UGLY SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1888, 24 October 1913, Page 8

UGLY SITUATION

NIGHT SCENES AT KING'S WHARF. Early yesterday afternoon it became luiown that a largo gang of free labourers were to commence work on the New Zealand Shipping Company's Ilimutaka at 6 p.m. Iho presence of strikers was anticipated and consequently tho wliarf was barricaded off by chains, behind which stood three policeman and a sergeant and several Harbour Board officials.. A large crowd of strikers surged up to tho oliains. Shortly before 7 p.m. an informal meeting was called and a striker addressed tho crowd. ■ "The position is," he said, "that it is practically useless for us all to stop here. It is not a very pleasant night, and very little can be gained by stopping lierc. However,, we will have to appoint pickets." Tho speaker then aßked for tho names of volunteers. These were freely: given. As the names were being given, threats to do bodily harm to tho frqo labourers were mado by those present.. Presently the speaker could bo heard qnco more: "Well," ho said, "half a dozen pickets will remain j here until 10 p.in." Her© many interjections were made, and some of the strikers urged that the pickets should be kept on until midnight. A few extra pickets were then .appointed and "the speaker , asked them to stop on until 10 o'clock. They could, ho said, use their discretion as to Low long they stoppod after that hour. Pickets were then appointed to attend at the King's Wharf at 7 o'clock this morning. Call the Police. A few minutes later a call for police was hoard.. About two hundred strikers had broken through the barricade, and were apparently attempting to rush the free labourers. The police were taken by surprise, but they managed to prevent the strikers from trespassing too far. No one knew exactly what was going to happen, and naturally enough overyono was somewhat The main door leading into the goodsshed was-quickly shut and barricaded. Those Harbour Board officials who were inside the shod came out and assisted the police. Extra police were telephoned for. Meanwhilo tho few police present succeeded in having their directions obeyed. Tho strikers drifted back and off tlie wharf, and the barrier was again erected. Order was once more restored, and the appearance of extra policemen had a magic effect upon the turbulent ones. They saw that any action they might tako would bo useless, and many of them wandered off. "Here Como the Seats!" Nothing of any note happened for quite an hour and a half, wnen, with a shout of "Here come the scabs!" the free labourers could bo seen descending the gangway of the Ilimutaka. At this juncture there wero about 40 or CO strikors present, and twenty constables under a senior sergeant, and two- sergeants. Amidst cries of "scab," "blackleg," and other such names, the free labourers walked unconcernedly up the wharf, followed by a good-natured orowd of strikers. All tho way up the wharf tho over-increasing crowd of strik* ors_ kept up their cries. , At last the police took a hand, and tho noise ceased. It was not for long, however. When the workers, strikers, and police reached tho head of the Queen's Wharf they were met by several mora strikors, and again the freo labourers ran the gauntlet till tho Bank of New Zealand corner was reached. Here they disappeared, and the orowd of strikers which had gathered, after some goodnatured banter with the 1 police, dispersed.