THE MEN'S RUSH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1937, 20 December 1913, Page 6

THE MEN'S RUSH.

EAGER TO REJOIN THEIR SHIPS. About 230 to 300 men were congregated in front of tho Seamon's Union ollicos wkou tho notice wna posted up. and as soou w tho majority had react

its contents a rhoer went. up. A Vocoiul, or two later about 100 men rushed for' tho wharf gates, and endeavoured to get! through. When tlio crowd reached ilu: entrance, however, they found a line of special constables and regular, police'.' drawn tip, and passes were /.demanded? immediately tho cry went'..up:.''The:, strike is off, Slid wo want.' to gct'.onn jobs back." ft was of-no. avail,'"'tho'. polico remained lirui, and subsequently, individual men came forward and . said' that tliev desired to sign on thc.Wahine/; Alapourika, Arahura, Wairuna, Waiporij and other vessels. Still tho mair.ed iirm, and tlioit one man. was heard to remark: "If wo get- our union,, books and .show them will wo ho allowed; down." Ho received no answer.* and presently Shec-han, told tho ero-wd to move away from the entrance, as they were blocking-traffics Gradually the polico worked their, way : in amongst the seamen, and by using tact the crowd was disperses!. . Later, a considerable number of men also rushed along to the Union Company's offices, and besieged officials with demands for information regarding what* ships thoy wero to sign on with. It was quito evident that tho mc-n wero very anxious to return to work, and dozens of them appeared to imagino that, thoy would bo permitted to "sign on" steamers nt once, _ Judging by their remarks, tho majority woro very dfsappointed when they found that there would be "nothing doing" till today. '-j'V-'-'-

On account of the late hour at ivhich tho announcement was made that tho seamen's strike had been declared off, : it was found impossible to rearrange tho vessels' crows till to-day or Monday.11l consequence of this the AYahine left for Lyttclton last evening with her Arbitration crow. Other vessels belonging to tho coastal and Union Companyfleet will bo manned by old hands toda.y. Tho Victoria, which loft for Sydney last evening, was the only steamer to leave port with her original crew.