STRIKE ON A MAIL STEAMER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 32, 7 February 1907, Page 5

STRIKE ON A MAIL STEAMER.

« THE TROUBLE ON THE SONOMA"* SIXTY MEN LEAVE THE VESSEL. SCENE AT THE POLICE STATION. " As already mentioned in the cable messages, the question of union versus non-union labour was responsible for a serious delay at Sydney to the R.M.S. Sonoma. According to reports in the Sydney papers just to hand, -while tho trouble arose on tne union question, there appeared to be some disparity an to^ the particular case in dispute. Tho officers of the ship, on the one hand, referred to something which pccurred at Honolulu, while the men, on tho other hand, stated that their grievance was based on recent happenings in Sydney. As -will bo seen from tho statements of each side, published beJojv, the man complained &f the engagement of a non-union man in Sydney, whereas the officials contended that that matter was never referred to and that, as a matter of fact, the men approached .ohe chief engineer and threatened the action which they eventually took if four non-union Hawaiians, shipped at Honolulu, were not paid \ off Ihe captain declined to accede to tho (demands of the men, and the next, Hhing he and his officers heard waa that the men were feaving the ship having at a hurried conference decided to go on "strike." There was considerable - excitement. Some of .the inea threw their belongings on to the wharf, and then leaped from Ihe vessel theml selves; while others calmly walked down the gangway. In a few minutes there were about sixty of them-meu ot all nationalities— gathered together excitedly discussing the situation Tho water police were soon on the scene, and, acting under instructions, they took precautions lo see that none olf the men left the wharf, a number of them oeing prohibited immigrants \h toe same time it was explained to tha men that their best course was to placo their case- before the United Statea Oonsul, and this advice was acted upon, two delegates being appointed. " The result ot che interview was, however unsafcislactcry to them, the Consul, it wan stated, advising them to return to the. vessel, with a view to the settlement of their grievance, If any, oh arrival at ban Francisco. The men were stronp in their .determination not to go aboard' again under the conditions, and they openly expressed uheir preference for goal. Eventually warrants were issued for ihe arrest of the men, and theso> were carried into effect. THE CAPTAIN'S VERSION. "A DISGRACE TO ANY UNIONISM." In che course of an interview with a, representative of tho Sydney Telegraph, "kptaiu TTask explained that four of the firemen deserted at Honolulu, and it. of course, became accessary «,hafc their places should be filled. This task was taken in hand by a delegate appointed by .the union men on board and ho engaged four union men to start on the midnight watch. When that time arrived they were not to bo found, and in the morning, with tho full consent of the delegate and of tha other men four non-union Hawaiiann were engaged This was m accordance flith their rules, signed by the company, which sanqtioned the' employment; of non-union labour when unionists were not available. "So you see," con., tinued Captain Trask, "these men ivercv taken on with the full consent of thoso aboard the ship. They worked , right alongside them, and there was not a single howl of any description all the v.-ay down, or during the five or sis: days we have been in pert about working with non-union men. Yet -less • than, an hour before sailing, after the ma.ilo had been shipped, they demanded that those four Hawaiians should be pa-id off,. What they wanted was the engagement) of four men, who either deserted oe had been paid oft; the Ventura for misconduct. The men taken on at Honolulu are prohibited emigrants at thinport, and. therefore, the company cannot put them off here. They are compelled to take them back, and the^menj to-day -want us to 'engage four men jm addition Their conduct is an absolutA disgrace to any unionism; whether American, English, Australian, 'or any, j other. The ship is a union ship from\ top to bottom. The company supports their unions in San Francisco, and complies wiiJi their regulations from A to Z, but we Tcfuse to comply with such; [ conditions as they demanded to-day. They are treated better * than on anj; [ other line in the woi'ld, their schedule of wages being the highest paid to any, firemen afloat." " - _' I WHAT THE MEN SAY, "WE AIN'T '„ GOIN", ' BACK." I When some of the firemen were im. formed what the captain of the Sonoma had ss-id they-,,a1l .replied that.it .wan not correct 'about them leaving the steamer- because •the four 'Hawaiiauo were on board. "The real trouble," said one, "was caused through a ■ noiumionist ■ 'being; shipped here when- three or f our ' union men applied for a berth. We went to the 'old man' and asked him what >ho> intended to do, out were turned down good and hard. The order then went round for everybody to pack -their grips and be ready to go ashore when told* That order was given ,alsdut 1 o'clock, and I guess the officers looked sick when we streamed down the plank and 1 put our bundles on the shore. And you can say this positively : We ain't goin' back while that blackleg in on tho ship, and Ike sooner ho is sent otiC and a union mail' put in his place tha quicker the Sonoma will get to San Francisco." Tho Daily Telegraph representatives informed the men that endeavours would be made to ship a fresh crew. "Well, let 'em," -was the determined reply; "until that man comes off wo won't go on. If the stewards andcooka had any backbone they would not bo working cither. We stuck to- them during two strikes ',n San Francisco, anrl now they won't do the same by us. Mind you, wo don't want to delay thu ship, but we're not goin' to have blacklegs aboard." THE STRIKERS ARRESTED. "I'M A ROMANTERIAN." A warrant was obtained from the oham> ber magistrate at the Water Police Court for ths arrest of S9 men on a charge ol combining to disobey the lawful cony mands of the first mate and the engineer* and given to Inepector James M'Vane to execute. When the strikers c&nte ashore from th* vessel tho Water Police shut Uio gata leading to the roadway, and so prevented the men from leaving. Tbs reason of tha action is explained by thfe fact that nearly the whol© of the men were prohibited, immigrants, and if they had pot away, and were not present at the muster by the Customs officials, the company would have been liable to the extent of £10G for each man who VXd not answer to hisi name. The- crew did not resent this procedure the least bit at first, when it was pointed out that they were not prisoners. Later, however, .some of .ihsm Jbejjau to

display temper; and though -he did not anticipate any serious trouble, Inspector Jl'Vane took the precaution of telephoning for extra, pnon, and about 25 police w>sto despatched to tho wharf. The presence of such a body, in additiqn to every available water policeman, lad th» effect of completely quenching ftiiy fixes that were smouldering in the broasts of the men. Some of them were ender the influence of liquor. One of the jjumbcr, a swarthy fireman," was drenched W the 'fekiu,' and tho' picture ho presented tcagured up visions of a desperate swim ' f\5T liberty. But he had, it transpired, ♦sir gone jnto th© wabjr to "cool off." The arrested men were taJcen to the Water Police Station, in batches under strong. escoct* «nd then tho task of getting them to answer to their names began. A more heterogeneous crowd it would be difficulty imagine • Long men, short m«n, dnriiinen, thin and fat men — every tvjpe was 'represented. 'Then tho nationalities. Spaniards, Mexicans, Hawaiians, Irishmen, Scotchmen — in fact, it seemed as if tKe ' whole', map' was' represented in tho crew." As fast as Inspector M'Vane could call Out a name and was answered the person was b.rAugh,tr .forward, . searched and marched into the cells, which 'soon began to fill. - . Generally, the men' had' a' knife and » few pence* as personal belongings, •nd' when a man was discovered with 2s 2d Ke was saluted with criee of "Been on" toe squ#r£,"Jo6ej" and "Buy a 'couple of bottles.', 1 "J. Soona," "Soona," called out police officers, but no answer was vouchsafed. "Ob., he'll , be . hero later," thundered a voice from' the back of the crowd. , ■ *. . .Matters worked, smoothly for a time an til a name sounding like "Galano" was asked for. -"That's my - handle, boss," «nd a littla stoker elbowed his way to the front. "I4re you a Spaniard?" "No, I'm Scotch, and a Roman terian." Once fnore the names were choked, and men bundled into the cells in quick rotation; but rocks- were f-head, and Mr. M"Vane foundered. l< HeHo, what's this?" he asked, spelling.. . "P-y-m-o-n-o-h, iere is there anybody pTesent with a name that sounds like that ?" _"Well, I should cay that means me," eiclaimed a brawny ecaman. "Can you speak the name?" — "Speak it (in tones of indignation), why, I could. epitCit-?' '. 7 A stoker was being i hurried through the" .corridor. \o the end cell when he cried out,,. "Hi ! will I get me ninepence to-night, 'cause I want to get a fesd." On being assured he could have his money when meal-time arrived he went ' along ' complacently with a smile of satisfaction. Again' all was plain sailing, but a fall took place at a hurdle which looked quite easy. "J. O'ifeiA" was asked to step to tho front, and ho came. A vigilant' constable sprang to , attention, however, and ex-plained-that "J. O'Neill" was already im "That's Jack; I'm John," said the second O'Neill. "A rose by any other name," murmured ed a fat seaman, and then O'Neill the second was called upon to give a description of himself, and hand over any cash ho had on him. "The. calling- of another name brought forth a general chorus of "Oh,' he's gone to gaol," and that gentleman's name was struck off the list accordingly. The m3n in the cells were perfectly contented with their lot, and wiled away the time by singing popular airs. The sounds were discordant, inasmuch as five different batches were warbling songs of • totally opposite- description. '[As the cable messages informed us, tha •men were sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment.] STEAMER ARRIVES AT AUCK- - . LAND. 'fBT TBLEGHAFH. — PRESS ASSOCIA.TIOS.I AUCKLAND, 6th February. The mail steamer Sonoma arrived from Sydney shortly after 6 p.m., and berthed at the wharf about 8. It was anticipated that there would -be trouble ' owing to her having a non-union CTew on board. Tae wharf. wa3 barricaded off, and fhe police were on duty. A large crowd assembled, but the local lumpers having ajrree&to work the steamer no demonstration was made. r No one was allowed on board the eteam^r except by special pass, i <md none of the crew outside the officers were allowed ashore. On the passage across the crew worked as well as possible,,, but are said to be on the "green" Bide. The Sonoma is expected to leave early to-morrow morning. •