SCENES OF VIOLENCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1890, 27 October 1913, Page 4

SCENES OF VIOLENCE

The" watersidors'■ strike, is still on,; and no\ signs 'of-'- an immediate . settlement ire apparent. On Saturday morning. -the-strikers, who'ivere given the range « of- /the wharves, rushed tile, steamors Nikau ; and Defender, and: practically forced,'the crews of. those cease working cargo. - In both .instances the little work that was being done was/stopped. 'No; work' was the .other vessels in port, 11 During th§ "day the 'Employers'' Committee issued a statement to the effect that no watersiders would bo engaged , •until a fresh organisation "was formed arid'' registered:' under the Industrial '. Conciliation ' and .'Arbitration Aot, which {proposal is scouted .by. the Union, an<l : officials 'of the Federation of :Labour. Matters- were quiet yesterday morning, 'but they., were decidedly lively in tie afternpon; : A mass meeting of*, strikers was held in the Post Office Square'and was followed by a : procession ' through *'tli<j streets to the Basin vßeserVd; permission' to use wliich ground ihad been refused by.the Mayor (Mr. .Luke) on. Saturday. ' Tho crowd broke open the''big gate, on the northern side .''of :tlie Keserve, and later l held"'a '-nfeeting," during which several violent-speeches 'were delivered, No resolutions wefe passed. •

H -STRIKERS-OUT OF HANI). ■ ii' sxraiis rusher • "...v'-"'- v'a : —— ; " BARRICADES TORN DOWN. ' BASIN RESERVE GATE WRECKED. The synopsis of the history of the Wellington Waterside Workers' •triko, and the events leading up to It from the genesis of the trouble . .till the present■ time, are, as follow:— - Friday, October 17.—Shipwrights asked for increase in wages. Saturday, October ■ 18.—Shipwrights ceased work. : Monday,.October 20.—First' mass meeting Waterside Workers' Union, at which It was decided'to call a "stop-work" meeting, to be held at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22. • October 22.—"Stop-work" meeting of Waterside Workers' • " 'V ■ Union'held .on wharf, at which It was decided to cease work unless the • shipwrights! claims were acceded to. Employers decided that the act of the men was sufficient cause to terminate the existing agreement with the Union which had been entered Into in 1312. Waterside Workers' Union hand control of. strike over to the Federation of Labour. Union strikes. , . Thursday,' October mass meeting of strikers. Wharves picketed. Union S.S. Company pays,crews off colliers. 1 Free labourers , " commence work. Negotiations between•;strike delegates and employers fail. Report of intention of Waterside Workers' Union to register a second union under the Arbitration Act. Speeches in the Post Office '. Square ;. . N ■ ..'■■■:■ Fridav, October 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference of' Federation of Labour delegates proves'abortive. Employers decide i : to coase 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 Aot. 'Watersiders decide to continue i-V. strike. . .Harbour Board pickets !the wharves. ' • Sunday, October 26—.Mass meeting at 2.15 p.m: in Post Office \ Sqijare, Procession to Basin Reserve. Gate broken down by crowd. ; Inflammatory speeches by strike lea'ders.