AFFAIRS AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14822, 13 November 1913, Page 10

AFFAIRS AT AUCKLAND

WORK PROCEEDING PEACEFULLY.

MUCH CARGO UNLOADED

(PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELE-RAJ-.)

AUCKLAND, November 12. Y\ ith the restoration of shipping and transportation activities there was a particularly busy scene on the wharves and along the approaches to-day. Arrangements had been made that will enable coastal steamers to resume running at once, and as a result there was

a continuous stream of traffic to and

from the eastern jetties, where the vessels are berthed. In most cases the transportation work is being carried

out without escorts, although in some instances special constables either accompany the lorry loads as passengers or a fow follow on horseback.

The total absence of any signs of hostility or indications of possible molestation has enabled the authorities to dispense with heavy escorts. In fact, general conditions to-day in the vicinity of the waterfront and of the lines of guards are as peaceful and quiet as at any ordinary time, aud do not suggest the existence of a strike.

Carting is proceeding quite without interruption, and similarly the handling of cargo is in full swing, with plenty of labour supplied by members of the new arbitration union. DISCHARGING THE CARGOES. The discharging of cargo from the Monowai, and of copra from the ketch Kereru, was finished to-day, aud the Ennerdale", with a shipment of produce

from the South, took up the berth occupied by the Monowai, which was shifted to the head of Queen's Wharf. A heavy shipment of machinery on tho Mimiro was unloaded, late this afternoon, and the vessel "will probably leave to-night. The Wcstralia's cargo will not bo discharged till to-morrow. The Wanaka, with general.produce from the South, i_ being unloaded at No. 4 Jetty. Tho Northern Company have a large number of their fleet at the jetties, with loading operations in progress, several being due to leave tonight. At lunch time to-day, over 4CO wharf workers filed on to the steamer Monowai at tho end of Queen's Wharf, aud partook of a hearty meal served in the dining saloon. The Monowai is being used as a "camp ship" by members of the union. Tney sleep there, and return each meal hour, thus avoiding the necessity for leaving tho wharves either by day or by night. -« ' Enquiries made to-day elicited the information that everything is working satisfactorily at the wnarf irom the employers' point of view. The number ot" members now in the Waterside Workers' Union registered under tho Arbitration Act is 460. Over 700 more were offered from oue district alone", added to which, more could bo got if required from various other portions of the Auckland district. • The secretary of the new union (Mr S. Rickards).informed a reporter that the ships' officers were exceedingly well satisfied with the work of the arbitrationists. , It is understood that about 40 per cent, of tlie 450 workers represent farmers who have come in to lend aid for the time being, and that the remainder intend continuing permanently.- Mr-Rickards states- that "he could get another hundred or tVro' on-the-spot to-morrow morning. It is intehdod "in tho meantime.- however, '-to. keep, all the men -working full time if possible, although on practically every one of tho twenty Northern Company's 1 steamers at Auckland, individual members of the crew wero paid off on the expiration of their twenty-four hours' notice. . ■

Tho Ngapuhi is now the only vessel on which the necessary complement has not been mado up. In the meantime, however, a number .of foot "special" constables have signed oh as ordinary seamen, with *the intent of taking a holiday trip to tho north. In some cases, also, regular hands have asked to bo reinstated, and wherever possible this ha 3 been. done.' As far as can bo gathered neither the Union Company nor tho Huddart Parker Company have taken steps in the direction of securing crews for their vessels at present in the stream. . It is stated that men are offering,- and that when things readjust themselves no difficulty will he found in manning tho vessels. . CITY COUNCIL'S EMPLOYEES. • All City Council employees who went on strike *on Saturday. will be given au opportunity of returning to their work to-morrow. "The men are notified that they must report for work tomorrow morning," said the Mayor (Mr C. ,J. Parr), in conversation with a reporter "the work of the city must go on, and it is " necessary that the men who went out on Saturday should come back. The Council desires to give them an opportunity of returning to their work, but if any of them fail to do so, their places will be filled." THE EXHIBITION. § The president of the Exhibition. Executive (Mr George Elliott) has been approached by several master builders with offers ol assistance., if necessary, in preparing the big fair in time for the opening on the first of tho.ensuing month. 'While dooply appreciating this thoughtful offer." said Mr Elliott to a "Star reporter, "I really do not think that the necessity for acceptance will arise, because it is my firm belief that we sh ill soon" havo our men back at work. On the other hand, if members of our staff unduly delay their return to tho positions which are being kept open for them, some other way must be found to get th© Exhibition ready, and it absolutely must be ready by the date fixed for the opening-

"It is understood that several of the workmen concerned have approached the Exhibition builder (Mr A. Pearce) the past day or two with the intimation that they are prepared to return whenever it is decided to resume work."

Matters have reached a very forward stage in "Wonderland," park so far as tho resumption of work is concerned. This undertaking is quite separate from tho work in the.Exhibition buildings, and ah advertisement has had the effect of bringing a number of men back to work this morning. Over a score of carpenters and painters are now at work, and a number more have notified their intention of returning tomorrow. RESTAURANTS ALL RESUMING, The leading restaurants and tearooms of the city, and most of the smaller ones, are now open for business so that the-inconvenience caused to people engaged in the city through inability to obtain meals would appear to havo ceased. Most of the places are working with their old staffs. One Queen street establishment, which was advertised to reopen to-day under police .protection, did so without the slightest hitch, a number of "special" constables being within call in caso of disturbance. In fact,_ at tho time of its opening this morning, there were about 30 men waiting without in tho hope of securing employment in the kitchen. There was only one vacancy, that of a pantryman, who had brought about his discharge by the use of the word "scab" towards some female

members of tho staff. Hβ Bte the unsuccessful applicants ftTS&f that most of the waitresses' hi**sK turned to work without deed some of them stato that thel'Sk} 1 not want to cease work at all; y-SK. On tho whole tho re-opened estabßdjj&'' ments have been doing normal throughout tho day. - v l ?..': STRIKE EXECUTIVE'S RECBu'*MENTATION. • 77Tf; The following resolutioa was pieJ;" at a meeting of the Striko Execufr* to-day :—"To the various unions rf Auckland—The Central Execatfa quests tho various unions to Eedtaah r i consider the following recominendstict?'* namely:—That in the event of sent industrial strife not being settled* by midnight on Thursday, NoveaW liHli. all unions shall take the neasj. wiry steps to cancel their regßtrtUfti = under tho Arbitration and OoncJOatim * Act. , ' i,v CONDUCT OV "SPECIALS* > COMPLAINTS BY STRIKE * t* COMMITTEE. ,- Complaints have been made fc» strikers as to tho conduct of some tpe> cial constables, and the matter ha* laid beforo Supeiintendent Kick, nfo has undertaken to give it his attend Tho following is a copy of a letter £». warded on bchalt of the central Sttfo Committee at Auckland to Sir Josta Ward:— ' TT ''Sir, —1 have been directed Auckland Striko Committee to wjjjf" you, drawing your attention to lowing facts rogaiding tho 'special police , stationed in this «jfe It was understood, when cials' were introduced here, thatft jg» dono for reasons set out hereuniW ■ viz., for the protection of life and pro. perty and free labour. They hare no* however taken up a now role, andian to bo seen walking about in twosaaj threes, swinging largo batons,'•£} adoptiug other inciting tactics, such ij ' jostling pedestrians, whether co&. nectod with tho strike or otherwise.'. Evidently this is dono with a Tinfiieausing resentment. j>o that a Wjs of the peace may eventuate."' ; Other allegations are hero made, tgj the letter concludes: —"Now, sir, viit the Committee ask is that the 'specijk l be confined to their duties on theafj*. spectivo wharves, or elso bo -utilised ts escorts for vehicle*, but that they'V not allowed the freedom of this.tjjj and suburbs to indulge in the behariao? they have already been guilty of. ;!0j( The Committee trust that you will y^ , tilato this matter from tho floor of House. (Signed) Cnrran, eecrotaV Central Strike Committee." „ \ j'. SUGAR REFINERY MAY CLOSED SOON. OWING TO ACCFMULATION , ofSTOCKS. ' There is some possibility that 'wedc may have to cease for a time sugar rofinery works at Chelsea. En*.. quiry of the manager elicited the-ftj*' lowing facts as to the Whether or not work has to cease for* time depends upon tho deliveries of refined sugar. Tho trouble is topi,** shortage, but-.an accumulation of stodaowing to tho strike. Stocks of reaittd sugar, which would otherwise hxti been shipped v have accumulated,-tke»-being now between GOOO and 7000 toil,' on hand, added to which there are mm' 33,000 tons of raw sugar in port." Dat3tho refined sugar can be cleared frta. •tho works-it is useless Jo go on refia-" ing, as the Btoro is already" full, aewfl*as ono in which raw sugar is «aal(f. stored. Ir quick delivery can cured it may save the need for stojT ping work. Tho whole trouble arisrt from the fact that thore Jiavo praetf cally been no deliveries of rofinod'ißgtf for tlie Idst ten days. -GENERAL RETURN TO f TFOB& CARTERS AND DRIAISS GOING HACK. (press association tblegrjui.), " ' j. AUCKLAND, November 12.Employers in all parts of tho towa" to-day, when intemowed bj r 'tft "Herald" reporter, stated defin}j|e(f« that Jarge numbers of their men had gone on rtiike on Saturday.*!«&* Monday wcro a&king permission to COBf. back to Tvork. The impressioa __*»* general that tho striko fever whiph spread so suddenly over tho town w> dying away as suddenly, and ibat-mev in a week all men except cxtaeflji&> would return to their duties. , ,^•3,'; Of the 450 men now per cent, are men who will become. inanent watereiders. Tixo remainderii? ; farmers. Among tho watersrtiers at work ou the wiiarrcs, thoro number of members of tho old vwfii and it is cxnocted that many JWHC will return as soon as tho importaiief* of the present strike is lully • appi* - ciatea. It is generally believed toft; so far; as tho carters .and drivers^- , concerned, tne stnko is at an end.'/? Almost every employer reported;-*:..: -day that he liad received'appneattotfr for reinstatement. l-'armerb workers from the country were many carts in tho city, and many« them, • who are thoroughly compete* men, have been taken on permanent," Some' of tho employers aro Oβ s ™"**'* to'take on new men in place of sob* of tho old and valuablo servants w» have gone on strike, but it is understood that if tho men aro -»£- -----back at work within tho next two W~ their places will ho hllcd without ,6^L. punction. . ' _-i.i*" One of the biggest firms in the city, LSO ot whose men w»» on strike, had tO carts running jesw day, mostly driven by farmers fi»-\ ° A general meeting of Carters'JA» ;j Drivors' Unions is to b- held morning to consider tho position. -■*■ view or tho fact that so .meoy^"' wero. at work to-day, it is <*&*%-, that the int-n willeee tho uselcssnesr» > tlie strike, so far as they art «f, cerned. and declare it off. ' OTHER TRADES. ■~ It is estimated that fully one-tittS of the painters who "downed too&j"* Saturday and Monday aro.now MfS; work. One firm, which enrfoyej men, took back threo mpn to-W. !J a number more are expected to-»«SJ It is believed that most of the «« engaged in the buildrac tnd«*»W» of the strike, and would &}***%s* to work. One employer states , the whole of his factory hands aWM£ proached him with a i» factory, and that some of hifi owj employees, SO in aU, have that a general movo back to - imminent. The nien are simply «* ing for someone to mako the first; n£«* and this wUI be made by the «»Pgg. as soon as there is a sufficient nnag of carters availablo to carry on- j*t. building business. • '' 'jig.' •It is stated that there was- » *.. dency on the part of many general labourers to go . back . but brewery employees ana: workers had not yet approached their employers. ■ ' — ALLEGED INTIMIDATION OF. - . WOMEN. -v ; *• COM?LAINTS"TO BE INVESH'' ,'- Sympathisers with tho strikers Jj»jJ~, beef, using threats towards ™f^ orf ~ the country districts, it is of the complaints coming fronl_£*£ ridge. Captain Seddon. who i* 9 that district, left tho Dornajn camp «J~ home yesterday with instructions ; vestigato these complaints, and a »¥r.

-""" .; \ ]Z,„;,p'_. force of mounted idvisable to organuj a tor f __ men to § rot f V_£ e ic Auckland. The • who° -fay be foun. ;, B&£ reTho «7f,2_ n A few men mains at full re W bnt they wi n provide substitutes, an •01-ntecrs to draw P"