AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1904, 12 November 1913, Page 9

AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES.

WORKING THE STEAMERS. LABOUR IN OVER-SUPPLY. CONDITIONS AGAIN APPROACH NORMAL. RESTAURANT WORKERS 1 RESUMING.. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, November 11. From an early hour this morning there wßre signs of increasing activity in tho neighbourhood of the waterfront, betokening more vital developments in tho campaign against the general strike. The developments this morning included tho berthing of tho Monowai and Navua at tho Queen's Wharf and tho Mimiro at No. 2 jetty, as well as an additional five coastal steamers, filling up a good portion' of the accommodation at the eastern jetties. It was not long before the traffic of the port was going with its acoustoined swing, and the restoration of something like normal conditions' was' necessarily followed by tho bustle and activity that have been markedly absent since tlie pickets effectively interfered with tho ordinary oourse of seaborne trade. A material link in the chain of commerce was also supplied simultaneously with other operations by bringing within the protected area an adequate number of lorries for carting purposes. Vehicles wero secured from various large carrying firms in tho city, with drivers offering their services from amongst tho ranks of special constables, and wero driven from different parts of tho city nnder strong escort to insido tho lines of tho waterfront defence. Lorries passed through tho crowds without meeting with any interference, and any indication of disapproval from tho strike supporters was virtually confined to occasional hooting. One incident more serious than tho rest occurred in Queon Street, aud r» suited in a man being knocked down through a collision witli a "special's" horsp. In addition to tho lorries', which during tho forenoon v/ere engaged primarily in transporting cargo from the wharves as discharged from vessels at the berth, a number of carriers owning and working their own carts wero kept busily occupied delivering sundry goods to the wharves, and a motor lorry or two .were also engaged in carting to and from tho wharf. Though measures of precaution wero deemed advisablo under the unusual circumstances, the work was. carried out quietly and without serious, .interruption. Besides .' .'the MonoWai, .'Mimiro, and Na'vua, the Westralia was tho next of tho larger . steamers to berth. Tho unloading of cargo, from tho holds ot each of tho vessels was put in hand without delay or trouble. As the crews had previously been paid off the officers brought tho vessels up to tho berthago and then unloading was proceeded witli by members of tho new union under tho direction of permanent wharf hands and experienced stevedores. In tho caso of coastal steamers tho crews who have remained on duty did tho ordinary work that falls to thoir lot, but whore crews had given notico and had been paid off tho officers .worked tlio winches and Arbitrationists handled tho cargo. Plenty of labour was available for all requirements. Four Hundred Men Working. Four hundred men who had been enrolled as members of the new union were employed in discharging operations, working winches, and handling cargo, and the secretary informed a pressman that an additional hundred men wero waiting if wanted, while applications for membership wero continuing to come in. Ho stated also that 'many of the men would remain permanently as waterside workers, and would not coaso tho occupation as soon as tho present crisis was over. Although it is evident that a number of Arbitrationists have not previously had experience of wharf lumping, and wero a bit awkward at first, thoy soon got into their paces and wero making good progress with the work in hand. From tho Wostralia and Monowai is being landed general merchandise, . principally produce, tho two cargoes aggregating about 2000 tons. The Mimiro, which had nearly completed unloading when the strike was declared, has some five hundred tons of .machinery, and the Navua's cargo' is confined to a small shipment of fruit originally consigned to Westport. As the cases came up from tho holds this morning it was evident that the, fruit had perished by its long detention. Tho cargo from the vessels was afterwards shifted into the sheds adjacent to the berthage or put direct on to waiting lorries and carted straight away. . The handling of cargo will, bo continued to-morrow. No details regarding _ tho vessols to .be worked wore available this evening. "I have had Bovoral conferences- with the shipping companies to-day." tho chairman'of the Harbour Board (Mr. J. H. Gunson) stated. "The arrangements which'have been carricd out wero those thought best for tho' first day's work, and tonight we aro considering a programmo for to-morrow. I havo had representations from several of tho shipping companies' concerning their vessels, all being now anxious to get'to work, aud while wo shall probably deal to-morrow with several of tho larger vessels, I am not able to say definitely what will be done. Wo aro giving preference to tho most urgent cases, and the farming community will recoivo the first consideration. Tho Opawa is expected back from tho south on Thursday ovening, and will load butter for London. Tho vessel will sail at tho end of tho week for southern ports to complete loading. . Sugar is now boing brought across tho harbour in considerable quantities from tho Colonial Sugar Company's stores at Chelsea. Already between '100 and 500 tons havo been discharged on the Queen's Wharf, and this supply has been distributed by rail through the Waikato, King • Country, and North Auckland .districts. A small quantity has also been brought into the city, but; tho demand for.fresh supplies js. light, probably because nearly every household storo was replenished when the beginning of the striko threatened a famine in this commodity." Evorything Normal at Midday. Uniform police and mounted men havo been adopting very energetic measures in tho direction of maintaining Queen and Customs .Streets clear of large crowds and in keeping the Lraflic on the move between Street intersection and the Post Office. The launch

patrol on tho wator is being vigilantly maintained, and there is little possibility of a surprise coimter-dcmonstra* tion. By midday everything appeared to havo scttied down to about normal. Previously there had beon large crowds of people packed along Customs Street, and at its junction with Queen Street, hut tho uniformed police were particularly activo, and porsistontly dispersed all the groups, with the result that tiiero wero oven less people than usual in tho vicinity. But lor a few mounted polico about, and tho lilts of mounted specials across tho road near the post oltice, tlic.'o was really nothing to suggest tho present trouble. In addition, tho work of transport had been proceeding bo peacefully that escorts'gitarding tho lorries and carts were reduced to a minimum. Carting to and from was freely carried on with very small mounted escorts, and no trouble was threatened at all to either goods being sent down by merchants ar cargo brought away in large or small carriers' vehicles. It is stated that a number of tho carters of one firm have returned to work. Tho disposal of the shipping in port this afternoon was: At the wharf — Mimiro, Monowai, Westralia, Kereni, Gaol, Tasinan, Rotomahana, Waiotahi. Ngapuhi, Kotiti, Py ramus, Aupori, Kaniori, Kawau, Daph.no, Ngatiawa, Taniwlia, Apanui, Orowa, Victory. In tho stream —Muritai, Koniata, Wanaka, Ngaluita, Koromiko, Tongariro, liurow, Rosamond, Ennerdale, Hauroto, Louisa Craig, Loch Garvo, Isabella Dofraine, Fairburu, Paeroa, Chelmsford, Wnkatore, Manaia, Iris, Navita.