WINNING OUT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 8

WINNING OUT.

KAIWARRA BIGHT DESERTED.

THIRTY VESSELS BERTHED

MARffl OF THE NEW UNION.

ROLL NUMBER TOPS 1450.

A MOLD-UP THAT FAILED.

■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 overtimo 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, Saturi day, • 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 Z2. ...Wednesday, October - 22.—"Stop-work" meeting of Waterside .Workers' Union hold on wharf. While men were attending meeting, which* being held in working hours, was a broach of agreement, other unionlmen were put on to work in their places. Union desired that "stop-work" men bo'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 terminated 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. October 23.—Big mass meeting of strikers. Wharves picketed. Union. S.S. Companypays crews off colliers. Free labourers commence work. Negotiations between strike delegates and employers __ fail. : ' : . ■•.■■■ Friday, October 24—Scenes of violence on the wharves. Conference of Federation of Labour'delegates proves abortive. Employers decide ; to, cease work as far, as. handling cargb'is concerned. Fifty police guard 'the wharves. Warehouse, clerks work cargo in small steamers. Saturday,' October ; 25i—Further scenes of violence on wharves. Steamers Defender and Nikau rushed—crew's 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. 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. Tuesday, October 28.—Conference between employers and employees, with, Hon.. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, as chairman. More polite 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 suspected free labourers and strikes 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 'on,'parade. .'Psyche's, stores' landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. ,M.ounted\onstab.ley 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. PrimeMinister- 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. Oamar'u 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. Greymouth Union come out on strike. ■~'.', Monday, November 3.—Wahine's men com? ashore, Wellington branch of Seamen's Union decide to strike if free labour is employed. Negotiations between employers and workers entered upon and ad- ' journed 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 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 v/orkers 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 Lyttclton by free labour. Mounted special constables guarding the wharf stoned by crowd. Eight arrests made, arid about thirty persons wounded in the 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 "law and order" troops, 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 constables fake possession of waterfront. Waterside Federation invites new Wellington Union to affiliate. P. J. Hasseti arrested on charge'of attemptingto 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, Fraser, and Bailey arrested. Members of Drivers' Union stop 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. All strike leaders -under arrest remanded fora 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 vessels working cargo, and five coaling. New Drivers' Union registered, United Labour Party declares against the strike. Saturdayj November 15; Trade with Wanganui and Patca resumed. Maori takes up ferry.service again. Moro unions refuse to strike, Sunday;- November 16.—Tramway men decide to regain under Ar. bitratibn-Act. Mass meetingsof strikers. ... Monday.' November 17.—Twenty steamers worked at wharves. Arbitration Wharf Labourers' 1 Union totals 750 men. Special constable assaulted in city hotel. Tuesday, November 18.-rAthen!c .sails for London fully laden, Seventeen vessels worked by the 850 mon now on the Arbitration Union roll. Rushes oh : whar\/es ! at 'Lyttelton and Duriedin. Permanent men forced to como'ouV/'af" Lyttelton. Two special constables chased up Cuba Street, ■ i - , "-- ,:, '-- ! ' '■ •• . ', 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. Dissejision reported among strikers. Arbitration Union totals over 1000 members, Cargoes being worked at Lyttelton. , Friday, November 2L—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. Monday, November 24.—One thousand men working on Wellington wharves'. Thirty members of old Drivers'. Union join new union, and return to work. Auckland general strike declared off. J. P. Hasseit committed'for trial on charge of attempted murder'of Commissioner Cullen. Tuesday, November 25, New Waterside Union totals 1350 members. Sugar shortage relieved by unloading of cargo of 40,000 bags from Auckland,

The membership of 11k> new' "Wharf Labourers' "Union yesterday readied I the very respectable' total of' 1-fuO. Xo [ fewer than .'ill vessel? will be worked at the Wharves to-day. The task of relieving the congestion in the port has gone | forward with sv4;h a will that the Kaiwarra Bight, in which a. great ilei-t lay a week ago, is now almost empty. Last evening the crow of the Manngamii, which hail hern maintaining the Lyttelton ferry service, came ashore shortly before the vessel 'was due to sail for the south. The nien are stated to luive- come out at the instance of the, trimmers, and the seamen apparently left the ship with reluctance. A new crew, was quickly obtained, and'departure taken for Lyttclton without- great delay. At the Harbour Hoard meeting last illicit proposals for improving the. conditions of waterside labour, as outlined in a letter from the. Prime Minister, were discussed^at some, length. "Work is now proceeding steadily at all the ports.