BACKWASH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1951, 7 January 1914, Page 6

BACKWASH.

THE STRIKE AND AFTER,

POLICE TARE ACTION.

On account of Monday's fracas in the .Waterside Workers'. Union waitingroom that placo has been closed till further notice. All labour was engaged in the open yesterday morning. The Harbour Board's men were selected in tho vicinity of P Shed, near tho Tolls Office, and those for tho Union Company were engaged outside X Shed. (Scattered amongst the crowd were a Sew poVicemen, and no trouble was experienced. There, was a large surplus of labour, and members of tho new union—ex-strikers and others—wero without employment during the day. Police Take Action. Speaking to a. Dominion' reporter yesterday, Superintendent Ellison said that provided sufficient was forthcoming prosecution , would follow. in every case ■where insulting language vr intimidation was indulged in. Regarding Monday's proceedings, tho . Police Department had taken steps that would prevent any such behaviour taking placo in tho future. Continuing, Superintendent Ellison said that it was practically impossible for tho po'ice to know of all that was happening on tfio waterfront. Tho men who had been attacked must help themselves. It they would take particular note of their persecutors and report the cfrcumstances to the police, action would be taken. How to Stop the Trouble. As far as. could bo ascertained yesterday there were no open, demonstrations by ex-strikers against other members of tho now union. It ia understood, however, that a certain amount of bickering was indulged in, especially down in bunkers and holds of steamers. Several prominent labour foremen wero approached yesterday, and they were asked to express an opinion as to how the present condition of affairs existing on the waterfront could be stopped. All agreed that tho trouEle would never bo stopped unless the *-tfatting-. room was closed for good. The only way to prevent the trouble was to engage the labour in tho open. The opinion was expressed that as long as the men were allowed to congregate before and after labour had been engaged thero would be trouble. One foreman oxpressed the opinion that tho "coalies" should be kept apart from the canro workers. In fact, it was generally asserted that as long as tlio men wore allowed to meet together out of tlio public gazo there would always be trouble.