RUSH ON S.S, COBAR.

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

RUSH ON S.S, COBAR.

FOODSTUFFS INTERFERED WITH. i "" I High-handed action .was indulged in by strikers shortly before noon yesterday, when food supplies, which were destined for Rona. Bay, were forcibly removed from the Eastbourne Ferry Company's steamer Cobar and sent back to the consigners. Pickets were the cause of the trouble, and for once the Strike Committee had neglected to fulfil its duty to inform pickets not to interfere with' foodstuffs destined for the use of people on the other side of the liarbonr. Shortly before the time' mentioned, the strikers' intelligence department, sent information to the crowdin the Square that there was "something doing" on tlie Cobar at the Ferry Wharf. It needed nothing more to set the crowd in motion, and they at onco rushed to the steamer. In a few minutes the advance guard were on the scene, and, despite' protests, they picked up threo sacks of potatoes and two bags of sugar,

carried them off the Cobar, and dumped them on the wharf. Presently two fully-laden drays came in sight, and immediately the crowd set to work to interfere with the horses attached. Mitch argument ensued, and what the strikers now refer to as "ail, accident" looked imminent. It was, however, found that the contents were not destined for shipment. The drivers of the vehicles had only come to see what was happening, and they pulled out from the crowd and departed. Meanwhile, Mr. Munro, wharfinger, had come on ths! scene. He had one of the customary debates with the strikers, during which it was stated that such goods as were stopped were never handled by waterside workers before the strike. It was to no purpose, however. The strikers were evidently determined and tlioy assured Mi'. .Munro that they would see the potatoes and sugar safely delivered to their consigners. Subsequently it was learned that the cargo was to be replaced on the Cobar. Tho raid had been a mistake 011 tlvo part of tho pickets and strikers.