AUCKLAND A BUSY PORT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1913, 22 November 1913, Page 7

AUCKLAND A BUSY PORT.

TIMBER MILLS RESUME, SOO MORE BUILDERS TURN TO. STRENGTHENING THE SPECIALS. (By Telegraph.—Prees Association.) Auckland, November 21. The timber mills on t'ho waterfront resumed operations this morning, and a fair percentago of mon turned up, and others intimated that they will begin on Monday morning. There was 110 molestation of the men who started work. One or two wore stuck up by pickets, who merely spoko to them, and they passed on. About 20 men who congregated 011 the hill at tho foot of Hardinge Street wore dispersed by constables, and tho men standing about Customs Street wero kept on the move by. uniformed policemen . A largo contingent of mounted specials, were in a convenient position if their services had been required, but they had nothing to do. About 50 special constables on foot also marched along Customs Street and around tho back of the . park to see that Ho mon wero stopped from coming to work, and mounted polico wero patrolling the other roads leading to the waterfront. Punctually at .7.30 o'clock the sound of whistles was 'heard from various mills, and work was started immediatelj'.

An Interesting Table. The following list indicates the number of men who went back and the number usually employed at the various mills in Auckland: — Returned. Usual staff. Kauri Timber Co. ... 100 220 Parker, Lamb and Co. 77 80 Loyland O'Brien Co. 50 100 D. Goldie and Son ... 55 60 Taupo Totara Co. ... 12 25 Casnmore Bros 23 56 Waiterrjata Sawmill Co. (27 50 Onehunga Sawmill Co. — 40 Premier Joinery Co. 58 61 Bagnall Bros. 20 20 W. Casey .". - ID 20 Henderson and Pollard 50 50 Auckland Rimu Timber Co. 7 16 W. Taklo and Co. ... 3 ,12 A: M'Coll —. 20 Royal Oak Co. — 12 Bond Bros. 10 10 Totals 517 852 The Auckland Timber Mills' Union, in an official statement regarding the resumption of work 'at t'ho various mills,' estimates the number of members of their union who have been reported as 'having returned to work. The union executive explains that it can speak only for tho • men who were members of "union, and not for numerous workers who were not unionists, and who wero engaged at the different mills. The conclusion it arrives at is that of 350 or so members of the union in the mills effected by the general strike, fifty would bo an outside estimate of the actual members of tho union who returned to work this morning. . The do not seem to be at all consistent with the numbers given of-the actual employees back at their old occupation, but they are submitted as an official account of the position as it affects the Timber Workers' Union.

Progress at the Wharves. : The port authorities report that, good progress is being made all round with discharging and i unloading cargoes, and all the pied. '- ' . The Vancouver mail boat Marama reaohed port this morning, and took up her berth on the western side of the Queen's. Wharf shoi(tly. after 10 o'clock. IV is understood that orders have been issued prohibiting, shore leave to the crew and firemen. The Marama .will take in a big shipmont of butter, at this port, and is duo to sail at 6 o'clock to-morrow Evening. In pursuance of the policy to give first attention to mail steamers, an immediate start was made to-day to get produce aboard. The Sturmfels, with a considerable quantity of machinery from New York, was brought alongside the Queen's Wharf this morning, and a commencement was made to discharge her..cargo. Tho Tongariro, Muritai, Kaituna, and Kurow still ocoupy the berths at the King's Wharf, and tho unloading of cargo in connection with each, is proceeding. The Wanaka "is .discharging at tho northern wharf,', and tho Loch Garye at No. 2 Jetty. The Squall, of the Richardson Lino, arrived from the East . Coast this morning, making her first visit to tho port since the commencement of the strike. The Opawa, which finished loading butter and general produce late last ovening, got away at 1.35 a|.m. fpr East Const ports and Wellington, thence leaving for London. There- was a general influx of coastal . steamers during tho night, and to-day, and these tilled up tho accommodation at the jetties. , The Inveran, tramp steamer, from Valparaiso, unexpectedly arrived in the steam shortly after noon to-day to take in bunker coal. The Louisa Craig is to go up to Chelsea to-day to unload raw sugar from Fiji, and the Koromiko, with coal, will berth there on Monday. With the departure of the Marama to-morrow, and there being no steamer from Sydney this week, there will be room at tho Queen's Wharf for the berthing of other vessels now waiting their turn' in the

stream. More Builders at Work. At the conclusion of a meeting of the Master Builders' ■ Association's Special Committee this morning, it was announced that 800 more mon had started work this morning on various contracts and in.the different workshops. One contractor in a big way reported that he had two inoro than before' tho striko, while tho owner of a joinery factory stated that tho wholo of his stalf had returned with tho oxcoption of five. Not only have carpenters, plasterers, and painters gone back in goodly numbers, but tho contractors -report that labourers wero also offering themselves freely. • Questioned about the attitude of tho bricklayers, on© of the association's officials remarked that they (tho employers) wero not ready for thorn yet. Workshops in various parts of the city pnd in tho suburbs are practically working in full swing, and a walk through the main streets shows that activities have been extensively resumed on the various buildings in the course of erection. The employers estimate that there aro between 500 and 600 carpenters at work, also 150 painters and 100 plasterers. The Coal Supplies. As far as can be ascertained thoro is no reason to fear a panic as a result of any shortage in coal supplies. Although the position was regarded, as likely to become acute when the strike set in, some two or threo thousand tons of Newcastle coal have sinco been placed on the market, and arrangements havo been made to discharge four colliors (now in the stream) within a few days. The steamer Kurow, from Newcastle, has partially discharged, about 500 tons still remaining in her holds. On Monday next tho Koromiko is due to commence discharging coal at Chelsea for the sugar works, and the Whangapc is due within the noxt few days from Newcastle. It is understood that coa merchants aro booking large orders witl guarantees of delivery during Decern' ber. Coke is in good supply, and is be ing large used by factories, etc., in lioi of coal. More "Specials" being Sworn In. A further batch of city "specials,' probably 300, is being sworn in to aug

nient tlio force which lias been 011 duty during tho past fortnight. This stop lias been deemed advisable, in view of tlio- establishment of a third encampment at tho King's Wharf, and also becauso tho authorities feel that tho men already on duty should in certain cases bo given moro timo off. This will provido a forco of over 1000 foot specials. The scopo of operations has been extending considerably during the past few days, particularly in tho early morning, whon largo parties march out to tho vario.is ruburbs by diverse routes to see that the striko pickets do not become over zealous. Some large stables in Clroy Lynn have been the object. of special attention in this connection. Officers in charge of the various sections stato that tlio enthusiasmand good feeling of the men is commendable.