THE POSITION IN THE PORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 6

THE POSITION IN THE PORTS.

MOVE AT AUCKLAND, ISUDDEN HALT YESTERDAY. (By Teiotftfaph —Special OorroßpomUmtt \ Auckland, October 31. Sudden developments took place onthe waterfront this morning t and, a* a result of the latest decision of the strike committee, tlio Avholo of the shipping and tho passenger traffic was held up. Tho waterside workers wero concentrated in two groups, pomnrisine fully ono hundred members in each, and inarched: round the wharves ill contuigents under recognised leadership. They used what is called "moral suasion" to induce soanien and carters not to touch cargo that had been in tho hands of fico labour, although it was understood that the effect of tho decision reached by the Carters' Union at a big meetinfi last evening would pliable ordinary carting to be proceeded with as usual, as long as no free labour had heon en* gaged. The order of tho Strike Com' roittee, as definitely and systematically interpreted by the pickets, was that no cargo of any" description (with the exception of mails and personal, luggage) was to be carted on or off the wharves. This was unexpected by thoso who had made arrangements to handle outward and inward cargo. As the carters poured down on to the wharves with consignments of goods,' they .were immediately interviewed by tlio leaders of tho pickets. In several instances there was hesitation on the part of tho carters, and a decided inclination to require a full explanation of a move that appeared to bo contrary fo the unanimous vote of tho union of which they wore members.. In other cases, however,' tho carters unquestionably obeyed thai. pickots, and drove o/"ay. Tho pickets also directed attention to steamers at the wharves,, nnd to the sugar lighters, barges, scows, schooners, ketches, and ton vossols of the ■ Northern Company's coastal fleet. 'Where seamen were loading cargo they wore interviewed, and usually in the stereotyped language: "Come off, boys I Don't scab ori your fellows!" ■ It was a demonstration of "moral suasion," backed by a formidaßle body of strikers, nnd the two or three men working caoh boat thus Confronted evidently deemed discretion the hotter part of valour. By 11 o'clock or thereabouts operations on tho wharves wore entirely suspended. The carters wero not permitted to go on the wharves with cargo, the seamen were not allowed to discharge cargo or handle anything that had previously boon landed in tho sheds, and the ■permanent staffs employed by tho eonmany,aiid the officers of boats, and officials wore left u>

idleness. Wherever thore was any attompt to work the winches and handle cargo by any labour whatovef, the pickets immediately interfered. ' Inoldents at Hobson Wharf. After the strikers-had marched in force round into Albert Street, tho right-half company, comprising ahout 150 inerij under tho direction of Mr. E. Canham, was given tho order to "right wheol,"-and swung down to Customs Street West, on the way to the Hobson and Albert Wharves. The men wero halted just'abaft of the Huddart-Parkor steamer, Westralia, whioh arrived this morning from Dunedin, by way of Lyttelton, Wellington, and east coast ports. There wore a number of vehicles on the wharves, including a mail wagon, a laundry van, and some lorribs. A' number of the carters protested vigor-, ously that their progress should not bo impeded, and after a conference be-tween-the leaders the mail van and tho majority of the other carta wero permitted to leave.-,. ;Two speeches were delivered, the remarks boing generally along the usual , lines. • Mr. Canham said that it was not the desire of the watersiders assembled tj do any violence, but to maintain, order. It had been decided, he said, to allow the carters to remove any cargo in tho Bheds which had been discharged by the lumpers previous to tho strike. "Personally," said Mr, Canham, "I ma. opposed to tho capitalists being allowed to.use the., shed 3 and storehouses over an indefinite period, and it is my intention, as a member of the executive, to suggest that the privilege; of removal bo suspended after to-day." Mr. Canham announced also that it had been decided to allow tho discharge, of passengers' personal effects and, three horses from the Westralia, _ . This work was commenced, while the pickets kept a'; close watch as each sling was landed in order to see that no cargo other than that specified was lifted on to the wharves. A few minutes later tho company moved off again toward the Albert Wharf. Just at the head of : the jetty seven large drays were standing fully loaded with coke from "the gasworks to ho shipped by the scow Portland to tho cement works at Warkworth. Apparently the action of the carters -in bringing the coke to the wharf was resented by the strikers, and, without any preliminary courtesies, the drays were tilted backwards, allowing thoir contents to scatter in heaps over the wharf. Naturally the carters were annoyed, and said so, but the odds wero against them... , ' -'■ DUNEDIN LUMPERS STRIKE.

DIVIDED CAMP. PEAR OF.-BEING CALLED "SCABS." (By TelecTaph.—Press Association.) '.'•■•' Dunedin,' October 81. The waterside workers of Dunedin at' ''« meeting this morning unanimously decided to adhere to their obligations as members of tho United Federation..of Labour.' ' A.'-great deal of- discussion tooK'place over tho strike question, but the attitude of members -was decidedly ndverso: to starting work locally. It is recognised that the strike would have had a much more serious effect on shipping and industries had it "occurred In. a mouth's t'imo when tho busy season starts in earnest. 'It is hoped that "tho troublo will be . ended W then: .■ The feeling amongst manufacturers and those most interested is that ho matter what happens the fighs should bo one .to a finish. .'.'. -':' ■■::■'?.:■-:i ■~i*;'r: v;t.:'..:■■' ;

A member of tho; Waterside Union informed a. reporter: to-day that, the Dunedin luerc'jsvere/really.against.the strike; Even tlirfJnreotfugvhtbatt josrriedr. the strike resolution" was..'', 'They •Tealised. /however; that" they./ would ! -be called "scabs'- all over Australasia if they did not.-'corrie" out,' sol they'did- it. '.-;■ ■■■:>-- '. It.-'is'stated 'thttt ; tho iformaticn. of an 'Arbitration ''Union is already bouig piish-ed^by-some peaceable; spirit; '■• At 8 o'clock- this morning aboutlso oufr of'3oo'men-employed on' the'waterfront met to discuss the position: The mooting lasted an hour and a half, and resulted in a decision to strike: - The president of the union (Mr. J.. Earrell) was. personally opposed to tho strike;and expressed a very general yiewnvhen he referred to,tlie ; violation, of'orio, of tho first principles enunciated and approved at the Unity Congress, namely, to abstain •' from : ' sectional ; strikes. Pickets were appointed and -a' press committee was. set up to supply official information. The only ships in port thi*3 morning were. the. Maitai and "Waitomb, and, the former having been discharged yesterday, and thrown out of commission, proceeded to the port. The position of the Waitomo was less happy, for two days' ; cargo of coal in , her holds has been left lying owing to the. wet weather, and tho strike leaves her with 2000 tons undischarged; Tho Union Company will send.her to Oamam'this oftorjioon to discharge from. there, and she will sail'for Newcastle and Java. ' . At Port Chalmers the waterside workers came out on strike this morning as a result of instructions from the. Executive of the Federation of Labour. '' The Waimate was unable-to-dock, and left for Sydney. _ The Kia Ora also,.has cargo alongside which she cannot get aboard owing to the strike. - There were over 150 present at tho meeting, nrid the decision .'was arrived at without dissent; This afternoon the Kamo arrived from tho Coast with 700 tons of coal, and there is no prospect oc ■.-.- loading it. It is understood that work at the new tug will not be ihipedod through the labourers' strike, as the metal workers are' in the Arbitration Union. < It is also reported that the strike .will not affect the salvage party on .the Tyrone; unless they endeavour W land salvaged cargo at the wharves.' The aalvago party are. all shareholders in the venture, but -it is understood that they are also working for wages.