THE POSITION AT AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1894, 31 October 1913, Page 9

THE POSITION AT AUCKLAND.

WORK WILL GO ON. RESOLUTE FRONT BY BOARD. i&T Teiesraph—Pr«as Association.' Auckland, October 30. The principal development of interest in connection with the strike was expected when it was attempted to handle with free labour the fruit cargo on tho 'l'ofua. Arrangements had bean made by tho Harbour Board officials (in conjunction with tho police) to provide adequate safeguards. Barriers were raised at two points between. tho shed and the wharf-edge, and there was also an ordinary picket fence guarded by thirty policemen, directed by Superintendent Mitchell, Inspector M'Grath, Sub-Inspector Johnston, and Sergeant Cowan._ This constituted a formidable barrior at tho south end of tho. wharf, while, on tinnorth end, a temporary chain fence with another posse of twenty constables, was utilised. An hour or two later a massive barricade was erected of lengthy hardwood piles, securely bolted. Mounted policemen formed the outer ring in each case. In addition, tho Harbour Board's fire-float was lying just astern of the Tofua, and four reels of hose were ready, besides fifty bluejackets from iI.M.S. l'yramus. Trouble at S.S. Tofua. Preparatory to tho actual work of unloading tho Tofua a contingent of thirty members of tho Harbour Board's staff started shifting. certain rods and bars of iron, lamp quantities of which were- scattered about tho wharf. This however, was merely a precaution, it being 110 doubt recognised that iron rods might become weapons. Quietly, and without interruption, free workers went 011 board tho Tofua; and the first lot of fruit was discharged on tho wharf, and trucked into a shed. A riot had been expected to signalise this, but the spectators were -disappointed. Mr. semple Benevolent. Mr. Somplo explained to a reporter that the Strike Committee had realised that tho cargo of fruit bn tho Tofua meant ii great deal to a fow struggling planters, and there was no desire on tho part of the union to persecute those men, who were the ones most nearly concerned. The fruit, he understood, was the first shipment which the planters of Haapai had been ablo to get away since the last devastating hurricanes, and thoy wore relying oil it to help them to set them on their feot again. It had therefore been decided to let it go through. The indication of real trouble was at No. 3 jetty, where a number of the Northern Company's coastal steamers wei'o berthed. Tho attention of a picket was drawn to tho fact that BOino wool was being loaded on. to a lorry from a store on' No. 3 wharf. A big crowd of strikers and others; hurried l'rom tho vicinity of the Queen's Wharf to tho jettj-, but found that no action was required in regard to wool, and the crowd woro about to leave again, wliou it was noticed that, preparations were being made to coal . tho s.s. Ngapuhi from a hulk. Tho men evidently rosented the action of tho permanent, workers, and jumped on- to tho steamer, picked up tho skids (used for truok-. ing coal), walked across tho wharf, and dumped tho gear into tho harbour. They then demanded that tho hands should ceaso work, and, tho request being complied with, turned their attention to the Aupouri. Thoy were meeting with further success, - whem tho police interfered.

Speaking at a mass mooting to-day, Mr. Semplo said that he was sorry that tin? position; had ; become .' so serious. The Government had done nothing but incito tho men with wild talk about batons and about one' mounted policeman being more effectivo than 20 root police. Last night 1100 extra batons had boen served out to .special polico in Wellington, This sort of thing was only inciting, disorder. He hoped that tlio baton would not bo used in Auckland, but ho would say this: "If clubs were going to be used, tho only thing for tho men to do was to decline to allow their headß to bo used as targets, and to manufacture their own batons and uso them in defenco of their lives. • Harbour Board's Attitude. Asked this morning as to tho .attitude of tho Harbour Board towards tho striko, Mr. J. H. Gunson said that a special mebtin had' been held . this morning, and a definite line of action had been agreed upon. "Tho board has decided," said Mr. Gunson, "to take steps to onablo shipping companies to carry on tho work of discharging their steamers, ns ' there is plenty o! labour available if sufficient protection be provided against tlio striko element. In view of what had happened at tho Tofua tho board had obtained tho assistance of a considerable force of police, and tho work of, discharging tlio Tofuu is proceeding satisfactorily. This (continued Mr. Gunson) is but the beginning, and the matter must bo much more fully dealt with. lam in touch with tho Mayor to-day, and any move that the board makes will bo fully supported when vessels aro lying at our wharves and labour is offering to discharge cargoes.