THE UNLOCKING OF THE PORT

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

THE UNLOCKING OF THE PORT

THREE STEAMERS SERVED.

CAPITAL WORK BY THE NEW MEN

TROUBLE ON WILLOCHRA.

MOANA'S CREW WALE ASHORE,

nf w t st t am t- ips ambers of the new We lington Waterside Workers Union, which is registered under the Arbitration Act, was continued, yesterday. In the early hours of the mining the full force of special mounted pohco was moved down from-the barracks to tho waterfront, adjoining the Railway and Glasgow Wharves, and all approaches to the wharves Were blocked Some hundreds of foot police from the city were also on duty at even■point of entry. In addition to the White Star liner Athenic, on whioh work had been commenced on the previous day, the Union Steam Ship Comifeny's two San Francisco boats, Willochra and tho Moana, were also brought alongside. The Willochra had arrived on the previous dav j and was due to sail for Sydney yestor* day afternoon. She had on board a considerable quantity of general cargo for- Wellington, including a big shipment of bananas and other fruit from the islands. • Such cargo imperishable,

andit was important that it should be discharged at once.. Tho Moaaa had aisc arrived on the previous day from Sydney. _ Sbe was timed, to sail for San rranciscp last evening. A certain amount of cargo awaited her at Wellington, consisting almost entirely of dairy produce.. It was determined by the authorities that this cargo, should be placed on board, so a gang of men was set to work on it. Three vessels were thus being worked side by side. Bettor Work fjqw, ;The^new'arbitration union had-a considerable accession of strength yesterday. In the morning,- some 87 new labourers arrived from the Manawaiiu, Wairarapa, and Hawke's Bay districts! and immediately became members of the union. There were also several applications for enrolment in the city, bringing the total strength of the union up about I'OO. Practically all th : e men were given work yesterday. Tho manner in.which the Arbitrationists handled the cargo showed that they were willing workers, and well used to handling heavy weights. Many duties which are usually carried out by two watersideis were cheerfully performed by one man. The new labourers found that there were one or . two things to bo learned, even in tho matter of shifting cargo. For instance, at the commencement, many of them upset their tracks. But they wore quick learners, and it was not long before everything was going smoothly. _ It was noticeable- that in both loading and discharging operations, the slings of goods sent Up were considerably larger than those* which are ordinarily seen on tho wharves. This considerably increased tho rate at which the cargoes were handled. On the Athenlo, Work on the Athenic proceeded without a hitch, tho • mombcrs of tho crew co-operating loyally with the Arbitrationists in tho work of stowing tho cheese in the hold. Truck after truck was run alongside the vessel, and each one was quickly emptied. The effect of the • now unionists* stronuqus work is apparent from the outwai'd appear* auce of tho vessel. When sho put out into the stream last evening she was' considerably lower in the water than she- was when work commenced on i/mirsaayt afternoon. On tho Moans, .. The™ was practically no trouble on the Moana so far as ths working of cargo was concerned. The cargo shipped on this vessel was also perishable dairy produce. The dairy producers of tie Dominion have been making great cfof lato to establish a market for their goods on the west coast of America, and it would have been a serious matter if the consignment had been missed. Those concerned in the shipment accordingly wore a broad smile of satisfaction yesterday afternoon, as they saw crate after crate removed from tho trucks and safely placed in tho vessel's holds. The orew of tho Moana did not take kindly to the new conditions of things, and trouble was predicted early in the day. There was a persistent rumour that the men woula come, out some time m the afternoon, but as time wore on, and no signs 'of the threatened strike wore seen, it was thought that after all wiser counsels would prevail, and that the seamen and firemen would Btay loyally in their places.. It was not to bo, however.

After work had ceased for the day, and tho ship was preparing to leave • the wharf for her night anehorage in tho stream, her orew walked off and left her. There is not a great deal of cargo to be shipped on the Moana, and if everything goes well, it should all be. placed on board to-day. The vessel's sailing has been postponed until 1 p.m. to-day. Wlllochra's Firemen Hqstllfl. The chief trouble experienced during the day was on the Willoohra, whose men were openly hostile to the Arbitrationists. When the labourers boarded the vessel they were greeted in a manner none, too friendly By a number of the seamen. Nothing daunted, tho Arbit-rationists descended i-nto the hold, but, just as. they commenced work, the firemen began to drop lumps of coal on them. Work was immediately ceased, and the police were sent for. A forco of fifty City foot special men, and a number of regular police were sent oil board to preserve order and protect the workeis. The firemen were inclined to resent their presence, and strenuously denied that they had thrown coal, but the police remained on board. Another strong force was stationed en the wharf alongside the vossol. Thus protected, the Arbitrationists again set to with a will, and shortly after 2 p.m. tho winches were again working merrily, and crate after crate of fruit waß landed on the wharf and hurried off into the sheds. Amongst tho members of the new union were several expert winchmen, and those manned the vessel's winches, in co-operation with the ship's officers. Thero was somo difficulty in getting the firomon to keep up steam on the vessel, but tho engineers overcame the difficulty by keeping tho fires going themselves when necossary. Four winches were worked, and tho cargo was deftly and quickly handled. When tho Willochrn went out into the stream at 6 p.m. she had a large quantity of cargo still to bo discharged, and she will come alongside again this morning. Her sailintr has been postponed, and her through passengers will tranship to-day to the Maunganui, which sails for Sydney to-night.

Tho Gisborne watersiclers. at their ordinary monthly meeting, considered a telegram from Mr. W. T. Young, asking them to take a holiday. The meeting unanimously declined to accede to the request, and decided to continue under tho proaont anroqtnont, which ia registaw under uw Arbitration Aot.