THE RUSH BACK TO WORK.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14823, 14 November 1913, Page 10

THE RUSH BACK TO WORK.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL'S MEN BETUBN. OUTLOOK FOR PEACE BRIGHTER STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR.

(special to "the press.") AUCKLAND, November 13. . "There is a. rush, back to> work on both sides," said the Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr) whon referring to developments in connection with tho strike to-day. "In the suburbs I notice that there aro many artisans at work who were not working yesterday; Superintendent Kjely reports to mc that he has not, so far, been severe with the pickets, but that ho will not allow anyone to threaten men returning to work. Several cases were reported to-day in which men had been submitted to abusive language. Wherever men are being molested in this way we shall stop it, for it is against the law.

''"With regard to our own City Council employees," continued the Mayor, "we havo had a most gratifying response to the notice which I had insorted in yesterday's newspapers. Out of tho total staff "of 500, 407 reported for work at eight o'clock this morning. These men will be taken on again; indeed, over three hundred of them are working to-day. I should say that over 140 men have stood loyally to the city throughout, so that we could have kept tho city ■'services going, no matter what had happened. 'The Council employs fifty carters. These men reported themselves this morning, and twenty of them are at work on the city garbage service and havo beeu all along. Tho other men aro engaged mostly on tho metal carts. They stated that they wore anxious to get back to work, but asked for a day's grace in order to see what decision the Union would como to to-day. They havo been given a day in which to make up their minds.

* "Independent of tha strike, it would seem'that there axe a good many ihen out of work in Auckland, and each morning brings a budget of fresh applicants for positions on tho Council's staff of permanent workmen. >l The outlook for peace is much brighter," added the Mayor, "and thero can be no dcubt that nearly all the unions are anxious to get back to work. 1 think things are settling themselves. Tho attompt to paralyse tho whole of our industrial life and spoil the Auckland. Exhibition has quite failed. It has been an expensive experience for the whole community, and it has taught us that the general strike -as n remedy for industrial trouble is like a boomerang —it returns and is liable to injure the thrower most." HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES. Tho Chairman of the Harbour Board said this afternoon: —".'The position so far as we are concerned is very satisfactory, as work is going on rapidly, and enormous quantities of goods have been landed and promptly delivered. Work was continued until 9 o'clock last night, and nine of the Northern Company's steamers were able to get away with supplies of goods for country districts. Three large vessels are nowbeing worked at the Queen street wharf, and there are a larger number of carters available than was the case yesterday. The result is that goods are being removed from the wharves almost.as rapidly as they are discharged,, and there is really little accumulation in the shed. Tho Board is

in close touch with the shipping companies, in order that the vessels may be worked to tho best possiblo advantage under .tho existing circumstances. "Wo find no difficulty at allln coping with the position, as far as tho wharves and waterfront are concerned, beyond that fact we as a Board are not interested." ON THE WATERFRONT. COASTAL TRAFFIC IN FULL SWING. (FItKSS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND. November 13. So far as practical results are concerned, tho business of the port is proeeeding'as usual, despite the fact that the bulk of the workers usually engaged in transportation are out on strike. Steamers, and vessels generally, that have been lying idle in tho stream, are being brought up to tho wharf in turn, and their cargoes aro being efficiently handled by union workers. Carting to and from the waterfront is also proceeding without interruption, and there have been available an ample number of. vehicles, as wel las a full supply of competent drivers. Plenty of seamen aro offering to man the coastal boats. The Union Company's collier Knrow, with 3000 tons of coal from Newcastle, came alongside this morning, and- an immediate start was made to discharge its cargo, the coal being basketed directly into trucks lined up for tho purpose. This work is more difficult than tho ordinary run of wharf lumping, and requires more experience, and tho men, who were unaccustomed to tho labour, wero somewhat at a disadvantage. CIOvSO supervision, however, was exercised by tho permanent hands on tho job, and it was not long before the winch hands became familiar with tho operations, and skilfully deposited tho baskets at the point required. Tho Wcstralia, is expected to completo unloading its cargo of general merchandise this evening, and the Wanaka by the end of the week. Tho Enncrdale has not much more cargo to get off. The scows Albatross and Endeavour aro taking in general cargo for coastal ports, and the ketch Kereru is loading stores for Nine in the expectation of getting away in tho course of a day or so. All coastal traffic is now in full swing, and thero is a great deal of activity following on the enforced idleness of tho last week or so in getting shipments away to tho Northern ports. The Opawa is duo from the East Coast ports to-morrow morning to load 40,000 boxes of butter at Auckland for tho London market. An important arrival at Auckland; to-day was tho big. steamer Sturmfels, of tho German Hansa Company, which now maintains a bi-monthly service to Auckland and southern New Zealand ports from New York. The vessel arrived at 9 a.m. and was anchored in tho stream. She has 1000 tons of cargo to land hero before going on to Wellington early, to-morrow morning. NEW UNION'S GOOD WORK. ALL GOING SMOOTHLY. The labour now employed in handling cargo continues to give a good account of itself, and work is being pushed through at a pace that is regarded as most satisfactory by the shipping companies' representatives. There aro some 450 members of the new Union at work. Applications continue to como in, but in tho meantime it has boon decided not to enrol more applicants until more work is available. Tho secretary states that a number of tho waterside workers who went out when tho strike was called, had made application for membershipj and some were already working. Everything is going along smoothly' and without trouble or disturbance. Small escorts fire still being sent out with some of the lorries in case of emergency, but work is being -carried on without any indication of molestation. No crowds are being permittod in thoroughfares loading to tho' waterfront. Particular caro continues to be exercised in the matter of allowing people to pass through the lines surrounding tho protected area, and special permanent and temporary passes are being issued by the Harbour Board. The jfow Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Opawa will berth at Queen's wharf to load butter consignments which have accumulated at the freezing works. , Enquiries were made to-day regarding the berthing of the liners Tongariro and Muritai, which together- have about 11,000 tons of London cargo to land. It is not the intention of * the authorities to bring them alongside for some days. The coastal traffic controlled by tho Northern Company is in full swing again. The officials report that they have now secured a full complement of men for all vessels of their fleet. In most cases it is stated that men with seamen's tickets have come forward for employment. Somo of those who were paid off have re-joined, and thero is a. small percentage of "specials" signed on in a temporary capacity. REASSURING SIGNS. A number .of carters, carpenters, painters, bricklayers, and general labourers, have returned to work to-day in various quarters of Auckland, mostly on snburban jobs. Others are expected to resume their customary avocations forthwith. Representatives of leading carting firms stated this morning that several of their regular hands had gono back, with tho result that many more waggons and carts wero in use to-day. "We feel sure/ said one, "that the service will bo fully restored within tho next week or two." Several surburban jobs, which wero held un when a general strike was declared, have been resumed by the carpenters, bricklayers, and painters, but tho city builders have.not taken action in that connexion. Numbers of workmen in the employ of suburban local bodies turned to again this morning, as did also various labourers about tho city.