LULL AT THE WATERSIDE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1891, 28 October 1913, Page 8

LULL AT THE WATERSIDE.

DECISIVE EVENTS PENDING. STEAMERS MOVE OUT INTO STREAM. MUTTERINGS OF TROUBLE. ' l . The synopsis of the history ot the Wellington Waterside Workers' strike, 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 s.m, on Wednesday, October tl. - Wednesday, October 22.—"8 top-work" meeting of -Waterside Workers' Union held on wharf. While 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 desired that "stop-work" men be reinstated in their positions. Employers decided that 'men's action in knqcking 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 Workers' Union strikes. Thursday, October 3.—Big mass meeting of strikers. Wharves picketed. Ufiion S.S. Company pays crews off colliers, 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.,,; C ■, 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 handljng cargo is concerned. Fifty police guard the wharves. Warehouse clerks work cargo in small steamers. I Saturday, October 25.—Further scenes of violence on wharves. { Steamers Defender and Nikau rushed—crews intimidated. Police from 1 country, arrive. Employers issue a statement to the effect that no ! ' watersiders will be employed until a fresh organisation be formed and 'registered undervArbltration Act. Watersiders decide to continue strike. Harbour Board pickets the wharves. J •Sunday, October 26^,Mass mooting at 2.15 p.m. in Post Office i Square. Procession to Basin Reserve. Gate broken down by crowd. > .... Inflammatory speeches by strike loaders. < Monday, October 27.—Labour Day and a holiday. Observed by ' strikers as well as the public. No change In the situation. '

excited individual of the two was re- c moved to,a distance from the crowd, i only to return a few minutes 1 later. Meanwhile the two police- j men had left the scene, but s subsequently one of the pair returned l , y One of tho seamen became abusive, and s was immediately taken in charge. A f melee ensued, in which the seaman's c . mate took a considerable part. Things a wore going rather hard with tho police- r man when another member of the forco e camei to his assistance. Then the real trouble commenced. The arrested men a fought and kicked their attackers savagely, but were at last overpowered and handcuffed. Meanwhile a-crowd had gathered, and g the pickets were occupied in keeping a n ring clear round the police and their' c < men. Tho pickots told the crowd that a the men who were being arrested were w not strikers,. and not in any way connected with their organisation. Eventu- „ ally with the help of a burly post office official in uniform, the man who had camsed most of the trouble was taken away. On: the way to the police station it he behaved very violently.' . a • IT

Compared with the four previous ] lays yesterday was very quiet. . It was Labour Day, and a general holiday. iWhat with the races at Trentham and bther attractions, the usual orowds wtoidi have been in- evidence in the Post Office Square and at the gates leading to the Queen's Wharf were much diminished. In the afternoon fairly' large number assembled on the old appointedl siter-near the wharf entrance. Except for an arrest, which ivas mado by two constables, and also several arguments and '• soap-box" speeches, proceedings were colourless. Pickets there were in plenty and they were active' all day and night, reports being landed in ■ ,to the Strike Committee every few minutes. Among the strikers there was much talk on what - was expected to happen, ■ but, of course, nobody knew what it "' ns ; ' « was evident, however, that, the , men anticipated something out of the ordinary, and, a common enough' remark was: "Just wait, till to-morrow. Then the fun will commence." ' Inter alia there was. talk of shooting and ot'her desperate 'actions. Many of the strikers went so far as to pay that they would not stop at looting shops and premises for food if tfhey thought fit. Rumour flew on a double set of wings, but-investigation yielded nothing tangible. To-day, of course, is the expected day. Strikers held another mass meeting at 8 a.m. yesterday, reporters beiiig excluded. Later Mr F. Chirtice made an official statement, intimating that, after a. meetiug lasting two hours, it had been decided that the men would stand solidly together. They were determined to go oil with the strike. Later the Strike Committee continued its deliberations, sitting practically all day. Yesterday afternoon Mr. W. T. Young, president of the Federation of Labour, was in conference with the members of the committed. On making inquiries as to tlio result a reporter r was told that there wds "nothing dofee Harbour Board flew its bunting 5n honour of the holiday, and from the forecastle head of the steamer Northern two maritime musicians with violin tond concertina manufactured the drains ■of the music-hall ballad, "Meet Mo ToJiight in Dreamland," .in which they had the support of the ship's chorus. Their ■ harmonious efforts were appreciated by tho strollers, mora particularly as the iWatersiders' Brass Bund was not on 'idut.y in-town. • • |j