FREE FIGHT AT THE DOCKS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1508, 2 August 1912, Page 5

FREE FIGHT AT THE DOCKS.

4 STRIKERS RESUME, ll — J FIERCE BATTLE WITH FREE i LABOURERS, B • POLICE POWERLESS. 3 1 By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright C (Rec. August 1, 11.0 p.m.) , London, August l._ 5 Tito ro-engageil strikers at the V ictoria Dock attacked two thousand non-union-ists. Bricks, stones, bludgeons, and I knives were freely used. Several non-unionists produced revolvers, and at least sixty shots were fired. Seven men were wounded and twenty 'were removed to hospitnls. Similar outbreaks occurred at the Royal Albert and West India docks. Apparently the attacks were organised to clear out the free labourers, particularly those in permanent employment. Mounted police charged tho mob, and many arrests were made. Fivo thousand lightermen, on the advico of-Mr. Ilarry Gosling, tho president of the Transport Workers' Federation, have decided to resumo work. During tho rioting at the Victoria Dock tho strikers attempted to raid several | steamers. A number of persons received wounds from bullets. The baton charges of tho police eventually cleared tho quays. I Men Lose Their Posts. \ The lightermen are assured of work, but a large number of dockers and stevedores have lost their posts, the employers refusing to dismiss tho efficient freo labourers employed during the strike.- This is tho chief cause of the riots. A fierce fight look place at the Custom House entranco to tho Victoria Dock. The unionists on Tuesday morning attended outside tlio docks, but were not called oil, and yesterday entered to compete with the free labourers. The struggle developed into a freo fight with stones and bludgeons. The unionists chased the free labourers, some of them taking refuge in the New Zealand Shipping Company's offices. Before the fugitives reached shelter, several shots were ..fired, but nobody was'hit. Tho police dispersed' the pursuers. A Prolonged Fight. The fight spread to the whole dock, and fivo hundred strikers attacked two hundred freo labourers, who were unloading grain aboard tho City of Colombo. Many of the men employed on neighbouring vessels ceascd work and joined in tho attack, but thß gangway was withdrawn. Two freo labourers on a barge were severely handled.^ The strikers then attacked tho steamer with, stones and bottles, and tho men aboard replied. 1 Strikers who had sheltered under tho ship's sido several shots, . Police Powerless. ; Tho conflict lasted forty-fivo minutes. Half a dozen constables were present, but were powerless. On reinforcements arriving the strikers were driven off. i Tho captain denies that any shots were fired from the City of Colombo. The stones badly i'ajured two persons aboard, and their comrades b'eeaino terrified'and abandoned iho ship. Tho strikers later blocked tho roadway outside tho Custom House, and ignored tho police order to mako way for traffic. Mounted constables then charged with batons, and a number of arrests were made. > Six free labourers earlier in the day were greatly outnumbered and attacked by strikers at tho entrance to tho Albert Dock. , ■ / A mam named Norman, fired, wounding two strikers, one of them grievously. Norman 6tated that the strikers had kicked him. Further riots are threatened. AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT. Melbourne, August 1. The Waterside Workers' Federation voted dEIOO for the London dockers. AN AUCKLANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' Auckland, August 1. Mr. Matthew Clark, a leading business man, who has returned from London, said that he thought employees, 1 employers, and tho British Government officials were all blameworthy in connection with the labour upheavals. The workers wero inclined to rush into strikes without justifiable causes, the employers were stubborn in giving way, the Government lax in enforcing law and order. In tho latter respect, a charse of supineness was being laid at the dcor of the present Government by large numbers of people in England. Tho preservation of industrial peace would depend on the strength of the Government in power. They must be, after all, tho final arbiters.