Act. Watersiders decide to continue strike. Harbour Board pickets the wharves. Sunday, October 26. —Mass meeting at 2.15 p.m. In Post Office square. Procession to Basin Reserve. Gate broken down by crowd. Inflammatory speeches by strike leaders. Monday, October 27. —Labour Day and a holiday. Observed by strikers as well as the public. No change in the situation.

Tuesday, October 28.—Conference between employers and employees, with Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, as chairman. More police arrive, s.s. Nikau rushed. All steamers move to an anchorage in the stream. Racehorses allowed to leavo for south. - Wednesday, October 29.—Employers' proposals from previous evening's conference submitted to the watersiders, and rejected. Raid made on flour and other provisions being sent to Day's Bay by Cobar. Goods subsequently allowed to be shipped. Further violent speeches by agitators in the Post __ice square. Encounter at night between suspected free labourers and strikers at Waterloo Quay. Auckland and Westport watersiders strike. Thursday, October 30.—Strikers assault special constables, Waterloo Quay fence broken down and horses liberated. Men of H.M.S. Psyche on parade. Psyche's stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. Mounted constables parade streets and charge strikers in Post Office square. Three hundred special constables sworn in. Onset on Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs' shop; constable severely wounded. Prime Minister states the Government's position. Lyttelton watersiders strike. Friday, October 31.—Strike widens. Strong reinforcements of special constables ride into Wellington. Fresh efforts at settlement; men reject shipowners' proposals. Prices of commodities rising. Victim of strikers' brutality sent to Mental Hospital. Government buildings in Wellington guarded. Intimidation by strikers in Auckland. State coal miners go out. Dunedin watersiders join strike. Shipping paralysed in Lyttelton. Saturday, November L—Further contingents of special constable arrive in Wellington. Strikers attack train at Tokomaru. Violent element in Wellington less active. Public resentment grows. Greymouth wharf labourers strike. Wahine men give notice. Excitement on her departure to Wellington. Permanent force parades in capital. Sunday, November 2.—Deputation from Federation of Labour, accompanied by Leader of Opposition waits on Prime Minister. Offer to renew agreement with penalty for stoppage of work. Inflammatory speeches in Newtown Park. Federation leader announces that a settlement* is possible. Monday, November 3rd.—Serious affray in Wellington. Strikers fire on police and Permanent Force. Conference, presided over by Mr Massey, between representatives of strikers and employers, sits and adjourns until next day. Threat by secretary of Merchant Service Guild that masters and mates will not serve if free labour is employed: throat repudiated by Dunedin and Lvttelton branches. Split in Seamen's Union continues. Wellington Seamen's Union support strikers. Wahine men leave ship; more boats laid up. Further enrolment of special constables.

Tuesday, November 4th. —Strike conference proves abortive; employers insist on arbitration under Act. Another riot in Buckle street; crowd again uses revolvers and dangerous missiles. Blackball and Brunner coalminers out. Tramway men in Auckland threaten strike; Christchurch tramway men may strike if free labour is used. Wellington shipowners demand protection for free labour. Maori's men stick to their ship. Mapourika's men to go out to-day. Wednesday, November sth—Violent scenes in Wellington. One thousand mounted specials riding to protect the shipping of racehorses, assailed by violent multitude of strikers and strike sympathisers. Serious street fighting: n.any casualties and several arrests. Racehorses successfully shipped by Maunganui. Prime Minister says Cabinet is considering special legislation. Special constables concentrating in Auckland, and Maori held up by defection of firemen and does not sail for Wellington.

I Thursday, November 6th—Mounted ! special constables occupy and guard Wellington wharves. New tinion of waterside workers registers under Arbitration Act and under guard successfully loads cheese on the Athenic. Order generally maintained in Wellington. Rumour that strikers are growing weary. Prime Minister announces Conciliation Commissioner negotiating for settlement on a basis that will necessitate legislation. Racehorses peacefully landed in Lyttelton. Maunganui sails for Wellington with passengers and mails. D>ecided to hold Carnival Week fixtures as usual. Announced that Auckland trams will cease running in 24 hours for lack of fuel. Citizens Defence Committee formed in Wellington. Friday, November 7th—A quieter day. Maunganui sails from Wellington with passengers, mails, and racehorses. Seamen of Moana leave ship in Wellington. Willochra unloaded by members of new Watersiders' Union"; rumour that her crew will join strikers. New union in Wellington in-

creasing in strength; members of old union joining. . New union formed m Dunedin; mooted in Lyttelton. -4 1 - ---creasing unrest in Auckland. Minister of Justice to enquire into charges of neglect of duty by number of police constables. General strike .ordered by Federation. -Employers stand firm. Maori again held up at Lyttelton. Saturday, November Bth.—Federation decides to call general strike. Maori still unable to sail for Wellington. Mb-inganui arrives from Lyttelton with passengers, maiis, and racehorses, returns to Wellington and sails from W elliugton for Sydney. Work proceeding on various steamers at Wellington. Auckland wharves occupied by police and "specials"' in early morning, and work proceeding. Union's room raided and dangerous weapons found. In Wellington Federation makes offer, which employers, pledged to support arbitrationist union, reject, Jbotels close in Auckland. Trams cease running. Various unions go out. Rioters fined and imprisoned in Wellington. Attempt by Federation to call out all seamen opposed by Auckland and Dunedin delegates. Sunday, November 9th. —A generally quiet day. Federation secretary states all unions to be called out Monday.

Monday, November 10th —Work proceeding on Auckland and Wellington wharves. Willochra's fruit unloaded in Wellington and safely conveyed to fruit mart. Disorder in Auckland; rowdy crowd dispersed by special constables. Pateena leaves Wellington on ferry trip, Wellington drivers decide to strike. Seamen in favour of strike. General strike ordered by Federation. Wellington Citizens! Defence Committee issues statement declaring no surrender and no dealing with Federation. New Zealand Farmers' Union announces farmers will see strike through at any cost. Moderate Labour men denounce strike. Impressive statements by the Hon. J. Barr and Mr M. J. Reardon. Quiet day in Wellington and Lyttelton.

Tuesday, November llth.—Semple, Fraser, Holland, and Bailey arrested in Wellington. A generally order's day. Unions make little response to general 6trike call. Increased activity on Auckland wharves. Steamers loaded and others unloaded in Wellington without trouble. Ferry service resumed. Pateena arrives with stokehold manned by officers and engineers. Dunedin seamen refuse to go out. Warm debate in Parliament. Wednesday, November 12th —Another strike orator arrested in Auckland, charged with sedition. Young, President of Federation of Labour, arrested in Wellington. Work on wharves proceeding at Auckland, Wellington, and other ports. Nelson farmers break strike locally. Ferry service maintained. New Waterside Union registered in Dunedin. Announcement that work will probably begin in Lyttelton on Monday. A quiet day generally. Some Wellington unions unsympathetic towards strike. Thursday, November 13th.—Work continues on Wellington and Auckland wharves. Conditions in Wellington rapidly returning to normal. Moana sails for San Francisco. Goods carted from wharves through city; no disorder. Drivers returning to work. Auckland labourers abandon strike. Shearers not to go out. Signs of collapsing of strike increasing everywhere. ,_,'., Friday, November 14th —Strike continues to weaken. Membership of new Wellington Watersiders' Union nears 600. Twenty-two ships being worked in Wellington. Only four out of fiftythree unions respond to Federation's strike appeal. Preparations to open Dunedin wharves; no trouble expected. United Labour Party issues a manifesto calling on affiliated unions not to strike. Maori to sail for Wellington to-night. Christchurch Citizens' Committee informs Lyttelton . watersiders that work will begin next week, and suggests registration under the Act.

Saturday, November 15th.—Lyttelton waterside workers reject proposal of Citizens' Committtee. Arrangements made to worik Lyttelton and Dunedin with other labour. Monday. November 17th.—Three steamers being' worked in Lyttelton. Work proceeding busily at Auckland and Wellington; "

Tuesday, November 18th.—Wharves busy in Auckland, where the end is thought near, and in Wellington. Tho Athenic, fully loaded, sails for London amidst great enthusiasm. Work pror oeeds peacefully with arbitrationists' labour in Dunedin. Scenes of violence and disorder in Lyttelton. Riotous mob of strikers forcibly. prevent th© loading of cargo on the Maori and stop the working of the Canopus, Northern, and Melbourne. - Camp for special constables formed at Maori and Pateena maintain ferry service, inolmdale unloads at Hokitika.

Wednesday, November 19th —Strong camp of mounted "specials" established at Addington. Cases of intimidation in Lyttelton. Minor disorders in Wellington and Auckland promptly suppressed by "specials," and arrests made. Hotels closed in Wellington. Arrested Federation leaders further remanded. New Watersiders' Union in Wellington nears membership of 1000. Wharves busily working in Auckland, Dunedin, and Wellington—24 steamers being worked at the last-named port. Ferry servico maintained each way. To Anau leaves Wellington to servo as house-boat for Lvttelton ArbitratiOr.ists.

Thursday, November 20th—Furthei detachment of mounted "specials" go into Addington camp. Men in all trades returning to work in Auckland—l4oo more working than on Monday Wharves busy in Wellington, --unedm, and Auckland. Coal difficulty lightened in Wellington. Striko meeting in the capital results in brilliant mobilisation of "specials," and prevention of disorder. Ferry service maintained.

Friday, November 21st —"Specials" camp at- Addington reinforced. •Drivers' Union decided to strike. Strike collapsing in Wellington and' Auckland. Lyttelton watersiders in threatening mond.

Saturday, November 22nd—Strike meeting in Victoria square. Order preserved everywhere. Great activity on Northern wharves.

Monday, November 24th—General strike of drivers declared in Christchurch. Striking miners attack North Brunner mine, attempt to burn th© works, and do great damage. Christchurch City Council rescinds motion i.o call public meeting. Strikers returning to work in Auckland.

. Tuesday, November 25th—Mounted and foot "specials" occupy Lyttelton wharves in early morning. Port opened, and cargo worked on seven vessels. Membership of new Watersiders' Unions increasing in North. Drivers returning to work in Christchurch. New Drivers' Union formed.

Wednesday, November 26th—Work proceeds busily on Lyttelton wharves. Maunganui seamen leave ship; places filled by officers. Strike practically dead in the North. Union Steam Ship Co.'s boats held up in Sydney. Trouble threatened by Australian seamen and watersiders.

Thursday, November 27th—Wharves very busy at main ports;. 13 ships worked at Lyttelton. Corinthic's firemen leave shin at Wellington; 28 arrested. New Christchurch . Drivers' Union reaches membership of 120. Federation of Labour declares it will accept Mr Justice Williams's decision as binding if he acts as arbitrator.

Friday, November 28th—Great activity on Wellington, Auckland, and Lvttelton wharves. Strike practically ended excepting in respect of watersiders and miners. Strike leaders before the court in Wellington; two bound over, and the others remanded. Crews of Maunganui and Corinthic. return to work. Trouble in Sydney, orange tales by strikers' delegate to Australia. Wellington Citizen s Defence Committer refuses to meet or recognise Federation. Saturday, November 29th—Dunedin Strike Committee arrested. Important

gathering of Unions in Sydney. Union Company's vessels held up'in Sydney. Monday, December Ist—Christchurch drivers again called out. Proceedings commenced against the Christchurch Stnke Committee under tho Libel Act. 1)-nedrn Strike Co_tmitt_o bound over to keep the peace. Twenty-two vessels at the wharves at Lytelton. Normal conditions being reached in the North. Oversea steamers held up at Sydney.