THE LOADING OF S.S.ATHENIC.

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

THE LOADING OF S.S.ATHENIC.

NO LAWLESSNESS'

STRONG CONTINGENT ON GUARD

CAPITAL WORK DONE.

A commencement was made yesterday with the work of lauding cargo. Everything had been ready for such operations some days ago, but it was hoped that negotiations for a settlement would be successful, and that the regular watersiders wonld carry on the work. When, however, hope of peace had been abandoned, 'arrangements were set on foot for carrying out of the load* nig of dairy and other produce by Arbitrationists. 'l'o this end the new workers, who had assembled last weefc-ond, were specially organised. A meeting was held on Wednesday evening, and a new union waterside workers was formed. This union was registered yesterday under the Arbitration Act, officers were elected, and men handed in their names as members. It is certain that tho membership will grow, aud it is very likely that many erf .those who are now on strike, and who are openly dissatisfied with the conduct of their dispute by tho Federation of labour, will throw in their lot with the new organisation. As will be seen from reports elsewhere the convergence of police and mounted men in the vicinity of tho wharves was a heavy one. The first step taken yesterday was to parade practically the whole, force of special mounted police at Mount Cook Barrack?. The troop moved out about noon, and proceeded directly through the city to the waterfrsnt. The strikers were, wonderfully quiet. Olio member of the Federation told a reporter that the strikers had at last realised that'they could not cope with the police. They knew that the loading must go on. Athenlc Comas Alongside. The special police proceeded directly to the Glasgow Wharf, where they took up positions. The wharf was completely surrounded, ali-d every entrance from the neighbouring streets blocked. Members or tho new Waterside Union and 170 country special men, who had come down on foot, marched on to the wharf, whilst tho remairider of the special constabulary stood patiently to their horses outside. A considerable crowd gathered at the street-ends, but everything was very quiet. A number of city special .men on foot also assembled, and were posted at strategic points.

'•l he Athenic Was then brought in from the stream, and was ■ berthed alongsido the Glasgow Wharf at 1.45 p.m. Five minutes later , the new unionists went up the gangway. ... A party was put on to move one of the big hydraulic cranes alongside the hatch which was to bo worked, and as-

lt began to travel along the ,rails, ringing cheers rang out. Tie Work of the Arbitfationists had at last been begun. A sharp shower of rain interrupted work for a time, and so it was decided that the workers and special police should have luneh before loading was seriously put in hand. \ Athenlc's Craw Loyal. . Whilo tho men wore having their meal, the master of the Athenic (Captain Crossland, R.N.R.), called his crew together on tho after-deck, and explain* ed tho situation to them.

"Are you willing to work with this free labour?" ho aaked.

A ready "Aye, aye, sir," from tho crew notified their unanimous desire to stand by their employers and See the work through. Tho efforts of' the secretary of the Seamen's Union (Mr. W. T. fiToung) to persuade the oion .to come out had obviously been unsuccessful, and the statement that ho had made on the previous evening at Newtown, Park, that tho men would willingly come ashore and spend a month in prison, rather than work irithj&he new unionists, was given a most practical denial. It transpired that on tho previous day every section of the crow had signed a statement to the captain that they would loyally obey all orders.. Cheese Moisted In. On the wharf alongside the vessel were 100 trucks, full of cheese ready for shipment. , It was on this produce thatwork was commenced. The men were marshalled into their places by their officers, and at 3.20 p.m. one of the ship's steam winches rumbled for the first time, aud a .sling was swung into the hold. It contained eight orates of Greytown Dairy Factory cheese, and as it was lifted from the wharf, the workers and the special polioo gave three hearty cheers. Members of the crew and about half-a-dozen labourers were waiting in the hold to stow tho cargo, and the crates were promptly stacked in position. From that point

on, work proceeded merrily, and sling after sling was hoisted on board. When work ceased for the day at 5 p.m., four ordinary trucks and two special truc&s had . boon emptied, and their contents safely stewed in the hold. The sieve* dore of tho Shaw,. Savill and Albion Company expressed pleasure at the way in whidh the new labourers had worked. They shipped the produce one and a half times as quickly a-s the regular watersiders did, and the. cargo was excellently stowed. Ship Returns to stream. •After, the cessation of work, the labourers remained on board the ship, where they were accommodated for the night. Henceforth they will be accommodated on board' the Union Op.'a steamer Mararoa, The Athenic left the wharf and went out into tile stream at 6 p.m., and will' return to the wharf for the resumption of operations at & a.m. to-day. Cheess In Goad Condition. There were one hundred trucks of cheese, all from factories in the Wei* lingto'n province, awaiting shipment. The fear of deterioration indiicM those in charge to loa4 those _ goods first. Officials of tho Dairy Division of the Agricultural Department were oil the wharf When the trucks were opened, and a close inspection wag made. Seen subsequently by a reporter, Mr. D. Cuddle, Chief Dairy Commissioner, said that on tho whole the cheese was in good condition, although a little of it had suffered from being so long in the trucks. He anticipated that if loading went on at a fair rate values would not suffer any appreciable decrease. Mr. J. G. Harkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association, told a. reporter that he was very well satisfied with the work which the new unionists had done during the afternoon. "With such a start as this," said Mf. Harkness, ."there need be 110 fear o.f the market prospects. The cheese is in good condition, and I hope that values will be satisfactory to all concerned."