FIRST ENCOUNTER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1893, 30 October 1913, Page 8

FIRST ENCOUNTER.

MOUNTED MEN. AND STRIKERS MEET. SUSPICIOUS CITY FIRE. RESOLUTE SPIRIT OF THE FARMERS.' The synopsis of the history of tho Wellington Watersjde Workers 1 strike, and the events leading up to It from the genesis of the trouble till the present timo, are\ as. follows— ' 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. Wednesday, October 22.—"Stop-work" meeting of Waterside ■Workers' Union held on wharf. While men were attending meeting, which, pe'mg 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 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 i Waterside Workers' Union hand control of strike over to the Federation of Labour. Waterside 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 Waterside Workers' Union to register a second union under the Arbitration Act. Speeches in the Post Office . .Square > Friday, October 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conforenct 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 i 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 loaders. ' Monday, October 27,—Labour Day and a holiday. Observed by strikers as well as the public. No changc'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 leave for south. . .Wednesday, October 29.—Employers' proposals from previous evening's conference submitted to tha 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 tho Post Office Square. Encounter at night between suspected fr.ee labourers and strikers at Waterloo-Quay.

Tho Wellington waterside workers' strike continues, and ' last night prospects of an early settlement seemed to be more remote than at any time s since it commenced. The wharves yesterday presented a melancholy sight, being absolutely deserted. The ferry steamer AVahine, the intercolonial liner Ulimaroa, which arrived from Sydney in the morning, and H.M.S. Psyche were the only vessels moored alongside. On tho other hand, the steamers anchored'in the s'trcam off Thorndon made an imposing fleet. There was an air of Sunday quiet along the waterfront, broken only by the rushes of the strikers to various parts of the wharves, in response to \yild rumours. All day, loud-voiced orators held forth in the Square,'and everybody in the commun- % ifcy,except tlio' : strikers, managed aj; some time or other to come in for verbal castigation. Tlie chief practical j activity of 'tlie strikers was. exercised ! ' alongside tho-Ulimaroaj where a strong picket was posted to see that no cargo : other than passengers' personal luggage - 1 was landed. Tlie Day's Bay ferry boats ; were also closcly watched, and no cargo other than provisions was allowed to bo : shipped., At one time the pickets re- | moved a quantity of goods which had c been placed on one of the vessels, but it was: subsequently replaced. The most important event of the day was the refusal by the union to enter- . tain the proposals for settlement made |. by the employers. The shipowners' terms [ : wero sufficiently generous, and went 60 far as to offer [official recognition of the Red Federation. Tho 'employers, \however, insisted throughout that any ! agreement'should provide for a penalty i'~ for stoppage' of work —tho penalty to bo imposed on cither party transgressing. 7 The workers would not hear of- a penalty, and turned their backs on all the proposals. Tlie employers announce their determination to engage free labour to work the wharves if a settlei went is not quickly'arrived at.' ' There was some cxcitement towards midnight', when a collision occurred frhich is reported elsewhere.