AUCKLAND QUIET BUT BUSY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1926, 8 December 1913, Page 8

AUCKLAND QUIET BUT BUSY.

CHEERFUL OUTLOOK, HARBOUR CHAIRMAN'S VIEW. (By Telegraph—Frees AscuwaaUan.) Auckland, December 7. All tile available berthage in port was occupied yesterday, and cargo handling proceeded satisfactorily. Some little excitement was caused at the corner of Customs Street West and Queen Street when, a detachment of mounted- "specials'' and two mounted ' uniformed police commenced to clear tho sidewalk. It seems that men thought to bo strike pickets had congregated at tlio corners and were making remarks to a iiumbcr of working men who passed in and out of business place;; in Queen Street, Several times during the morning tho (xjliee returned, and adopted tho same measures in effecting clearance. The week has been a quiet but busy one, said the chairman of tho Harbour Board (Mr. J. H. Gunson)' when reviewing developments in connection with tho industrial trouble. Gradually tho protective force necessary threo or four weeks ago lias been reduced, but a sufficient number of mounted and foot specials is being retained to meet any contingency which may ariso. At a conferenco tho whole position was fully <liscussed, and arrangements made which from timo to time, will bo carried into effect.. Tho position is such that should necessity arise, adequate protection can ue commanded at any moment, "and next week," added Mr. Gunson, "wo will havo a busy time. After, that it is possible that we will have a quiet period for a, little while, in consequence of the interruption of the inter-colonial cargo trade. Southern traffic has also been interrupted, but the Emm-dale and Waitomo aro duo shortly with full cargoes of prodtico from tho south. Tho Union. Company's service will bo resuijjod from Lyttelton and other southern ports next Monday week. From that time forward tho period of inconvenience will bo over. At tho present tsmo tho local producc markets are somewhat bare, but the position will be cased after the arrival of tho vessols named.

''As far as wo are concerned," added Mr. Gunson, "the trouble in Australia, viewed from a purely local standpoint is not nearly so serious as was tho dislocation of tho local coastal trade, and tho interruption of tho South Island communication. Moreover, communication with Europe and tho other oversea ports is much more important to us .than tho trade with Australia, and tho inconvenience is not nearly so great as somo people believe. In fact, the Australian trouble has been robbed of most of its significance now that coal supplies for New Zealand, apart altogether from the local mines, aro assured from Japan and South America— places .where tho Australasian industrial troubles aro of no moment at all."