UNLOCKING THE PORT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1901, 8 November 1913, Page 6

UNLOCKING THE PORT.

MOVE TO BRIG OUT THE SEAMEN. MORE. CREWS COME ASHORE. THE CITY. RIOTERS IN COURT.

Waterside Workers, when they broke their agreoment, were being paid Is. sd. an hour ordinary time, 2s. 2d. an hour overtime up to 10 p.m.; 2s. 3d. per hour overtime 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. For special work special rates of pay were provided, coal carriers, the highest paid/ receiving 2s. an hour ordinary time, 3s. an hour overtime. 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 "siop-work" meeting, to be held at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October z2.. ' . .Wednesday, October meeting of , Waterjide Workers' Union held on'wharf. ..While, men 1 were attending .meeting, ; which, being held in working hours,'toas '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 ter- : minatcd the agreement with the union, which had been entered into in 1912. ' Watersido Workers'' Union hand control of strike ovor to the Federation of Labour. Waterside Workers' Union strikes. „ .. Thursday, Ociobcr 23.—Big mass moeting strikers. Wharves . picketed. Union' S.S. Company pays crews off colliers. .Free labourers ..commence work,'. Negotiations between strike .delegates : and.-, employers ■ i fail. • Report of intention of Waterside Workers!. Union to ■. register a second'unions under, the Arbitration Act. Speeches in the' Post Office Square ■ i Friday,' October 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference ,°? .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 \vatersiders will be employed until a fresh organisation be formed and registered under Arbitration Act. Watersiders decide to continue strike. Harbour Board pickets the .wharves. Sunday, ;Octobor 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 leaders. Monday, October 27.—Labour, Day and 'a holiday. Observed by strikers as well as the'public. *■ No change 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 even- , Ing's conference submitted to the 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 the Post Office Square. . Encounter at night between suspected free labourers and strikers at Waterloo Quay. Auckland and ' Westport watersjders strike.' ' "Thursday, (October, 30.—Strikers assault special constables, Waterloo p. Quay .fence broken down and horses liberated. Men of H.M.S. Psyche on parade. Ps>«he's stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. Mounted constables parade streets and charge strikers in Post Office Square. Three hundred special constables sworn in. Onset on Messrs. , Whitcombe and Tombs' shop; constabi/o severely wounded. Prime Minister states the Government's position. Lyttelton watersiders strike. Saturday, November I.—Quiet day. Employers enlarge their strike committee. iLarge bodies ,of .specials arrive from the country, skirmishes with'strikers 'In; town. Wahine's' crew give" notice to strike, , Oamaru watersiders join strike, • Sunt,a y> November 2.—Deputation from combined Labour bodies to . Prime Minister with.proposals for settlement. Mass meetings at Newtown Park and Opera House. Further co ntingents of special constables arrive Wahine laid up in stream. Strike pickets withdrawn from wharves Outlook for settlement more hopeful. Greymouth Union come out on strike.' *- Monday,.November 3.-Wahine's men come ashore. Wellington . branch of Seamen's Union decide to strike if free labour Is employed. ( Negotiations between employers and workers entered upon and ad. journed till following day. Mapourlka enters ferry service to replace ' Wahine. Government steamers held in readiness for mails. Serious " riot in Taranaki Street, special oonstables beinq attacked by mob Several persons injured-three seriously. Revolvers used. Mob in' ."dulges in window-breaking. and other damage. ' Tuesdiy,' November for settlement broken off on employers stipulatingion union registering under Arbitration Act. Employers :refuse Harbour Board's invitation to meet workers in conference Mass meeting of strikers at Newtown Park. Hinemoa's crew give notice' Two special constables severely handled in. Tory Street. Attempt to - tilock cartage of straw to barracks. Mayor closes seven hotels in evening. Royal Tiger Hotel :besieged. Two men arrested. _ Wednesday, November 5.-Racehorses for New Zealand Cup Meotina shipped on Maunganu.''for Lyttelton by free labour. Mounted special .constables guarding the. wharf stoned by crowd. Einht arrests Lrf. and-about thirty persons wounded In the melee. ' Thursday, November 6-New -Wharf Labourers' Union registered Members commence work loading the Athenic at Glasgow Wharf Wharf approaches guarded by mounted and foot "specials."' Fin disnlav law and orderV troops, who were oheered through the citv CiW specials" paraded for first time-make a gallant show. ceases. A quiet night. mrowing . - y ''i- No T bar u 7^'S-"' A ««ni C , Willochra, and Moana worked by Arbitrationists. Moana's crew leaves ship, and WillochrV'c to follow Union Company's permanent hand* Join Se Wha guarded by special wnarves

The cargo of three vessels was worked at the wharves yesterday by members. , of thb new: industrial union, and excellent" work was done. ' , The seamen of two of the vessels, the Willochra and the Moana, showed re-! scntment on seeing the arbitrationists. turn to, and the Moana's men have left the ship, while the Willochra'a crew are expected to walk ashore this morning, lho crow of tho Athenic has decided to recognise the new union, and will stand loyally by the ship. The now arbitrationist union is grow ins rapidly, and it is eipectedlhit before long many of the strikers -will' throw in their lot with unionism on sano lines. Tho' strikers mails no demonstrations during the day, save in that the WaterBido Union's band made a reappearance in the Squaro. ' A meeting of. representatives of the city unions, convened at the instance of tho Federation of Labour, was held last evening at the Trades Hall. Tho delegates had not been instructed by their unions, but a number of resolutions supporting tho strikers were passed. it is pleasing to record tnat movements are on foot to provide for practical recognition by the citizens of tho fine spirit and self-sacrifice of tho special constables. Asj a beginning an mtertainment is to do given at tho ja micks to-nichti.