LYTTELTON AN OPEN POUT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1909, 18 November 1913, Page 8

LYTTELTON AN OPEN POUT.

WORK PROCEEDING QUIETLY, : NEW UNION PROPOSED. vB t Tolesmjih—Preci AHv>c!fttion.l Chrlstchurch, November 17. Lyttelton became an open port again at 1.25 p.m. to-day, when the first sling of cargo was brought up froin the forward hold of tho Northern, and safoly deposited in a truck alongside. It was gehefally kngwn at t-lifc port this morning that the Northern was working with her own crew, aiid would Btart unloading after lunoh, but there was no rush Qf strikers to No, 4 Wharf in Oonsequenco, ' At 1 p.m. one representative of tho Strike Committee visited the wharf, and encountered a few railway men making their way steadily towards wharf at which the Northern Was> and asked if they were going to work her cargo, "Yes. wo are," said one of the men. "Have you any comment?" "No," was the reply. "You clia'ps are members of the Ajjialganiated Society of Railway Servants, and you must- obey orders. We have no quarrel with yoa at all." Tho railway men filed on to tho wharf, and at about 1.15 p.m. were followed by a small group of watcrsiders and townspeople. One oftlie Watersiders' addressed the members of tho crew on the Northern's deck in a loud voice.

"If you fellows handle that cargo," he shouted, "you're doing spinet-king ; detrimental to your own interests. They can't gaol you far refusing to work cargo." The deck hands made no reply. Later on the same speaker addressed them again to the same effect, Ono of the seamen then went to tho rail, and said: "We're not scabs, and We're not working with scabs. Wo can't break our articles." It should bo explained that the articles require thorn to .work cargo if called upon to do so. At this stage a solitary policeman appeared on the wharf, and quietly requested everybody to retire to the shore-end of the wharf. He was obeyed immediately, and the discharging .of cargo was begun ' at once. Small knots of sightseers and others remained for .1 -time at the end. of the wharf, watching tho unloading, but they soon became tired of' that, and walked aWay. The opening of tlio port had been accomplished without anybody oven speaking crossly.

Specials Sworn in. The decision to open tho port of Lyttelton this week, and to employ Arbitration unionists to Work' cargoes ha-s necessitated provision being made for the workers. As a conscquenee, a number of "special" constables have, been sworn in, and their services will bo available if occasion should arise. It is reported that the "special" constables will go into camp at-'tho Canterbury A. and P. Association's Show Grounds at Aldington to-morrow. One effect of the strike has been to cut. off the farmers and freezing companies in tho North Island from their supplies of bags, the factories that make them being situated in the South Island, 111 Oliristchurch at present one factory has accumulated, a largo quantity of bags, which, owing to the dislocation in. tlio sea- transport, cannot be forwarded north. The Christchurch wool sale, set down for Friday, November 21, has been abandoned, and the first sale will be held 011 December 10.

The shortage of sugar and the absence of supplies of sugar,' consequent on the. continuance of the strike, have resulted in tho dosing down .of another Christchurch factory—tho Atlas confectionery and biscuit Works. This means that bet-ween eighty and one hundred men and girls Tiave been thrown work. The present month, November, is one of the busiest, of tire year, ana one ill: which tho factory always works overtime. "We are full of orders." said the proprietor, "kit from present indications, wo shall be unable them this year. This means a loss of many hundreds of pounds, in addition to the wages lost by the employees." A Now Union Proposed. A number of men anxious Tp obtain work on the wharves at Lytt-oßoii are taking steps to form, a, Watersiders' Union uiider the Arbitration Act. .It is understood that, in view of the attitude taken up hy the drivers in Auckland and Wellington in the matter of handling cargo not shipped by "union" labour,' a number of drivers in Christchurch, who do not approve of the attitude referred to, are taking steps to register a union under the Arbitration Act. A local firm of agricultural implement manufacturers has a shipment valued at £400 awaiting transport to Australia, but unless the strike ends soon it ss quite likely that the ordors may bo cancelled.