DAY'S WORK AT THE PORT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 8

DAY'S WORK AT THE PORT

RAIN INTERVENES.

OPAWA IJOEB BLUE PETER-TO-DAY.

ROLL OF "WHARFMEN--1751, On account of yesterday's wet weather' work on tii,. Wellington wharves was necessarily curtailed. for some days previous fully 1200 to 1300 members of fhe union have been working, but only SOU men found employment yesterday. .Most of those who were not. workiii" paid visits to tho city, whilst others walked about the wharves, ami in some cases retired to tiieir quarters on ih<; Marnroa and in X Siicd.

At 5 p.m. the membership of the new union had reached 1751. Some sixty men signed on chirinji the day. included amongst the newcomer's wero twenty ex-strikers, one Harbour Board crane mini, and several men from tho country districts.

What with SJOO unionists at sea, and another 200 of tho original members having departed for their homes in tho country, about 1300 regular men aru now left, to work tho port. This number is considered quite sufficient to do all tho cargo handling during normal time?. From inquiries made, it anpears that under the Arbitration Court rules it is not possible to limit tho membership of the union. It is possibio,_ however, to take si ballot ns to whether or _ not applicants should bo allowed to join. Wlion tho membership is considered unwieldy, however, it is probabh? that tho abovo course will bo adopted, Tip to tho present if, has been a case of iirst come first served, and the officials have exercised groat eare in seeing that tho men who signed on during tho troublous times take preference over lato-comers.

Tho secretary, Mr. W. O. Long, continues to rcceivo numerous applications from men in tile country. It lias been decided thai future applicants should not now bo encouraged to come down looking for work on tho wharves.

Opawa Sails To-day. It is intended that the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Opawa, w.dl,leave Wellington for London at noon to-day. When the company's oflices opened yesterday morning they were besieged, by volunteers to talco the place of the fourteen firemen and trimmers who, it is alleged, refused duty on tho high seas rm Monday afternoon! On the whole the applicants wero a likely-looking lot, and one and all appeared most eager to get a trip Home. There wore several men from the country, as well as seamen, who had left oversea steamers at New. Zealand ports .long before the strike took place. On inquiry last evening, it was ascertained that the fortunate ones bad not been signet! on the ship's articles. .This will bo done to-day. Meantime the Opawa will remain in tho stream till siic takes her departuro for the- Homeland.

Tha Rain Intervenes. Work on the waterfront yesterday morning was practically at a standstill on account of the rain. Of the numerous vessels in port only tho l'ateona, Poherua, and l.vatca. wero discharging. After lunch batches wero removed on board other ships, including the Arawa, Canada Cape, Hercules", Tokoniarti, and Wanaka. Tho Shaw-Savill liner Kia Ora was duo hero from I'icton yesterday, but she was delayed at the latter port. Consequently her Homeward loading will not be commenced tiil to-day. Still another oversea stenmer—the Tyser liner M'uritai, from London--is expected to arrive in port to-day to put out her freight, fn addition to the two vessels mentioned, nine now coaster;) will berth to work cargo. They are: Wakatu, Blenheim, Alangapapn,' Awahoii, Cygnet, Putiki, Mapsmrika, Wahine, and Arahara. Tho last-mentioned vessel was brought in from the stream' last evening. She will put out coal and flax which has been in her holds for weeks past. The Awahou is bringing the first e.iijgo of hemp and flax from Foxton sincd. the strike.

To-tfay's Berthage List. There will bo 28 vessels at the berths to-day. They are as follow;— Tori!!. Tons. Miiritai 6,630 l'uiiti « Kin, Gra 6,£60 Aw.ihou 409 Arawa 9,3?2 A.ra-nawa 2£3 TokonKU-u 6.a58 Queen of tho Sturmfcls 5.7C0 .South 193 Canada Capo... 4,286 Jfoa 183 Hercuies 5.739 iifangfl-iiapa .... 161 Wahinc 3,399 Y.'altatu 157 Jfararoa 2.598 Cygnet 154 Wanaka, 2,442 Hum 127 Katoa 2,©0 JfanarGn, 122 H. 11.5. Psycho. 2,135 Blenheim 120 Kaniooa. 1.425 Oixiwa 110 l'olierua 1.175 Falcon 95 Ji«])Ouri!;a 1,203 Of tho above list tho Mararoa, 11,31.5. Psyche, Falcon, and Manama will not be working. Only two vessel", —the Maori and Lizzie Taylor—aro at anchor in the stream on account of the strike.