LOADING OOF THE S.S. ATHENIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 8

LOADING OOF THE S.S. ATHENIC.

L WHARF SCENES. NEW UNION' FORMED. RIOTERS APPEAR IN COURT. ATHENIC'S MEN LOYAL. XIVELY SCENB ON tYTTELTON WHARF. Waterside Workers, when they broke their agreement, were being paid Is. sd. an hour, ordinary time, 2s, 2d. an hour overtime ' . up to 10 p.m.; 2s. 3d. per hour overtime 10 p.m. to 8 a;m, For special work special-rates of pay were provided,' coal - carriers, , .the highest paid, receiving 2s. an houi 1 ordinary time, 3s, an hour overtime. , Friday, October 17.—Shipwrights asked for increas# in wages. Satur- • day; October 18.->-Shipwrlghte ceased work. ( Monday, October 20.—First mass meeting Watersidß Workers' Union, /"at which it was decided to call a "stop-work" meeting, to be held at J ' ' a.m. on' Wednesday, October z2. ' . < Wednesday, October 22.—'"Stop-work" meeting of Waterside Workers' Union held on wharf. While men were attending meeting, which, being held In working hours, was a breach of agreement, other .'"..-union men we'ro put on to work'in their places. Union desired that -"stop-work" men bo reinstated in .their positions. Employers decided that men's action in knocking off work in breach, of agreement terminated tho agreement with the union, which had been entered into in 1912. Waterside Workers' Union hand control of strike over, to the ■ Federation of Labour. Waterside Workers' Union strikes. . !■' . / ' Thursday,- October 23.—Big mass meeting of strikers. Wharves picketed. Union ,S.S. Company pays crews off colliers. Free labourers \ commence work. Negotiations between strike delegates andy employers 'fail. Report''.of intention of Waterside Workers' Union to register a second union under the Arbitration Act. Speeches' in, the Post Office Square Friday, October 24.—Scenes of violence on ths wharves. Conference' of Federation of Labour delegates proves abortive. Employers decide to cease work as far as handling cargo is concerned. Fifty police guard the wharves. Warehouse clerks work cargo in small steamers. ' Saturday, October 25.—Further scenes of violence on wharves, ; Steamers Defender and Nikau rushed—crews intimidated. Police from country arrive. 'Employer* issue a statement to the effect that no watersiders will be employed until a fresh organisation be formed and ' 'registered under Arbitration Act. Watersiders decide to continue strike. Harbour . Board pickets jsthe wharves. Sunday,"'Octobai;, 28—.Mass meeting at 2.15 p.m. in Post Office. ' Sqiiaro. -Procession !to Basin Reserve. Gate broken down by - crowd/ Inflammatory speeches by strike loaders. ~ ■ ■ Monday, October 27.—Labour Day and a holiday. Observed by ' strikers as well as the public. No change in the situation. Tuesday, October 28.—Conference between employers a/id employees. • with Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, as chairman. More police arrive. S.S. Nikau rushed. All, steamers'movo to an anchorage in tho stream, Racehorses-allowed to leave for south. Wednesday, October 29.—Employers' proposals from provious evening's conference submitted to the watersiders, and rejected. Raid made on flour and other provisions being sent to Day's Bay by Cobar.. Goods subsequently allowed to be . shipped. Further, violent speeches by '. agitators- in the Post' Office Square. Encounter at night between suspected free labourers and strikers at Waterloo fluay. Auckland and Westport watersiders strike. Thursday, October .30.—Strikers assault special constables, Waterloo : Quay fence broken down'and horses liberated. Men of H.M.S. Psyche on parade. Psyche's stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. Mounted constables parade stmts and charge strikers in Post Office Square. Three hundred special constables sworn in. Onset oh Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs' shop; constabJfi severely wounded. Prime i Minister states the Government's position. Lyttolton watersiders strike. Saturday, November I'.—Quiet day.- Employers enlarge their strike committee. Large bodies of specials arrive from the country. Skirmishes with strikers in town. Wahine's crew give notice to strike. Oamaru watersiders join strike. Sunday,, November 2.—Deputation from combined Labodr bodies to Prime Minister with proposals for settlement. Mass meetings at Newtown Park and Opera House. Further contingents of specialconstables arrive. Wahine laid up in stream. ■' Strike pickets withdrawn from wharves. Outlook for settlement more hopeful. Greymouth , Union como out on ' strike. .. .. • . .. Monday; November 3,—Wahine's men come ashore. Wellington . ....branch of Seamen's, Union .decide, to strike if free labour is employed. Negotiations between , employers and workers entered upon and adjourned till following day. Mapd'urika enters ferry service to replace Wahine, Government steamers held in readiness for mails. Serious riot in Taranaki .Street, special oonstables being attacked by mob. C . Several persons injured—three seriously. Revolvers used. Mob in- : .. dulges in window-breaking and othor damage. ' Tuesday, November 4.—Negotiations for settlement broken off ,on •'.."employers stipulating on union registering under Arbitration Act. Em- . .ployers refuse Harbour Board's invitation to meet workers in conference. 'u..'Mass/neetiri.q of strikers at Newtown Park. Hinemoa's crew give notice. " Two special constables severely handled in Tory Street. Attempt to ' block cartagc of straw to barracks. Mayor closes seven hotels in evening.' Royal Tiger Hotel besieged. Two men arrested. . Wednesday,. November s.—Racehorses for Now Zealand Cup Meeting r ."shipped on Maunganui for Lyttelton by free .labour. Mounted special " constables guarding the wharf stoned by crowd. Eight arrests made, and about thirty persons wounded in tho molee. Thursday, November 6.—New Wharf Labourers' Union registered. Members commence work loading the Athcnic at Glasgow Wharf. Wharf *~approaches guarded by mounted and foot "specials." Fine display "law and order" troops, who were cheered through tho city. City - "specials" paraded for first time—make a gallant show, Stone-throwing - ceases. A ; quiet night. 1

After twelve days of idleness the loading of produce for the English markets was resumed on the wharves yesterday afternoon. A large force of foot and mounted special constables guarded the approaches to the Glasgow Wharf, at which tho work took place, but the crowd gave no trouble and tho work was continued, uninterruptedly. As the special polico after the finish; of the day's operations marched through the city they were heartily cheered, and the citizens showed themselves " thoroughly appreciative of the splendid spirit of the mounted specials from the country and their friends and neighbours in the city who had volunteered for special service. ' As indicated yesterday a new union, the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers, has been formed and registered under the Arbitration Act, and tho work at the wharves was conducted entirely by union labour. Only one vessel, the Athenic, was brought alongside yesterday afternoon, but as the supply of labour is steadily increasing it is probable that in a short time the wharves will resume something of their customary appear-

The strikers were remarkably quiet throughout the whole of the day, and beyond the issuing of a further manifesto their policy was apparently one of inaction.

Work will be continued at the wharves this moraine.