THE UNLOCKING OF THE PORT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1905, 13 November 1913, Page 9

THE UNLOCKING OF THE PORT

PRACTICALLY .DONE,

THE HARBOUR SHEDS OPENED.

WORKERS FLOCKING IN.

Operations were in something' like full swing on the Wellington wharves yesterday. Besides tho vessels which have been worked at the King's and Glasgow Wharves, the coastal steamer Blenheim was discharging cargo at hor usual bortli—No. 13, Waterloo Quay— and the oversea steamer Dorset came alongside tho Taranaki Street Wharf, and commenced discharging for the first time since the strike commenced. The Kaitoa, Pateon'a, Warrimoo, and Northern worked at tho Queen's Wharf. All tho Harbour Board's sheds were thrown open and the permanent hands, who have been doing patrol duty for tho 'past three weeks, went back to their original positions. Tho Harbour Board's bonded stores were also reopened after an enforced idleness, and merchants took the opportunity of replenishing stocks. Sovoral cranes were 1 working yesterday. If required, other cranes will be manned by the Harbour " Board's permanent men, if other men are riot availablo.

General cargo of all descriptions was carted from the wharves all day,' and lorries piled with merchandise were to bo seon leaving the entrance. This was £k new departure, carting hitherto having been confined to perishable products. Generally speaking, the whole aspect of affairs changed yesterday, for work went on just as if there were no strike at all. 1

Strikers Joining New.Union. Plenty of labour is available. Tho new Arbitration Union has a membership of over 400. Speaking to a reporter yesterday, Mr. W. 0. Long, act-ing-secretary, said, "We are receiving applications every hour. If old unionists want to get back to work on the waterfront they had better apply early, for tho positions aro filling. Tho response to tho call for labour has been wonderful. Members of other unions, who have been thrown idle on account of the strike, have applied for jobs, and they ho,vo been placed without difficulty."

"Have you any members of the old union working to-day?" Mr. Long was asked. .

. "Yes," he replied, "there are several men who went out on strike working under the new union, and wo expect a score or so to start in tho morning. Wo have had applicants here to-day, and a number have signed on." Inquiries made in other directions elicited the information that there were at least 15 or 20 members of the late union working, or ready to commence work, this morning. Tho general impression on the waterfront yesterday was that tho beginning of the end of the striko was in sight. . The Dorset Brought In. After an enforced idleness of three weeks, the F. and S. Line's steamer Dorset was brought alongside the Taranaki Street Wharf yesterday, and another start was made to discharge her 2200 tons of Liverpool cargo. Gangs of arbitration men worked her, and a large quantity of general cargo was piled up in the shed before the Dorsot returned to the stream last eveinng. , Athenic and Others. Messrs.- Johnston and Co.'a coastal steamer Blenheim also "c&nte : for the first time since the strike, and practically. tho wholo of her; cargo of chaff was discharged during the afternoon.

The work of ioadtog the Athenic proceeded apace, and, each day the big liner [pes down deeper. In addition to cheeso and butter, wool, hemp, tallow, and flax were shipped.' Coaling operations were ;also in full swing. The local agents for.tho Athenic adviso that she will be' dispatch'ed from the Glasgow Wharf for 'London, via way ports, at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18. . Discharge of the Willocbra's fruit is expected to be completed by this afternoon, and she will leavo port for Sydney direct at 5 p.m. to-morrow. In addition to tho above vessek, the Rimutaka was discharged at the King's Wharf, and the Northern at i Slm Queen's Wharf No. 6. The latter vessel leaves for Lyttelton to-day.