SEVERAL VESSELS UNLOADED

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14821, 12 November 1913, Page 10

SEVERAL VESSELS UNLOADED

NO LACK OF LABOUR

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TELSGILUf.)

AUCKLAND, November 11

From an early hour tins morning there were signs of increasing activity in the neighbourhood of the waterfront, betokening moro vital developments in the campaign against the general strike. Developments this morning included tho berthing of tho Monowai and Navua at Queen's Wharf, and of the Mimiro at No. 2 jetty, as well as of an additional five coastal steamers which have, been filling- Tip a good portion- of accommodation at the eastern jetties. It was not long before tho traffic of tho port was going with its accustomed swing, and the restoration of somothing like norma.] conditions was necessarily followed by a bustle and activity that, has been markedly absent sinco tho pickets interfered with tho ordinary course of sea-borno trade.

A material Jink in tho chain of commerce- was also supplied simultaneously with other operations by bringing within tb« protected area au adequate number of lorries for carting purposes. Vehicles were secured from various largo carrying firms in the city, with drivers who offered their services from amongst the ranks of special constables, and wore driven from different parts of the city under a strong escort to insido ;xhe lines of thw waterfront defence. The lorries passed through tho crowds without meeting with any interference, and indications of disapproval from striko supporters were virtually confined to occasional hooting. One incident more serious than tho rest occurred in Queen street and resulted in a man being knocked down through collision with a ' "special' s" horse.

In addition to the lorries which, during the forenoon, were engaged primarily in transporting cargo from tho wharves as discharged from vessels at berth, ft number of carriers owning aud working their own carts wero kept busily occupied delivering sundry goods to tho wharves, and a, motor-Jorrv or two wero also engaged in traffic. The cartiug to and from the wharf, though measures or precaution, wore deemed advisable under tho unusual circumstances, was carried out quietly .and without serious interruption. Besides tho Monowai, Mimiro, and Navua, tho Westralia was the next of tho larger steamers to berth. Tho unloading of the cargo from tho holds from each .of these vessels was put in hand without delay or trouble. As tho crews had previously been paid off, the officers brought tho vessels up to their berthage, and then unloading was proceeded with by members 'or tho now union, under the direction of the permanent wharf hands and experienced stevedores.

In tho case of coastal steamers, tho crews who had remained on duty did tho ordinary work that falls to their lot, but on boats where tho crews had given notice and had been paid off, the •officers worked tho winches and tho Arbitrationists handled the cargo. Plenty of labour was available for all requirements. Four hundred men who had been enrolled as members of.tho new union wero employed; on discharging operations,. working winches, and handling cargo. The secretary informed a reporter that an additional hundred men were waiting if Avantod, whilo applications for membership were continuing to como in steadily, bo that Tnany of the men would remain permanently as waterside workers, and would not cease their occupation as coon as tho present crisis was over. Although it was evident that a number of Arbitrationists had not previously had any experience of wharf-lumping, and were a bit awkward at first, they soon got into their places and wore making good progress with the work in hand. Prom the Westralia and tho Mono-, wai is being landed general merchandise, principally produce, the two canjoes aggregating about 2000 tons, while tho Mimiro, which had nearly completed, unloading. when the striko was declared, has some five hundred tons of machinery. , Tho Navua's unloading cargo is confined to a small shipment of fruit, originally consigned to Westport. As the cases came up from the holds this morning, it was evident from the juice running-freely out, that the fruit had perished by long detention. Tho cargoes from tho vessels -were afterwards shifted into sheds adjacent to tho berthage, or put direct on towaiting lorries and carted straight away. ' A RETURN TO THE NORMAL. Tho uniformed and mounted polico havo been adopting very energetic measures in the direction of maintaining Queen and' Customs streets clear of largo crowds, and in keeping tho traffic on the move between Customs street intersection and the Post Office.

The launch patrol on the water is being vigilantly maintained, and there is little possibility of a surprise counterdemonstration.

By mid-day everythng appeared to have settled down to about normal. Previously there had been largo crowds of people packed along Customs street and at the junction with Queen street, but the uniformed police wore particularly active, and' persistently dispersed all groups, with the result that . there were less people than usual in that vicinity. But for a few mounted police about, and a line of mounted "specials" across the road near the Post Office, there was really nothing to suggest the present trouble. In addition tho work of transport had been proceeding so peacefully that tho escorts guarding the lorries and carts were reduced to a minimum. Carting to and fro was freely carried on with very small mounted escorts, and no trouble was threatened at all to either the goods bring sent down by merchants, or cargo brought away in laTge or small carriers' vehicles. It was stated that a number of carters of one firm have returned to work. SHIPPING IN PORT. Tho disposal of the shipping in port this afternoon was: — At wharf—MimirOj Monowai, »*estralia, Kereru. Gael, Tasman, llotomahana, Waiotahi, Ngapuhi, Kootiti, Pyramus, Aupori, Kinjori, Kawau, Daphne, Ngatiawa, Taniwha, Apanui, Orewa, Victory. In stream—Muritai, Komata, Wanaka, Ngakuta, Koromiko, Tongariro, Kurow Rosamond, Ennerdale, Huuroto, Louisa' Craig. Loch Garve, Isabella IMraine, Fairburn, Paeroa, Ghelmsford, Wakatere, Manaia, Iris, "sarua. THE DESERTED EXHIBITION. Compared with the bustling at tho Exhibition buildings and grounds until a few days ago, the scene within is now one of accentuated q""*""*; Most of the stalk in the Hall of Industries and the Machinery Court have been left half finished, and a complete halt has occurred in all structure and hall work which was being carried out by the staff* of tho Exhibition executive and the "Wonderland" Amusement Company The carpenters m the emnloy ot the* Government are engaged in tho

erection of tho Departmental coorta, and of the bridge which the Railway Department is having placed on the most elevated portion of tho grounds. " A few groundsmen are busy about the lawns and flower l*?ds and the Agricill- > tural Department's staff is closely tend-," mg tho experimental plots on tWhttl- \ tops. Those concerned with the preparation of tho Exhibition are honinc - very devoutly that the strike will break in time to get the work properly finished by December Ist.

RESTAURANTS RE-OPENING. Some of the leading restaurants wero operating with full staffs at th© luncheon hour to-day, and their work was carried on without any special hitch. The proprietors have pointed out, with reference to the- demand of' tho union for a six-day week, that -flolg matter has been placed in the hands of tho Legislature, and could not be interfered in by them without complicatingthe situation. STRIKERS CONFIDENT. The feeling aniong the various unions new out on striko is said to bo one of tho greatest confidence, or at least one of great determination. Tho suggestion that the- influx of outside labour (through tho newly registered union) would make- tho position taken up by tho strikers an untenablo ono, is scouted by prominent officials of the arbitration unions. "Wo aro all in this," eaid one, "and wo will sink or swim together." AMUSING TKB STRIKERS. Meantime, administrative details of the strike arc being attfcnded to by various committees set up for tho purpose. The Central Sfcriko Committee has apparently established a workable sort of discipline, and tho announcement that tho men on striko are- advised to keop away from Lower Queeo. street has evidently been obeyod. The. necessary permission has been obtained for use of Victoria Park by the ra«n. on striko, and an entertainment committee has been appointed to make arrangements that will keop time from hanging too heavily on the hands of those who have no occupations. It is stated by tho Strike Committee that they asked for the uso of the ground in order to havo somewhere for unionists to go m consequence of tho warning that they should not conjrrogate about tho waterfront. They further undertook to bo responsible for the good behaviour and orderly conduct "of unionists who would use tho ground. They had rooted objections to tho presence of special constables, and suggested that tho presence of on© or two uniformed police would bo ample to meet circumstances.

ODDS AND ENDS. This morning a deputation from the Central Strike Committee waited upoa tho magistrate to urgo that hotels should bo kept closed during tho whobperiod of the strike. This is an expression of tho urgent desiro of the!'■ great majority of strikers, and will re doubt be given dno consideration. Quite a sheaf of telegrams has boon " received from country districts by the executive of tho Employers' Asaocia--tion, from those anxious "either to come to town and work, or willing to act as ♦ special constables. , : In conversation with" members " of the executive of the • Employers' Association to-day, a re- •.' porter of tho "Star" was informed that - the Waterside Workers' TJnion regis- :'■'■, tered under the Arbitration Act-had *'>' to-day 370 members enrolled, in. "•'/ "■,; 75 more than can be at presentem- /- ployed. . " The closing of the city hotels caused -a an invasion of euburban public houses by thirsty souls, and later drunkenness " on the streets. The supply of liquor V was' suddenly stopped, and on the V magistrate's order aU the hotels at , Onehunga, Ellerslie, Panmnre, arid , ■• Otahuhu wero closed. i^

MASS MEETING QJF STRIKERS.- v ....'^

SPEECHES iMTJLD AKD STRONG

(PHKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) : AUCKLAND, November .11. ; v Between. 700 and 800 men and a• ; number, of women attended a."mass £■*] meeting of strikers in Victoria Park.";; to-day. Several of the loaders, ad- ; : dressed the crowd, the majority of the > speakers uyging the strikers to stand J-'.;----firm for another week, when the effl- : /; plovers would suo for terme. . , . ..: ■

Some of tho speeches were modorato in tone, t&© speakers deprecating all suggestions of violence,- and elating .that the men could best attain their purposo by solidarity. Others were of a most revolutionary character, tho „-■=■ speakers attacking in turn law andorder, tho Church, tho newspapers, the, Government, and the > constitution of society generally.

Ono- speaker declared that the ■statement, that several hundreds of vaU-r----siders had been engaged, and- that boats were being worked, was a "news* paper lie," but immediately afterwards . ha began to repeat a description of the discharging of the Miiniro and other waterside operations, which, he said, -» had been furnished him by two or their members, who were at present acting as spies, on tho waterfront. . \

This speaker also referred in- strong terms to certain members of the old Waterside Workers' Union, who wero > expressing their doubts of the wisdom , of continuing the strike. /Ho sard they should be batoned. The union president declared that the fight was against compulsory arbi- * tration. All other issues should bo , ignored. Ho asserted that the regw- - tered unions now on Ktriko were inclined to cancel their registration, and would certainly do so if the strike was not settled within seven days. / <-" Aiany of the speakers devoted a, gootf . deal of time to exhorting the.'striKers - » ami telling them that victory 'was ocr- . tain. They said that 10,000 men were on strike, although it was .not explained why less than 800~were present at the meeting. They bitterly attacked thoso Wellington Labour leaders who had spoken against the P™ 8 ? ,1 * syndicalist strike. They declared that _ under no circumstances would wwy allow individual strikers, or those dependent upon them, to go in • J , wa Jl t ' Practically every speaker accused «w , "New Zealand Herald" of creating doubt and discontent in the ranks « the strikers, and of thus striking * blow at the solidarity of Labour. . Several speakers suggested t3 f t causo would be greatly assisted v «"» "Herald" ceased publication. MOVE AND,COUNTER-MOVE. Tho secretarj- of the Hotel and- __ estaurants Employees' Union ***"** that a number of restaurante-in «««» street had opened again, and m«« wero Te-opening to-morrow. *° £r, teract this move the Central btnw Committee had asked the Bake* «*J Butchers' Unions to refuse to denver meat or bread at the restaurants eon cerned. BRICKLAYERS' CQNFEKEffE- ' The annual conference of ™%*£L Zealand Federated Bricklayers was opened in the Trades Hall, Mr »c Mahon (Wellington) presiding. "» Auckland, Wellington, CanUsrbiuTjWJ Duncdin unions were each by two delegate*. The.precept efcn» \vas discussed, and the following resolution was carried:— , -j^^i "That this conference or i J®? el ! brickl.-vvers' unions is sympathetic , tho general strike, and is '3 *>«*} 1 n-hl. nil -. li: ion s tnkim: part \*;*£ : that ail unions affiliated *«■*?•«.;££ I Zealand Federated Bncklayors , TtoM ~ he urged to cease work on the intro- ,

doction of special constables and free labour, and to remain out until tho "dispute- is settled."' 'ifie conference will bo continued to- ' ' morrow. A.fp«rial meeting of the Auckland Bricklayers' Industrial Union was held in the Trades Hall this morning, when ihe resolution carried at the previous mooting, viz., "That the members of the union will not do any work while ■ spwwl constables are in tho city or free labour is being used," was con- . .firmed.

TAILORS DECIDE AGArXST STRIKE.

,■ frRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, November 11. . A special meeting of the Auckland Operative Tailors' Union was held in the Trade* Hall this evening. About 1.50 members were present. A secret ballot was taken on the motion to strike, the voting being 32 for and 112 'against. Tho meeting decided to make a voluntary levy in aid of the strikers.

HARBOUR BOARD'S .ARRANGEMENTS.

SUGAR -ARRIVING IN QUANTITIES. .'MI ESS ABRrVHATKIN' TET.ECRAIf.) AUCKLAND, November 11. '' The handling of cargo will be continued to-morrow. No details regarding the vessels to bo worked were availthk evening. "I have had several conferences with the shipping companies to-day. , ' the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr J. H. Gunson) stated. 'The arrangements which have been carried out are thoso thought best for tho first day's work, and to-night we aro considering the programme for to-morrow. I have nad representations from several of tho shipping companies concerning their vessels, all being now anxious to get ; to work, and while we shall prnb deal to-morrow with several of tho larger vessels, I am- not able to say definitely what will be done. "Wo are giving preference to the most urgent cases, and tho farming community will receive first consideration." The ODawa is expected back from tho South on Thursday. ovening, and. will load .butter for London. The vessel will sail at the end of tho week for the southern ports to complete its loading.. Sugar is notr being brought across the harbour in considerable quantities from the Colonial Sugar Company's stores at Chelsea. Already botweon 400 and 500 tons have been discharged on Queen's wharf, and this, supply has been distributed by rail through the Waikato. the King Country, and the North of Auckland district. A small quantity hae also been brought into tho city, but the demand for fresh .supplies is light, probably because nearly every household store was replenisVd when the beginning of the strike threatened a famine in this commodity.