THE UNLOCKING OF THE PORT

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

THE UNLOCKING OF THE PORT

MORE WORKERS WANTED. , TWENTY-SEVEN VESSELS BERTH TO-DAY TRANSHIPMENTS SENT FORWARD. GOOD WAGES MADE LAST WEEK. Despite tho fact that the new union numbers 1053 workmen, only about 500 turned up to work on Saturday morning. Positions could easily have been found for another 150 men. It was explained that most of the absentees were men who had come- from the country, and, taking the advantage of tho weekend, they had gone to their homes for that period. It is anticipated that the shortago of labour will prevail agam to-day. There is plenty of work offering on the waterfront, and it will a case of first come, first seryed. ' Some of the strikers are beginning to realise this, and they are anxious to commence work. Speaking to a reporter on Saturday evening, one of the returned workers said that he fully realised the position of the strikers as helpless. "The men have been ill-advised, and if they do not apply far work soon they will find that the jobs will be all snapped up; The men who have not been ill-advised are those who have joined tho new union and commenced work. I have been out of work for four weeks, and I was beginning to feel tho pinch, and I can tell you I am very glad to get back again. I have a wife md a couple of kiddies, and- they can't live on nothing." , The Unionists' Earnings. Very good money continues to tie made by the new watersiders. On Saturday: for instance, several of the men oarned as much as 245. 6d. for the day. In only ono instance has the guarantee money of £2 10s. per week been paid. That was to a man whoso week consisted of nineteen hours' work. He is not now a member of the union. All the other workers have had no trouble of earning wages far in excess of tho minimum rate guaranteed. It is probable that an offer by a prominent farmer to find 200 workers to sign on tho new union will be accepted if more town men do not come forward this week.

One striker who joined tho new -union has broken away again. The amount of lis. 6d. was docked off his money. As the initial expenses in joining the union are only 55., and a weekly subscription of 6d.,' lie promptly reported the matter to tho Strike Committee. It was explained that the amount had been deducted under the rules of tho union. These stated that three months' notice has to be given, or thirteen weeks' levy at fid. a week paid in lieu of such notice. New Union Rules. The rule's of the new union, are now' in the hands of the printer, and they , will be distributed shortly. Tho ob' jects of the union aro sot forth as follows :— "To secure to the union all the advantages of unanimity of action, and te help tho members o.f the union ill maintaining fair conditions of employment. To establish good feeling between employers . and employed. To reform abuses connected with tho shipping trade. Generally, to help in any movement having for its object the betterment of tho workers."

Another clause reads :—"Any member who is deemed by the executive uf tho union to be opposed to the principles of the"Act may be expelled from the union by ballot .of the members present at a meeting spocially called, for tho purpose." Tho clause dealing with the calling of meetings states, inter alia;-—"Ail general, .special, or committee meetings shall' be convened by tho secretary by notice given to the members by circular or advertisement in local papers, at least three clear days before the'day of the meeting. In tho ease of a special meeting such notice shall specify the nature of the business to be transacted, and ho other business shall be dealt with at that meeting." Work on the Wharves. Quite a fleet of coastal steamers mte working cargo at tho wharves all day Saturday. Most of them handled transhipments, and the result was that in many of the sheds the congestion of cargo was to a certain extent relieved. One or two of the oversea vessels in port continued unloading till 5 p.m.' Good work was done by the men, and many appreciative remarks in regard to the way in which the now unionists tarried out their duties Wefe to be heard.

Two new oversea steamers —the Horcules from and tho Mifliiro from New York—commenced discharging operations on Saturday morning. About fourteen dart? wero engaged in conveying motor, spirit from tho Mimiro's slings-to the Vacuum Oil Company's stores. Two gangs worked timber on the Hercules, and an,extra two gangs will bo put. on to-day. Tho work of unloading coal from the Pukaki and Wairuna proceeded satisfactorily. Tho former vessel's cargo, which consisted of 783 tons, has bcon discharged, and it is expected that the Wairuna. will be finished by Wednesday or Thursday -of this week. A start will be mado to put out tho Pohorua's West Coast freight to-day. The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Rimutaka left for Lyttelton on Saturday evening, to continue Homeward loading. Exceptionally good work has been done in connection with the discharge and loading of this particular vessel. The Pateena, which also left Wellington for Lyttelton on Saturday evening, took away 370 tons of transhipments, ex Home steamers and other vessels. A large quantity of salvage gear was brought up from the wrecked steamer Devon. Tho cargo was discharged per medium of one of tho Harbour board's cranes on. the King's Wharf.

Another Big Oay To-day. To-day promises to bo another busy day, and 27 steamers will be berthed. Transhipments will bo sent forward to Napier, Gisborne, Auckland, Patea, Wanganui, and southern ports. The Union Company's Kaiapoi gse-s south to 'J'imaru, Dunedin, and the Bluff to-mor-row, and the Pukaki to Napier, Gisborne, and Auckland to-dav. Tho Maoriland_ Company's Ennordale wiil commenco discharge of a full load of sugar from Auckland to-day, and the Melbourne has arrived from Timaru with tho balance of her Newcastle r rin.\. Thore aro no oversea steamers anchored in tho stream at Wellington at the prosont time. The two vessels—the Mimiro and Kia Ora—which were thore on Saturday morning, left during tho day. The Kia Ora went to tho Bluff, and tho Mimiro berthed at the wharf.

To-day's Berthage List. To-day's berthage list, compiled by the Harbourmaster (Captain Johnston), will bo as follows Tons. Corinthic 12,231 Remuera 11,276 Maunganui 7js7iJ Nerehana. 6,533 Marero 6,443 Mimiro 6,225 Wairuna 3,047 Hercules 3,783 Maori 3,390 Mararoa 2,ffi)B Kaiapoi 2,003 Pukaki 1,444 Kamona 1,425 iaajjjwUta. IM2Q3

Poherua 1,175 Emierdale 1,147 Melbourne 1.111 I'utiki 409 - liaitoa 350 Arapawa 268 Stormbird ,217 Hawera 200 Queen of tho South ... 198 Mod 188 Huia 127 O-pawa. 110 Aorere 77 Of the list, tho Maori, Stormbird, Huia, Hawera, Kaiapoi, Katnena, linnerdale, 4nd Melbourne are now arrivals at the wharves to work eiirgo.