RUSH OF STRIKERS FOR WORK.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14857, 24 December 1913, Page 10

RUSH OF STRIKERS FOR WORK.

SCENE ON WELLINGTON

WHARVES.

NEW UNION BECOMING

UNWEILDY.

(TRESS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, December 23,

There was a big rush to join the Arbitration Union this morning. As soon as the Union office opened, a large crowd of late strikers attempted to get in, and a queue was formed outside. In tho vicinity the congestion became so. pronounced that traffic waa imjpeded, and the police were, com-

wharf altogether. The list was closed after 80 more men had signed on.

The executive is now faced with something of a quandary, for the, union lias grown until it has become almost too unwieldy to deal with. The total membership is now well over 3000, deducting 500 from this number for country and town members, who only signed on temporarily there still remains a total of 2500. To this aggregate has to be added another 300—those men who are away at sea, and who when their ships return to Wellington will, for the most part, resume work on the wharves, as their places on board will be filled by the original firemen and seamen who left thc vessels. Tho difficulty will be increased by the fact that there still remain many strikers (probably 500 or 600) who are desirous of signing on. Eventually the position will be that there will be approximately 3500 men offering for labour that can be carried out by 1500 men

To-day, instead of being sworn to abide by the rules of the new union, the declaration signed was "We, tho undersigned are desirous of obtaining employment as members of the Wellington Wharf Labourers Union of Workers, provided our applications arc accept? hie by the executive of the above Union." This proviso has been substituted for the original declaration in view of tho fact that a weeding out process will bo necessary Applications for membership since the strike was called off will be considered by the executive, and applicants will be advised two days from signing on. whether or not they have been accepted into the membership of the union. The men who added their names to the" list this morning wero not provided with union .books, but only signed their nan.es to tho list. It is anticipated that the preference badges will be issued to members who joined this union on or before December Bth.

Tin. morning about 1600 men were at work, about 100 of these being exstrikers.