AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14822, 13 November 1913, Page 11

AT LYTTELTON.

PORT TO BE RE-OPENED ON MONDAY.

THE STRIKERS' DEJ_".CT_O_v

The morning of ihe thirteenth day of the strike was a repetition of the wearying dullness which has settled on th© port of Lyttelton. Discussions of the situation made the sole.topic of conversation amongst the groups of de-jected-looking watersiders. The startling news of the arrest of Semple, Holland. Bailey, and Fraser, added a spice to the discussions, and outside of the strikers' ranks general satisfaction was expressed. .What the strikers

themselves thought could not be ascertained, as none of them was prepared to openly express his views to outsiders. There seemed little doubt, however, that many of them were profoundly impressed by the step taken. Every day seems to add to the dejection of the men, amongst whom there has never been any openly expressed enthusiasm for the strike. The '•incidents" in connexion with the ferry steamers have been nothing more than "flashes in the-pan," and the demonstrations have been confined to the extremists among the strikers, and the disorganised hoodlum element outside their ranks.

The manifestoes issued from day to day by the Striko Committeo have been designed to show that tho men are hopeful and determined, but they are scarcely borne out by personal observation. _ ** A meeting was held in the Coronation Hall yesterday morning when there was a fairly large attendance. An address was given by Mr James ThornHe was followed by Mr J. P. Fletcher, anti-militarist, who went through to Lyttelton by a later train. It was noticeable that many of the men, when they left the hall to go to their homes, looked anything but hopeful. They walked silently across the railway yard and up the streets, and all wore a Very serious and thoughtful air. The continued idleness, and the depressing (to the strikers) news of the re-opening of tlie ports, and the occupation of the waterside workers hold by fresh union labour, is having its effect.

VICTIMS OF THE RED FEDS. The members of the Lyttelton Railway Casual Wharf Labourers' Union, who are an entirely separate body from the Lyttelton Waterside Workers' Union, wero thrown out of employment by the strike of the latter. Ordinarily they work cargo in tho trucks, but by the strike of -Erie watersiders, with whom they had no bond of sympathy, were perforce rendered idle, and it is understood that many of them are feeling the pinch very badly, as the following letter, addressed by the secretary, Mr E. Clarkson, to the Editor of "Tho Press,'* shows: —

"Lyttelton, November 12th

"Dear Sir,—The members of the Lyttelton Casual Wharf Labourers' Union, who number 120, and whose sole occupation is to do the casual railway work in the waggons at Lyttelton, have been thrown out of employment owing to the stoppage of work caused by the strike.

"They are all married men, and have a goodly number of children depending upon them. As this union is not connected with the waterside-workers our members aro receiving no help whatever. A number of them are in very straitened circumstances. Any help, financial or otherwise, will be gladly received on their behalf by the secretary, president, and the Mayor'of Lyttelton."

A TALK TO THE STRIKERS. A well-known Canterbury resident, Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson, who was down in Lyttelton yesterday, had a talk to the strikers in their own stronghold—the Coronation Hall. The Coionei walked into the hall unopposed by the door-keeper, and obtained tho permission of the chairman to address the men. He told them plainly that he was not in "sympathy with tho striko, but commended the Lyttelton workers for their action'in refraining from violence. He urged them to keep the peace and restrain their tempers, even if-..the fight'went against them.- The meeting was in excellent humour, and the Colonel got a good reception. At the end, he was accorded a vote of thanks, carried with' musical'honours "You're the only employer who has ever come along to address us," was a remark made by one man, and Colone" Richardson showed his appreciation of the men's'attitude towards him by making them a ' donation for their "sports fund." PORT TO BE OPENED. If is understood that, arrangements have been made to erect barricades on all- the wharves at the Port and work is to be started in the discharging of steamers on Monday morning next. Yesterday afternoon Mr R. Moore, chairman of the Harbour Board, went to Lyttelton, accompanied by Mr Cyrus J. R. Williams, engineer and secretary. Mr Moore, who remained in Lyttelton until the Mapourika sailed for Wellington, informed a "Press" reporter that he.had merely visited the port to see for himself how matters .stood. It was unlikely that any attempt would be made this week to discharge any ships at Lyttelton, but in a"l probability the watersiders would be given a chance to start work next Monday, and if they declined, outside labour would be cm--ployed. STEAMER NORTHERN COMING. The steamer Northern, from New _*ork, which was held up at Wellington since tho beginning of th© strike but finally discharged her Wellington cargo, was to have sailed from that port yesterday for Lyttelton: On arrival she will anchor in the stream, wher© she will remain until arrangements have been completed for tho working ships at Lyttelton.