THE RUSH BACK TO WORK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1938, 22 December 1913, Page 6

THE RUSH BACK TO WORK.

SEAMEN & FIREMEN SIGN ON. OVER 250 RE-ENCACGD. • SCENES AT THE SHIPPING OFFICE. Judging by the nnimMcd scones which met tlie eye in ami around the Government Shipping Office 011 Saturday morning, the seamen and firemen, who decided to return to their ships 011 Friday, were most anxious to do so. • I'i'om an early hour the various shipping firms were besieged with men seeding employment, and it soon hccamo evident that the supply was greater than tlio demand. Long before tlio various offices were opened groups of men were to bo observed standing about tlio doorways. All were discussing the late strike and their prospects of obtaining employment. As soon as responsible officials made their appearanco the rush sot in. Appointments were made, and at 9.30 a.m. tlio scene outside the Government Shipping Office was one which will li,vo in the memory of those who saw it. The large space between the store and the Customs Buildings was full of men—sailors, greasers, firemen, and trimmers. Everybody appeared to be happy, and one and all had an expression of relief on their faces. The crowd was continually on tlio move. There was a constant stream in and out of the doorway. In fact, tho whole scone could be compared to that which can be seen outside a beehive. Signing Off and On. Insido tho office dozens of men were congregated. The chief shipping clerk, Captain Whiteford, and his assistant, Jlr. Forsyth, were kept busily engaged attending to the men who had volunteered to work the various ships which tho seamen had left several weeks before. The counter was littered with ships' articles, and as each man had to "sign off" and receive his money it can bo readily understood that tho amount of work which the officials of the shipping office had to contend with was abnormal. Then new crews had to be signed on, and this was where most of the trouble lay. Tho shipping ofiice proved all to small for the work in liaud. Shortly before noon, the little space between tlio counter and the outer wall .was packed with a dense throng of eager men Firemen wore practically falling over one another in their endeavours to 'sign oil,' and when one of tlio fortunate ones managed to reach tho counter to attach his signature to the agreement lie could hardly write, so full was lie of suppressed excitement.

Thirteen Steamers Manned. The ferry steamer Maori was the first ship to sign on 'her old crow, antl then followed tlie Mnpourika, Wnipori, Araiiiiri, Wniruna, Blenheim, Aorere, Ngaherc, Stormbird, Alexander, John, Eniierdale, and Ha (vera —thirteen steamers in all. From y.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m. somo 350 men wero signed oft' and on. Altogether over 250 old seamen and firemen rejoined their ships. To day will see a number of men signed on, and it is estimated that considerably over 150 will be re-employed. For several days to come the shipping office will be kept busy with tlie work of signing olf and on crews of vessels. The reason given for the overflow of labour at this port was beeausc most of the me.ii were stranded hero A considerable number of the unemployed will be sent to other ports to join their old ships. In this connection a crew was cent from Wellington to I'atca on Saturday- morning to join the Kapiti. As soon as the majority ol' tlie men had finished tlieir business at the shipping oflico tliey made all haste to obtain their "kits," and later in the day the familiar scene of a seaman carrying Jlis bag down to a ship was again witnessed. The. first steamer to leave port with her old. crew was tiio Union Company's Arahura. Siie was bound for l'icton and Xelsoil,

It is understood that several members of the volunteer crews are desirous of retaining tlieir positions on various vessels. Where possible these men will be retained, provided 'that they join the Seamen's Union.