POLICE AND SPECIALS PREPARED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1912, 21 November 1913, Page 8

POLICE AND SPECIALS PREPARED.

; r . -.0 . ' . - AUCKLAND NEARLY NORMAL. STRIKE HOLD RAPIDLY BREAKING. , STRONG STAND BY CARPENTERS. . Waterside .Workers, when they broke their, agreement, were 'being paid Is/sd. an hour ordinary time, 2s, 2d. an hour overtimo up to 10 p.m.; 2s; 3d. per hour-overtime /II) p.m. to B;a.m. For j ' ■special woHk .special, rates of pay were provided, coal carriers, ' v l -the highest, paid/receiving 2s. an hour ordinary time, 3s. an hour overtime. '/' ' •..< Friday, .October 17.—Shipwrights askedifor increase in wages. Satur--day, October 18.—Shipwrights ceased work. Monday, October 20.—First mass meeting' Waterside Workers' Union, i at which it was decided to call a "stop-work" meeting, to be held at a.m. on Wednesday; October. Z2. • Wednesday,' October 22.—"Stop-work" meeting of Waterside , Workers^,Union,.hSldiOn While men were attending meeting, which, bei'nS l h6l(i ; hl J w/orkrrig'hburs, was a breach of agreement,.'other . union men were..put.on to work in their, places. ■ Union' desired that ."stop-work" mon be reinstated in their positions; and absolutely re- • fused ito Vwork furifess'ail of the meri 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 jof -agreement ter- ' , minated the'agreement with the union, which had! been entered into in ' y 1912., Waterside .Workers' Union hand control of strike over to the ''Federation ; ' Waterside Workers'. Union strikes, r ip*jniur§dfliy,. .mass meeting of . strikers. Wharves . . picketed. Un|on ■ S.S, Company pays crews off colliers. Free labourers . commence work. Negotiations between strike delegates and employers ■ failj.ii Reporti.of. intention of Waterside Workers' Union to register a second unioh';,under the 'Arbitration Act. Speeches in the Post Office'. ■ ''Square'.' 7 ' 1 '; v , Friday,; October 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference, iof Federation ,of Labour delegates proves abortive. Employers decide . ' to cease Work : as far as'handling cargo is Fifty police i tße. wharves./':Warehouse clerks work cargo in small steamers. r Saturday, October' 25.—Further scenes : of violence on wharves. Defender and Nikau' rushed—crews intimidated. Police from - country,, arrive.; .Employers issue a statement to the effect. that no .watersideVs will be employed until a fresh .organisation, be formed and. • under Arbitration Act. I Watersiders decide to, continue. - strike. Harbour Board pickets tho wharves, ■■■''. SUnday,'October' 2s—.Mass meeting at 2,15 pi/n. in Post Office Square. Procession to Basin Reserve. 'Gate broken down by crowd. ~ Inflammatory speeches by strike leaders. . .. . ■ Monday, October^.—Labour Day and a holiday. Observed by • strikers as'well as the public. No change in the situation. '.''tue'sday/ 1 0ctbber "28. i -Gbnferehce betwoen employers and omployees, with Hon, W.' ; F. :; Massey, Prime Minister, as chairman. More police, arrive. S.S. Nikau" rushed. All steamers move to an anchorage in 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'Qay's Bay by Cobar. 'Goods' -, subsequently allowed to be shipped. Further violent speeches by Agitators in the' Post Office Square. 1 Encounter L at night.'between .-sfis-/ pected free labourers'and strikirs at Waterloo' -Qfiay. 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.vparade. ■ Psyche.'s,stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets, i Mounted'constables, parade streets and charge strikers in Post Office Square. Three hundred special constables sworn in. Onset on Messrs. ' ■ e Whitcombe and TomjiS'shop; constable severely \ wounded. ' Prime ' Minister states the Government's position. Lyttelton watersiders strike. Saturday, November I.—Quiet dajr. Employers enlarge their, strike committee. Large bodies of specials arrive from the country. Skir- • ■ . mishes with strikers in town. Wahine's crew give notice •to strike. Oamaru watersiders join strike. • • \ - Sunday, November 2.—Deputation, from combined Labour bodies to" Prime! Minister with proposals for settlement.: Mass meetings'at Newtown Park and Opera House. Further contingents of. special constables arrive. Wahine laid up in stream.' Strike pickets withdrawn from wharves... Outlook fbr settlement more hopeful. Greymouth Union come out on <9 ■ strike. . ■ , , . Monday,. November 3.—Wahine's men comc ashore. - Wellington branch of Seamen's Union decide to strike if free labour is employed. Negotiations between employers and workers entered upon and adjourned, till following day. Mapourika enters ferry service to replace - Wahine,' 'Government steamers held in readiness for mails. Serious riot in Taranaki Street, special oonstables being attacked by mob. , Sevpral persons ' injured—three seriously. Revolvers used. Mob in- ' dulges ,-in 'window-breaking. :and other damage. . . Tuesday, November. 4.'—Negotiations for settlement broken off on employers stipulating on union registering under Arbitration Act. Employers 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 handlsid 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 i—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 tho melee. Thursday, November. 6.—New Wharf Labourers'• Union registered. - Members commence work loading the Aihenic at Glasgow Wharf. Wharf approaches guarded by mounted and foot "specials." Fine display Claw and order'!'troops.- who were-cheered-'".through the city. City ''specials" paraded for "first time—make a gallant shofc; Stone-throwing ceases. A quiet night; . ' Friday, November 7.— S.S. Athenic, Willochra, and Moana worked by Arbitrationists. Moana's crew leaves ship, and Willochra's deside to,follow. Union Company's permanent .hands join strike, Wharves .guarded by special'-.constables. . ■ y - Saturday, November 8,-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'at- ' ' tempting!to'niuf.dcr Commissioner Cullen. Wellington seamen decide to ' come 0ut,,,.. Sunday, November 9,-General strike called in Wellington, Mass. meeting in Opera, House. Monday, November ill.—Drivers' Union decides to join the strike. Goods ' carted from wharf to warehouses under escort. Seven thousand but'o'f work "in, Auckland. Work increasing at wharves. Tuesday,'. November 11,-^four,;..strike.-i leaders,. Messrs. Semple, Holland, Fraser,. and.,, Bailey arrested. Members of Drivers' Union ' stop work. More, steamers worked at wharves. . Wednesday, November 12.-W. T. Young, Secretary Wellington Sea- " men's Union, arrested. T. Barker, organiser for 1.W.W., arrested at Auckland. " All, strike'leaders under arrest remanded for a week. Overi.sea ahd coastal steamers worked/in Wellingtbn. Goods carted from Y/harves without escort. .. , Thursday,,. November 13.—Building Trades' ' Union joins strike. . Now Arbitration Act; Drivers' Union formed,, Nine steamers .worked at wharves. .. ' . ' Friday, November 14.—Seventeen vessels working cargo, and five eoaling. New Drivers' Union registered. United Labour Party declares against the strika. 1 / \ ' 1 Saturday, November 15.. Trade with Wariganui and Patea resumed." Maori takes up ferry service again. More unions refuse to strike," , Sunday, November-16.—Tramway men decide ..to. remain under Ar- ■ titration Act. .Mass meetings of strikers. . '. - Monday, November' 17.—Twenty steamers worked at wharves. Arbi- • tration Wharf Labourers' Union totals 750 men. 'Special constable ' assaulted in city hotel. , . ; Tuesday, November iS.—Athenl c sails for • London full* laden • Seventeen vessels worked by tho 850'mon now on the Arbitration Union roll. Rushes on wharves at Lyttelton and Dunedin. Permanent men forced to come out at Lyttelton. Two special constables chased up : ■ Cuba Street. .. .... H 'Wednesday, November 19.-Disorder in Post Office Square and Taranaki Street. Carter attacked on Ohiro Road. Several arrests affected, Mayor closes all City hotels. Twenty-four boats working at wharves. 1 More violence at Lyttelton. , • 1 ■ -

stration in the. forbidden area of tlie ■Square. The strikers, it is stated, were ready lor the procession, but were waiting for the fire-eating originator of the idea to lead his hosts in person. He, however, was prudently busy elsewhere, and so all was quiet along thcMvateriront. Tho membership of the new union now

Special precautions wero taken yesterday in anticipation of a rush' by the strikers on the wharves. . A largo body , of police, constables, moulded and foot, sp?ciiil aiid regular, was. on duty. The police had 'received . information that the-strikers, accompanied by their wives iukl children, intended making a demon-

totals over 1000, and is thought likely to bo considerably augmented, as a result of yesterday's liaseo. The strikers .no stated.to be divided and disgusted at tlie (Unwillingness of the devisers of warlike plans to take personal risks in the forefront of battle, and their confidence in their leaders is apparently considerably shaken. forty-two vessels in the liar-, hour yesterday twenty-live were being worked at the wharves,- and for the first time several cargoes of coal wore being ..discharged. The city hotels still remain shut, and 1 will be closed throughout to-day. Reports from the other centres show that Auckland is making steady progress towards normal; Cliristchiircli is quiet, with 'two ships working at Lyttelton.; and at Dunediu matters generally are quiet, though the first arrest of the strike was made, in consequence of a rush on a lorry.