POSITION IN THE PORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1896, 3 November 1913, Page 9

POSITION IN THE PORTS.

AUCKLAND'S FEELING. v TIDE TURNINC ON STRIKERS. ~ L PUBLIC. AROUSED. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) , Auckland, November 2. The title is turning against tho waterside strikers in Auckland, and great changes aro not only likely, hut may ho expected to tako shapo within a day or two. "Tho idlers," as maify peonlo call the strikers, havo done a great deal to alienate public sympathy. Their methods of intimidation, so far successfully employed on tlio wharves, gave rise to tho first feeling of popular antagonism. Public opinion has been further inflamed by tho anarchist and revolutionary utterances of striko loaders. Tho public arc asking why theso mon aro not arrested and punished. Free Men to Start. The Mayor and other authorities aro quietly organising a strong forco of men, many of whom will lo mounted. When this force ia sufficiently strong to ensure elfective measures with tho rabble, tho vessels now in tho stream will be berthed at tho wliarvos. l''reo men will unload them, and a strong body of mounted special constables will see that the goods aro duly distributed. It is possible that trouble will oventuate when tho freo men procood to unload tho Ma'heno which is duo from Sy'lnoy. The general hope is that tho first conflict will bo so sharp sad do-

cisivo that tho main body of strikers < will bo brought to their senses. It seems 'certain that once a real show of force and authority combined is madcj t'hero will bo a repetition of tho Waihi fiasco wlion many of tho strikers- slunk out of tho town—sadder and wiser men. Tho pronouncement that 2000 special police aro being organised for duty in Auckland next week has aroused tho keenest interest in union circles. Rumours Regarding Polioo Officer. A rumour was in circulation on Saturday to tho effect that l'olico - Superintendent Mitchell, of Auckland, had beon temporarily suspended. iicferoiico of t'lio matter -to Mr. Mitehell, howover, olicitcd tho reassuring information that ho liad certainly received no non' 6of suspension. The only notification that ho liad got from Wellington was word to procecd to tho headquarters and confer with tho Commissioner. .011 tho situation. Whip Used on Picket. Tho way of a picket is not always easy, and one or two incidents (with the added discomforts of tho enervating weather) havo served to rob tho position of any glamour that might othorwiso attac'h thereto. A cartor drove his,lorry on to the King's Wharf, and loadod some cargo out of 0110 ot tho board's dieds. As 110 was about to leave he was stopped by a picket who grasped the reins. "Let go, said the driver, with some emphasis. Tho picket' made 110 movement. Tho request was repeated, but the pickot still _ refused to quiij, and thereupon tho driver raised his heavy whip, and swinging it with the dexterity that comes of long practice, struck tho picket sharply on tho sido of the Head. The picket let goCargo Operations. When tho strike patrols made their customary rounds on Saturday it was found that tho opportunity had been taken tit some of tho Northern Company's steamers, to go on with work. As usual, the "persuasive" mothods of tile leaders had the desired effect, but, at tho s.s. Ngatiawa, t'hero was an officer who presented a bold front and declined to censo work. Ho took chargo of a trolley and pushed it through the press, jostling anybody who stood in tho way. It was evident, however, that tho strikers were in ail overwhelming majority, and, in order to prevent any trouble, tho captain decided to cease work. . . A little incident, occurred at tho vehicle landing at Hobson^ Wharf that resulted in a minor score against tho strikers. A good load of sugar was brought over-by the ferry boat from tho Chelsea works, and whilo the pickets were seeking shelter under tho sheds from tho rain, tho consignment was unloaded and got safely, into carts. When the vehicles were moving off. however, tho strikers made a rush. Pwo police ofhcers were promptly called in, and prevented any. interference with the carts.