WHARVES RUSHED BY STRIKERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 8

WHARVES RUSHED BY STRIKERS.

DUNEDIN BLOCKADE 'OVER. ATHENIC FOR LONDON-GpAT SEND-OFF

Waterside Workers, when'they broke their agreement, were : being paid Is. sd. an hour ordinary time, 2s. 2d. an hour overtime "■'•.. up tp'.itf 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 i overtime., i , . , '■'■." Friday, October 17.—Shipwrights asked for increase in wages. Saturday, . October 18.—Shipwrights' ceased work. Monday, October 20.—First mass meeting Waterside Workers' Union, : st which it was decided to call a "slop-work" meeting,, to be held at 8 a;m. on- Wednesday, October 22. ',- . . . ■-, .Wednesday?, October 22.—"Stop-work" meeting of Waterside '■■', Workers' Union held on wharf. While men. were attending meeting, -•-which,-being held'in working hours, was a breach of agreement, other •>'union-men were putWto work in their places. Union desired that "stop-work'', men be reinstated in'their positions, and absolutely refused to work unless; all.of the men formerly employed at the various jobs'were reinstated. Employers decided that men's action in knocking |'off work and .refusing to go" back in. breach of agreement ter- , minated the agreement with the union, which had been entered into in '~. 1912; Waterside Workers' Union hand control of strike over to the Federation of Labour. '. Waterside Workers' Union strikes. . ■' Thursday, October 23.—Big mass meeting of strikers, Wharves picketed: Union S.S. Company pays crews off colliers. Free labourers commence work. Negotiations between strike delegates and employers fail.. Report-of intention of-Waterside Workers' Union to register a second union under the Arbitration Act. Speeches in the Post Office Square • ' Friday; October 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference of Federation of Labour delogates 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 watersiders 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, October 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, 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, Prima Minister, as chairman. More ! police arrive. SiS. Nikau rushed. All steamers move to an,anchorage jin the stream. Racehorses allowed to leave for south. Wednesday, October 29.—Employers' proposals from previous evening'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 ~.,7 , sgitatprs in the Post, Office Square., Encounter at night between_ susr'.i, peeled, free labourersiand strlkirs at WattVlo'b'- Quay. Auckland and Westport watersiders strike. ' . Thursday, .October 30.—Strikers, assault special constables, Waterloo Quay fence broken down and horses liberated'. Men of H.M.S. Psyche on parade., ..Psj-che'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 1 on Messrs. .. Whitcombe and Tombs' shop; constabiw severely wounded. Prime .[. .Minister states the Government's position. Lyttelton watersiders strike. Saturday, November I.—Quiet day. Employers enlarge their strike 'committee; Large bodies of.specials arrive from the country. Skir--I'itiishes with.strikers'i.n town. Wahine's crew give notice' to strike. '.''Oa'rnaru watersiders join strike. Sunday, November 2.—Deputation from combined Labour bodies to ' .Prime. Minister with proposals for settlement. Mass meetings at ;Newtown .. Park and Oiflra House. Further contingentsof special constables arrive. "-:. .Wahinelaid-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'^U.nion':decide, to strike if free labour is employed. Negotiations ibeiween.''enil)loyers arid workers entered upon and adjourned tiH foljomngday. Mapourika enters furry service to replace Wahine. Government steamers held in readiness for mails., Serious riot in Taranak* Street, special aonstables being attacked by mob. Several persons injured—three seriously. Revolvers used. Mob indulges in window-breaking and other damage. . Tuesday, November'4,—Negotiations-for settlement broken off on Vmployers stipulating on union registering under Arbitration Act. Em; plbyers'.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 block cartage of straw to barracks. Mayor closes seven hotels in evening.- Royal Tiger Hotel besieged. ■ Two men arrested. "'" Wednesday, November s.—Racehorses for New Zealand Cup Meeting shipped'on Maunganui .for Lyttelton by free labour. Mounted special constables guarding the wharf stoned by, crowd.- Eight' arrests made, 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." Fine display "law and order" troops,, who were cheered through the city. City "specials" paraded for first time—make a gallant show. Stone-throwing ceases. A qui.et night, Friday, November 7.— S.S. Athenic, Willochra, and Moana worked "by. Arbitrationists. 'Mqana's crew leaves ship, and Willochra's deside to follow.. Union Company's permanent hands join strike. Wharves guarded by special constables. ■•■ . Saturday, November B.—General strike in Auckland, special constables take possession of waterfront. Waterside Federation invites new Wellington Union to affiliate. P. J. Bassett arrested on charge of attempting to murder Commissioner Cullen. Wellington seamen decide to come .out. ~;,.,---,

Sunday, November 9.—General strike called in Wellington. Mass meeting in Opera House. Monday, November 10.—Drivers' Union decides to join the strike. Goods carted from wharf to warehouses under escort. Seven thousand out of work in Auckland. Work increasing at wharves. ■Tuesday,. November 11.—Four strike leaders, Messrs. Semple, Holland, Vraser, and Bailey arrested. Members of Drivers' Union itop work. More steamers worked at wharves. . , Wednesday, November 12 W. T. Young, Secretary Wellington Seamen's Union, arrested. T. Barker, organiser for 1.W.W., arrested at Auckland. . AH strike leaders under arrest remanded for a week. Oversea, and coastal steamers worked in Wellington. Goods carted from wharves without escort. . Thursday, November 13.—Building Trades' Labourers' Union joins strike. New Arbitration Act Drivers' Union formed. Nine steamers worked at wharves. _ Friday, November 14.—Seventeen working cargo, and five others coaling. New Drivers' Union registered. United Labour Party declares against the strike., ... , f Saturday, November 15. Trade .with Wanganui and Patea resumed. Maori takes up ferry service again. More unions refuse to strike. Sunday, November 16.—Tramway men decide to remain under Arbitration Act. -Mass-meetings of strikers. ■ < Monday, November 17.—Twenty steamers worked at wharves. Arbitration Wharf Labourers' Union totals 750 men. Special constable assaulted in city hotel.

Carrying one of the biggest and most valuable cargoes that has ever left New Zealand in one bottom, the Athenic yesterday afternoon cast off from the Glasgow Wharf and is now on hor way. to London. The ship was loaded entirely by members of the. new union, and the work was put through in excellent time. , • , , - ' In all seventeen vessels noro being worked along-the water-front during the day, and employment was found for the 850 men who are now on tho roll of. the Wharf- LaboursyJniwi. ~

Shipping was yesterday being worked for the first time to any extent at botli Lyttelton and Dunedin, and in each caso rushes were made on tho wharves by the strikers. The attempt to stop work at Dunedin was ineffective, but at Lyttelton tho strikers forced the permanent men to come out, and matters for tho time being aro at a standstill. . ■ , Eleven itrilfo cases were before the Magistrate in Wellington yesterday, and tlio need for police vigilance was again demonstrated in the evening, when a,, party, .of striken sHaged three

special constables up Cuba Street. It is understood. that the hearing of tho charges against the strike- leaders now in custody will not be taken to-day, but will be adjourned on the application of the defendants.