Auckland the Active Centre

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 58, 8 November 1913, Page 5

Auckland the Active Centre

in the Throes of a General Strike Specials barricade {Jueeii's Wharf POLICE FIND'OF STRIKERS' "AMMUNITION." City" Pubs" Closed. :: Southern Ports Quiet.

[Per Prjms Association.]

AT AUCKLAND. THE SYMPATHETIC STRIKE. OBJECTION TO FREE LABOR AND MOUNTED SPECIALS. Auckland, November 7. Matters remained quiet in Auckland to-dav, the chief incident being the striking of the men employed on the Mbifion Buildings. A mounted "snecial" entered the rear portion of the Exhibition grounds this morning, and took some grass for his horse. The action had the effect of precipitating a strike of about 250 men. The gardeners remained at work. On then wav to the city most of the strikers formed a procession with a placard marked "Exhibition Workers" at their head," and marched up and down Queen Street. Yesterday representative citizens asked the Employers' Association to use its influence with the Wellington employers, in order that the stand taken on the question of compulsory arbitration should not be maintained. The Association in Auckland, after deliberation, issued a manifesto making it clear that they would not recognise the Federation in ,anv shape or form; that compulsory arbitration was regarded as essential, and that tlie formation of a new union would be the solution of the present difficulty. The latest manifesto, issued by the Strike Committee, calls for a general strike the moment special constables appear on the.waterfront. The manifesto .refers in strong language to the invasion of mounted special constables, and continues: "As a protest, we call upon all the workers of Auckland, organised and unorganised, male and female, to cease work immediately on the introduction of. special police to •our wharves, thus emulating the lead" given by the tramwaymen and carters, the' Exhibition workers, the seamen, and the general laborers, and . acting in accordance with the spirit of the engine-drivers, bricklayers, sheet-metal workers. grocers, and many other kindred organisations. Not desiring violence or bloodshed, we consider, with thousands of workers in Auckland and suburbs, that this will be the most effective means of coping with the position." The members of the Bootmakers' Union have pledged themselves to boycott firms and shopkeepers who allow their employees to do special police work. The Harbor Board employees have resolved to down fools on the introduction of free labor or special police on the waterfront, and .to place themselves unreservedly in the hands of the Strike Committee. The Painters' Union executive supports the action of its fellow-work-ers now on strike throughout the. Dominion, and urges all fellow-members

|rom various ports of the province ae arriving at Otahuhu and numbers if them arc being sworn in as special •onstables by Mr Fraser, S.M.. Rousng cheers greeted the arrival of 600 it camp this morning. Care is being exercised in seeing that no unauthorised persons enter tlie grounds. In order to fulfil their mission, the strikers have to resort to "over the fence" speeches.

AUTHORITIES RESUME CONTROL OF THE WHARVES. ■ ' Auckland, November 7. "The time has now arrived when, with protection available, we are resuming control of our wharves," said the chairman of tlie Harbor Board (Mr H. Gunson), this evening. "Conditions which have obtained this* week on the waterfront can no longer be tolerated. Naturally, owing to the abnormal state of tlie shipping of the port, it will not be possible to resume immediately, but the best will be done" this week and next week to bring conditions back to something approaching normal state. This will be difficult, and, of course, one cannot now Say what will eventuate."

"The Board is fully: alive to the position," Mr Gunson continued, "and the public can take my assurance that everything possible will be done to. meet the interests of the trade of the port." y ' *. DRIVERS WANT TO STRIKE.

Auckland, .November 7

The Auckland Drivers' Union held a, meeting this evening, the hall being packed to the doors. A series of resolutions were carried unanimously as follows:—"That we place ourselves entirely in the hands of the Strike Committee, to be called out wlien deemed necessary; that the national executive of the United Federation be asked to stand firm in their de mands; that in regard to the victimi sation of men who refused to cart goods for special constables, the men will not return to work until these drivers have been reinstated; that the Auckland drivers are determined to fight to the bitter end, and pledge their moral and financial support to the Waterside Workers' Union. '"

The tone of the meeting was distinctly in favor of an immediate strike. but under the restraint of their leaders, the foregoing resolutions were carried. At the conclusion of the meeting the men, 7.00 strong, marched to the foot of Queen street, where a strike meeting was in progress.

to cease work on the receipt of information that cargo is being handled by free labor. In view of the fact that trams will cease running to-night, the Railway Department is making arrangements to enable increased train traffic from the suburbs to be satisfactorily dealt with.

GENERAL STRIKE IN PROGRESS. QUEEN'S WHARF BARRICADED. FIND OF WATERSIDERS' AMMUNITION. ALL CITY HOTELS CLOSED. WATERSIDERS HOLD BIG MEETING.

The action which the members of the Hotel and Restaurant Employers' Union'ias adopted with regard to the presei' industrial unsett'oment is rather unusual. In a series of resolutions which were adopted at a largelyattended general meeting of the union last- night, sympathy was expressed with the strikers, and direct action

was promised in the event of free la-

~i hor being introduced, but undoubtedV ly the chief resolution of the evening ft was that which indicated the attitude % that was to he adopted with j-gard >{ to the hotel workers' agitation for a J? six-day week. The resolution on this v question was as follows*.—"'That this '* meeting resolves that unless hotel and restaurant-keepers are prepared to concede one day holidav in seven tor a six-day week), all hotel and restaurant employees cease work by noon on Monday next. Tn the meantime all hotel and restaurant workers are expected to remain in their usual employment until called upon to cease work."

Auckland, .November S. W<yk was resumed at the waterfront this morning. Three hundred special foot police ami -101) mounted specials arrived simultaneously at the waterfront at live o'clock in die morning, the former from the Drill Hall, where accommodation had been provided last* night, ;ind the latter from the Domain camp. I'hev proceeded to barricade the Queen's Wharf, usin<i huge timber piles, which were rivetted together, forming a Formidable barricade at the town end of the pier.

It is reported on good 'authority that Fully 400 men who were given notice a week ago were paid off today. These men have not struck. There is no work for them to do. and the terms of their agreement h-u-" l)"'ui legally kepi by both parties to it.

Meantime a squad of police arrived \iih a search warrant, and entered the room occupied by the watersiders overlooking the wharf. Here they found ;i numher of bludgeons, batons, pepper stones, wire. and other material which would be better in safe custody during troublous times, The waterside workers did not

Manv niove companies of farmer

put in an-appearance, but immediately it was known that the specials were on the waterfront, a general strike was) ordered, and responded to by the, carters, carpenters, bricklayers, gcn-l oral laborers, and others. j Meantime, the steamers of thel Northern Co. engaged in the coastal trade were berthed, and loading and unloading operations wore proceeded with by members of the new arbitration union. The Mayor and Chairman of the Board spoke personally and as citizens, declaring that free labor was not to be used, as they believed there would be sufficient men in the new union to do the work required. All the city hotels were closed at 8 o'clock.

A big crowd close to the waterfront is kept back by mounted police. The streets and footpaths have been sanded to prevent the horses slipping on the asphalt.

Watersiders and other men on strike marched in squads to the Trades Hall, where a big meeting is proceeding, f .

THE MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES Oamaru, November 8. The inconvenience to merchants caused by the strike has been partly overcome, several having railed produce to Timaru, whence it was shipped to Wanganui. from which port it is being distributed by rail in the North Island centres. A quantity of flour was received in Wellington by this method. WHARF WORK RESUMED. THE APPROACHES CUARDED. Auckland, November 8. Work was resumed on the wharves this morning by members of the new union. The wharf approaches were guarded by 700 special constables. There has been no disturbance so far! A "ROYAL PICNIC." "EVERYBODY CONE MAD."

Mr Frank Dobson,.6f the well-known iirm of Messrs Webster, Dobson and Co., who is> now on a business visit to Auckland, and-is staying at the Royal Hotel, this morning telegraphed to his partner, Mr F. W. Webster," as follows:—"Picnicking in hotels today. Waiters left in the middle of breakfast. Everybody gone mad. Great sport everywhere." The message is characteristic of Mr DobsonV optimistic outlook on life. AT WELLINGTON. A COMPROMISE POSSIBLE. HOPES FOR ANOTHER CONFERENCE. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, 1 a.m. Mr Hally, late last night, said that he .entertained hopes that the 'main parties to the dispute will agree to meet in conference again to-day. Hi < recent negotiations with the Federation officials led him to believe that they were anxious to arrive at a set--tleiuent, and were quite likely to uphold and maintain any agreement that could he made. It remained to be seen whether the employers would concede something. In his opinion some compromise was possible. SHIPPING IN WELLINGTON. Wellington, November 7. After loading racehorses this afternoon, the Maunganui embarked with the mails and nearly six hundred passengers, and got away for Lytetlton at 7.40 o'clock.

The firemen of the Moana, which is loading here for 'Frisco, left the ship in a body with their belongings at "> o'clock and the engineers had to man the stokehold to take the vessel out to the stream.

PETONE WORKSHOPS MEN. Wellington, November 7. The Petone Railway Workshops' employees to-day passed the following resolution :—'.'That this meeting of Petone Workshops' employees wish to show their practical sympathy in assisting the locked-oitt Waterside Work ers' Union and other labor bodies in their light for freedom and right. We recognise the fact that the men are lighting passively for an important principle, that principle being the right to maintain their organisation from being wrecked at the dictation of an employers' combine. We further recognise that their cause is our cause, and are determined to assist dependents of the men, (heir mothers, wives, and children in every way possible." POLICE COURT FULL ENQUIRY. A largely-attended meeting of the police to-day carried a resolution repudiating the imputations of disloyalty or shirking by the general body of constables, and courted enquiry and proper punishment if there were anv conviction on evidence,

TARANAKI PRODUCE. SHIPPED NEXT F*RIDAY. Mr Pastier, secretary of the Stratford Co-operative Dairy Company, received the following wire tins morning from Mr R. Dingle (chairman), who is at present in Wellington in connection with the shipping arrangements of the local dairy produce: "Expect to ship Taranaki butter and cheese about Friday next. Arranged special traine."

UNION DELEGATES MEET.

SUPPORT FOR FEDERATION.

Wellington, November 8

A meeting of delegates from th'J different unions at the Trades Hal!; carried the following resolutions: —, "That this meeting of unionists desire to assist the workers now involved in the strike, and instructs the various members represented to 'down-tools' when asked to handle material handled by irvo labor; that this meeting express confidence in the Federation of Labor, pledging themselves to do all in their power to reinstate the men on the waterfront ; that we protest against the registration of unions under the Arbitration Act. 7 ' The delegates who voted had not previously put the matter before their unions and therefore the unions still have to vote on the resolutions.

ALL QUIET ON CLASCOW WHARF

Wellington, November 8

Work is proceeding at the Glasgow wharf under the same conditions as prevailed yesterday, with n strong guard of mounted and foot specials. There were no scenes on the march the city. No announcement lias been made regarding' the negotiations.

AT CHRISTCHURCH.

A MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK.

Christchurch, November 7

The eighth day of the strike at Lyttrildon was, ill anything, quititer than tfnyl since tlic*:-.s ! ta'k. There was no arrygaf in port to break- the monotony. A reporter was informed this afWrnHoii that'aW.vomenfc in the direction of forming a new union was making good progress, and that there was a strong probability of its being an accomplished fact very soon. The reporter's informant went as far as to state that work would he started torinprrow or Monday. \%% ;l '{J . r'\ \Uk ( >.V • ■ It AT DUNEDiN. WATERSIDERS' MANIFESTO. "WILL LABOR WlN?'' ✓ Dunedin, November 7. In the course of a manifesto, the local waterside workers' strike committee claims that the Wellington workers were locked out in pursuance of a well-organised plan to smash organised labor, and that the plan was originated twelve months ago, when the employers appealed for £BO.OOO for that purpose. The committee appeals for funds to help it in the fight. The manifesto proceeds: "Will labor win? This is the supreme question, and shall we, through, that triumph move onward to sovereignty of the peopleo ver the means of life, or will victory rest with the shippingcompanies and trusts to be a prelude to the establishment of the vilest tyrannies the world has ever known !" At Port Chalmers everything is quiet and no work is doing at the waterfront.

Some excitement was caused this afternoon when three men, supposed to have been concerned in the formation of the new union, were surrounded by a crowd of strikers and others. The men were followed up Princes

street, being hustled and hooted. They took refuge in a doorway until several police arrived and kept the crowd hack. After waiting some time, one of the men emerged to proceed to High street, and after sheltering for a moment in a shop, he was escorted by the crowd to the Arcade, where he eluded' his pursuers by jumping on a tramcar. AT TIMARU. "SCAB" CARGO. Timaru, November 7. The crews of the Ngahere and IVtone to-day received notice from Voting, secretary of the Seamen's I'nioii. that Timaru is deemed a

"scab" port, and they must not work Timaru cargo. The Ngahere's crew were not employed on the cargo, but the TV-tone's crew were, and when they received notice thev knocked off, but by that time the boat was fully loaded for Napier. Both loft this, evening, ihn Ngahere for a pnrf midiscNsGil,

TIMARU NOT A "SCAB" PORT. Wanganui, November S. Re Timaru being declared a "scab" port, the secretary of the local watersiders Federation says:— "Timaru. being registered under the Arbitration Act, the unions m the Waterside Workers' Federation will continue to recognise it and work with it. It there is any necessity to declare Timaru "scab," it should have been done when the arbitration union was formed there instead of waiting until now. He points out that those denouncing Timaru have till now not refused to handle cargoes from Timaru. The New Zealand Watersiders Federation's attitude to the New Wellington union must, by virtue of it being registered under the Act, lie the same as that shown towards Timaru."

ON THE WEST COAST. THE STRIKERS SUSPICIOUS. COINC BACK ON THE FEDERATION. Westport, November 7. The Westport Harbour Board's tug Mane was. fixed to sail at 11 p.m. for Wellington, to convey the chairman of the Harbour Board on Board business. The Strike Committee was suspicion* of the object of the voyage, and suggested that possibly special constables were to lie brought down. It called out the union sailors and firemen, and the vessel was stopped. On the assurance of the chairman that the boat was going on Board business only, the committee agreed to let her sail this afternoon. Two members of the Strike Committee accompany her. At a large and enthusiastic meeting of the Westport branch of the A.S.R.S to-night, the following resolution was passed by 37 votes to 31 :

"That this meeting rescinds the resolution passed on the (sth inst., viz., that the executive lie instructed that a sum of money be granted towards assisting the Federation of Labor." Thi> decision was arrived at after a lengthy discussion.

AS OTHERS SEE US. . "BLACK LABOR." ■ By Electric Telegraph —Coi'tiuchtl [United Press Association. 1 Sydney, November, 7. The Sim says that there is little doubt that the Sydney wharf laborers will regard the Wellington new union as free laborers and treat their work as "black," SYDNEY WATERSIDERS. "A UNION OF BLACKLEGS.'' • (Received 8.30 a.m.) ■ , Sydney, ■ November 8. The Secretary of the Wharf Laborers' Union isays: "The mere fact that the Wellington new union is registered under the Arbitration Act is insufficient for the Sydney wharf laborers to regard the organisation as any-

thing different to a union of blacklegs. No boats will ho roacled or unloaded while the Scfike lasts."

BOYCOTT OF N.Z. BOATS REQUESTED. (Received 9.30 a.m.) Svdnev. November r«. The Secretary of the South Coast .Minors' Association, lias received a cable from New Zealand st;<ting tliat Unionism is engaged in a gigantic struggle, and that organised laborers' very existence is" threatened, and requesting that all New Zealand boats be boycotted. JOTTINGS. A sign of the "breaking <.. (he strike" was seen this morning, the 10 o'clock train taking south about 20 vans of butter and cheese. Steps are being taken to form a union of waterside workers in Xew Plymouth under the Arbitration Act. Sergeant-Major Thompson, of Wellington, who was struck on the head by a stone in the riot near the barracks, was able to leave the hospital to-day. The others ore progressing satisfactorily. The Moa Dairy Company has received the following renly to the telegram sent to the Prime Minister: "Many thanks for your telegram and to the suppliers of the Mm Dairy Company for their support of the Oovernment in doing their duty to preserve law and order." Mr 0. W. Puss,.l|, member for Avon, and Mr Robertson, member for Otaki, were very indignant yesterday morning when thev wore slopped by special constables from going past the cordon guarding (lie wharves, the specials having orders not to allow anyone to nass unless he had got a Harbour Board nass. Subsequently orders were issued to allow members of Parliament to pass on showing their badges.