STRIKE-BREAKING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 November 1913, Page 5

STRIKE-BREAKING.

PORT OF NELSON WORKING

NELSON, Last Night, Matters in connection with the local strike took a new form this morning, when a large body of farmers arrived by the early train. At the wharf they were subjected to a little banter from the strikers, hutno bad feeling was displayed.

A new union is to bo formed, to be registered under the Act. While negotiations were proceeding, Mr Smith, an ex-Waihi Federationist, who has taken up his abode here, addressed the gathering. He said that the farmers were not aware of the position. They and their descendants would bo "scabs."

Mr Tunnicliff, president of the Nelson Provincial Farmers' Union, also addressed the gathering. He said the port was going to be opened thatday. They offered the strikers tho opportunity to work the vessels, and if the port was opened the farmers would go home by the first train. The farmers were determined to remain at the wharf as long as it was necessary to keep the port open. They did not want the strikers' bread and butter, but the strikers were not going to take theirs. The police then cleared the wharves, and members of the new union went on unloading the steamers John and Waimea. As the work proceeded the sailors and firemen on the John left the vessel, arid were cheered by the strikers. The strikers are keeping the peace and no trouble is expected. Great loss has been experienced by the small farmers through peas, strawberries and tomatoes going to waste. The farmers are trusting that others as well as themselves will make every effort to get the produce to Wellington as soon as possible, as every day's delay meant further loss.

FARMERS' UNLOAD SHIPS

LITTLE TROUBLE MET WITH

NELSON, Last Night. The wharf, which! has been idle since the strike commenced, has presented an unprecedented scene of bustle to-day, when in response to a call for men to discharge badly-want-ed cargo in the holds of steamers lying at the wharves, was responded to liy a large number of farmers besides the office and warehouse staffs of local firms. A new arbitration urfion has been formed with a membership of about sixty, prominent farmers being elected office holders. The John's cargo of 170 tons was unloaded by 4 o'clock. Meanwhile the staffs of business houses had proceeded with the unloading - of the .steamer Waimea, where also good progress was made. "During the day one man (a fireman 1 ) was taken into custody for using, obscene language, but the conduct of the strikers generally gave little cause for complaint. Several addresses were delivered by Federationists, and the farmers were subjected to some jeering and abuse, when entraining to leave the wharf this evening. The work will be continued to-morrow, when other Anchor vessels will be discharged, and probably one will load perishable produce for Wellington, taking- sufficient farmers with' her to unload there.