AT THE TAVIUNI.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 6

AT THE TAVIUNI.

FREE LABOUR : INTIMIDATED,

During the whole of yesterday aftertoon the soone at the wharf entrancos Was distinctly animated, and tho atmosphere electrical. • A crowd, of about 800 ■people, mostly watersido workers, congregated outside, the great iron gates that barred the main entrance to tho .Queen's Wharf. Only one gate was Jleft ajar for the passage of vehicle traffic, and as soon as an express, cab, motor, or lorry passed in or out the gate, the gap was blocked by police and Harbdur Board officials, who closely 'questioned anyone who wished to go 'through. Those whose business was known to connect them with the wharves or shipping were a.dmitted without question, and everyone wfio explained that his visit was for some business purpose was given the right of entry. Hundreds of waterside workers essayed the passage, only to bo turned back by the police, who at times found it a difficult task to stem tho flood of excited men. Twice the crowd succeeded in broaking through.

sown Here, Boys!"-.... "Down here, cry raise'd' at about 3 p.m., and at the call between 400 and 500 men TUshed from before tho main gates down Jervois Quay ,t.o an iron-fenced space between two of the sheds, opposite which tho Taviuni was berthed; and before thoy could be checked a dozen or so ha.d, clamfiored up the iron spikes (about l(Jft. in height), and had swarmed on to the after-deck of tho Taviuni. "Knock off work, you fellows down there I" they shouted down the afterhold. "Come up out of that, scabs I" "Play tho game!" and a clozen other such remarks were hurled down in the tjloom of tho hold, whore four young fellows "toiled amongst the cargo. The Free Men Quit. The scone was soon alive with action. Pol ice, detectives, Harbour Board officials, and the chairman of tho board (Mr. Fletcher) were quickly on tho spot, and a posse, of police drafted hurriedly from other defended points prevented i. j: nt'ii.'rs of tho outside crowd from (■lmi'iiiic? the fence. Tho free labourors tiu'.v that it was no good going on with li:<' game, and climbed up to tho deok. '! !ie:r tl'cy were mot bv a union official, i- iw explained that no harm was intend-c-i but tliev must not work, and i'-.u h them advico as to moving out of Mann's way quietly.- This course they l-unucd. The official then mounted the and told tho excited crowd- that ■Jl free labour was out of the Taviuni, ' II announcement that was met with Ji.-'cn. * It was stated that ono of tho waterside workers who had scramblod on to : lio Taviuni had {hurled one of tuo iiftt'jhei at tho "free" mon bolow. Whan

remonstrated with by a board official, he replied:—"Yes, and I would do tho same to you if you wero a scab I" Tho incident_ brought work to an end on tho T&viuni, and tho moving sccno of aobion shifted to other parts of tho wharf.