AUCKLAND COMMITTEE WEAKENS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1914, 24 November 1913, Page 6

AUCKLAND COMMITTEE WEAKENS.

ifiV^-^-UNIONS, BETTER CALL OFF STRIKE. 27 BOATS TO BERTH TO-DAY. CALL TO LYTTELTON DRIVERS.

Waterside Workers,-when they broke their agreement, were being paid Is. hour ordinary time, 2s. 2d. an hour overtime up to 10 p.m., 1 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 , ... overtime ' • ' Friday, October 17. —Shipwrights asked for increase In wages. Saturday, October 18.—Shipwrights ceased work. Monday, October 20.—First mass meeting Waterside Workers' Union, at which, it was decided to call a "stop-work" meeting, to' be held at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 72. 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 put on to work in their places. ■ Union desired that "stop-work" men be reinstated, in their positions, and 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 .Squaro Friday, Octobcr 24.—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference of Federation- of Labour delegates 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 Nlkau 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 Past Office Square. Procession to Basin Reserve. 'Gate broken down by crowd. Inflammatory speeches by strike leaders. - ', Monday, October 27.—Labour Day and a holiday. Observed by : strikers as well as tho public. No change in the situation. ■ Tuesday, October 28.—Conference between employers and employees. 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 Day's Bay by Cobar. Goods subsequently allowed to be shipped. Further violent speeches by agitators in the Post Office Square. Encounter at night between sus- ' pected free labourers and strikers at Waterloo 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 • /op', parade. stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. . . Mounted constables parade streets and charge strikers in Post Office Square. Three hundred special constables sworn in. Onset, on Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs' shop; constable 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. Skirmishes 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.' Massmeetings at NewtownPark and Opera House. Further contingents of special constables arrive, Wahine laid up in stream.- Strike pickets withdrawn from wharves, '' Outlook for settlement more hopeful. Greymouth Union come out on . strike. '. r' r, ~' Monday, November. 3.—Wahine's. men . come 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. Several persons injured—three seriously. Revolvers used. Mob indulges |n window-breaking .and .other damage. . , Tuesdays Novemher ; , 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 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 orfler." i troops l who were cheered through the city. City specials'! paraded for first time—make a gallant show. 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. Saturday, November B.—General strike In Auckland, special con•tables take possession of waterfront. Waterside Federation invites new {Wellington Union to affiliate. P. J. Bassett arrested on charge of at- ' tempting 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 ID,—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, Fraser, and Bailey arrested. Members of Drivers' Union stop work. More steamers worked at wharves. Wednesday, November ll—W. T. Young, Secretary Wellington Seamen's Union, arrested. T. Barker, organiser for 1.W.W., arrested at ■ Auckland. All 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. Now Arbitration Act Drivers' Union formed. - Nine steamers worked at' wharves. Friday, November 14.—Seventeen vessels working cargo, and five coaling. New Drivers' Union registered. United Labour Party declares against the.strike. 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. Tuesday, November 18.—Athenic sails for London fully laden. Seventeen vessels worked by the 850 men 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. . Wednesday, November 19.—Disorder in Post Office Square and Taranaki Street. Carter attacked on Ohiro Road. Several arrests effected, Mayor closes all City hotels, Twenty-four boats working at wharves. More violence at Lyttelton. Thursday, November 20.—Twenty-five vessels worked at wharves, , and coal cargoes discharged for first time. Dissension reported among strikers. Arbitration Union totals over 1000 members. Cargoes being worked at Lyttelton, Friday, November 21.—Work proceeding actively on waterfront. Over 900 men engaged. Hotel bars closed until November 25. Court proceedings! Lyttelton ferry steamers take cargo. Saturday, November 22.—Christchurch carters called out. Coal and cargo worked on waterfront by nearly 1000 men, Hannah's boot factory closed down. A quiet day. "With the exception of. one very die- far as tho striko is concerned. Work quieting rumour—that referring to the has proceeded steadily in port, both on blowing-up of the Lyttelton tunnel— tho coal and goneral cargo steamers, the week-end -has heeu a fljiieji pne «s|qegd gtaxefowa m jua» Hum satisfied

with tho manner in which the members of the now union aro doing tlicir work. Drivers aro still short, and consequently a good deal of cargo is piling up on the wharves, but an influx is expected from the country this week, which should give complete relief. Saturday afternoon was eventless. A mass meeting was held at Newtown Park yesterday afternoon, when speeches wore delivered by Messrs. Webb and Payne, M.P.'s, G. Stone, Glover, Hickey, and Dowgray. Tho dominant note they all sounded was to the effect that the men were moro solid than ever and would fight to a finish. It was announced that t.he Feamen and minors wore going to win the struggle for the strikers, and that much was expected in the way of support from tno visit to Australia of Mr. W. Parry (Federation of Labour), and Mr. Starr (Seamen's Union). The only development of note from outside is the calling, out of Christchurch carters on Saturday.